My 1989 Corvette, has developed a bad noise in the engine.It had took a spell while my son was driving it last Saturday where he said it lacked almost all power from the engine, he noticed that the oil had got very hot ( 300 degrees, water temp. ?? didn't check it ), so he pulled over to let engine cool down.He nursed it back home, where I noticed the oil temp. was approx. 235 degrees and the water temp. was approx. 200 degrees.The engine oil pressure was only 13 PSI at 600 RPM's (idle) after letting it cool down a little bit.I checked and all fluids were at proper levels.The noise has little bit of a rattle to it, and also has a squeaking sound that seems to increase with engine rpm increase. Near as I can tell, it sounds like its coming from the front drivers side of engine, and it appears to be coming somewhat high on the engine.I hoped by taking the serpentine belt off, I could tell if it might be a bearing on water pump, alternator ect... after I tried this, I still had the noise.After starting up the engine when it was cold, oil pressure was at 40 psi,but I never ran engine very long to see how low it might go with the oil viscosity change. The engine has only 69,000 miles on it, and has always ran very well.I don't drive it very much at all, and have to wonder if this may have led to the problem, if it comes down to a lack of lubrication in engine. I plan on draining oil out this week end and looking for metal shavings.any one have any ideas what may have happened to the engine, or other things to check before I take it to a garage. Thanks Very Much

 

I am NO mechanic. Sounds like you cooked a bearing.

 

Bad noise? A knock? A rapping noise. A knock that increases with rpm?
Low oil pressure is not a good sign. Change the oil and see if the pressure comes back. If your using 5-30 switch to 10-30 or straight 30.

5-30 isn't helping your oil pressure. GM now recomends 10-30.
Rev the engine up and down and see if the noise increases. A knock will in crease with rpm. It will hold steady at a steady rpm.

It sounds like your car was over heated.
Good luck

 

Did your son miss a high RPM shift? :banghead:

 

Hello, I drained the engine oil out tonight over the top of a magnet.I didn't see hardly any metal on the magnet from the oil pan.When I pulled the oil filter off and poured it over the magnet, I saw very very small particles sticking to the magnet.The particles are a very fine, almost a powder or dust that is mixed with the old engine oil.I saw a few very small bigger flakes that appear to be shiney like chrome flakes, but even these don't seem to really want to stick to the magnet very well.I am going to pick up a new filter and some new 10-30 Wt. oil tomorrow and see what happens.Any idea where this may have came from ? Are the pistons aluminum in these cars? I am not sure how it would have came off the aluminum heads. I think I will be looking at buying a new motor before its all over with.If I have to either buy a new motor or rebuild, which way would you think is best ? will this hurt the value of the car down the road if I just buy a new motor ? Thanks to all for their replys !!!!

 

Sounds bad. Bearing surface concists of nonmagnetic metals. Only the shell is steel. Sort of sounds like it spun a bearing. :cry

 

does sound like a bearing failure.but its hard to say without hearing it.any way you can get a trained ear on it?
cut an end off the filter with a hacksaw and slide the cartridge out,spread the paper pleats out and look for non ferrous material (bearing shell).if you spun one youll usually find some there.
gm has some awesome crate engines these days,and priced competitively too. http://www.gmpartsdepot.com
if your worried about losing value to the car,just keep the original motor in storage and sell it with the car later.
but dont jump to conclusions! get it checked out for sure. good luck with it.

 

Also could have something to do with the fuel sys. Make sure fuel pump and filter are ok. Problem sounds a little stranger though so it may be a bearing.