'01 engine oil filter fell off
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
There would be scrapes all over the bottom of the car as the oil filter does not hang below the oil pan. I would jack it up and inspect the area for recent scrapes etc ...
If no scrapes are found, you probably ended up with a defective oil filter. Years ago, my mother Datsun 280Z's oil filter clogged and her engine blew before she ever got out of the parking lot of the dealer.
Dealer had to replace her motor.
If no scrapes are found, you probably ended up with a defective oil filter. Years ago, my mother Datsun 280Z's oil filter clogged and her engine blew before she ever got out of the parking lot of the dealer.
Dealer had to replace her motor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
It is just barely possible there was an oil filter failure, but as noted above, the failue was immediately on startup, not weeks after the oil change. Plus, there are so many systems to warn of a problem that the BF has to be dumber than a sack of hammers or just doesn't give a $h!t about the OP's sister or her car. Either of those is reason enough to not want to swap genes. My daughter had a BF who drove her '66 Mustang 90 miles with the fan belt broken, said he didn't notice the steam or the temp gauge pegged. Warped both heads and blew the head gaskets. Some people are participants in life. Others are spectators. Sounds like the OP's sister is dating a spectator.
Charlie
Charlie
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Whatever the cause was, its now a siezed engine due to oil starvation. Either way, the engine has to come out. Whether you tell her and her BF to rebuild it or replace it, that's truly the only choice here. Back to the cause and all the discussion here about it, once long ago on a VW Scirocco that I owned, I accidently left the old o-ring on the engine and put on the new filter. I instantly dumped several quarts of brand new Mobil1 all over the driveway. The driver of your sister's car had to know there was a severe problem happening.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,421
Likes: 1,146
From: Dyer, IN
when i get q chance later today, i will try to see if it will turn manually. last night, i jacked up the car and looked underneath. i didn't see any unusual scrape where he might have ran over something, but i did see oil splattered all over towards the rear of the car.
i do believe that if the low oil light did come on, it was probably too late and it's very possible he didn't even notice it. he was on his way to work and got stranded on the Bay Bridge going to San Francisco.
he feels awful about the whole situation and is going to pay for everything to get it back on the road.
so my question is, what would be our best route to go about this. i'm more of a mustang guy so i'm not really up to date on cost/prices for these motors. i haven't had time to do my research yet. i know how to bo basic bolt-ons, but i'm not mechanically incline enough to rebuild or swap out motors. i will have to most likely have a reputable shop do it or find someone knowledgeable enough to do it on the side. here are 3 options that i thought of so far:
1. rebuild the current motor, if at all possible. estimated cost?
2. swap in a used LS1 motor, more cost effective?
3. drop in a LS2 motor in a C5? feasible, doable?
give me some opinions, thanks.
i do believe that if the low oil light did come on, it was probably too late and it's very possible he didn't even notice it. he was on his way to work and got stranded on the Bay Bridge going to San Francisco.
he feels awful about the whole situation and is going to pay for everything to get it back on the road.
so my question is, what would be our best route to go about this. i'm more of a mustang guy so i'm not really up to date on cost/prices for these motors. i haven't had time to do my research yet. i know how to bo basic bolt-ons, but i'm not mechanically incline enough to rebuild or swap out motors. i will have to most likely have a reputable shop do it or find someone knowledgeable enough to do it on the side. here are 3 options that i thought of so far:
1. rebuild the current motor, if at all possible. estimated cost?
2. swap in a used LS1 motor, more cost effective?
3. drop in a LS2 motor in a C5? feasible, doable?
give me some opinions, thanks.
He feels awful about what? He didn't do anything wrong, yet is compelled to pay for all repair costs....give me a break.
Forget the low oil level message, do you have any idea how bad that car would be smoking with oil splashing all over the exhaust?
If the engine just seized, and the timing chain did not break, you may be able to get away with a rebuilt short block...and be good to go. If you can find a used, well maintained LS1, that would be nice too.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I agree... an engine is owed. The dude shouldn't be allowed to just walk away from this. In place of an LS1, and LS6 will work without any problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
If the car is slammed then why does the BF owe her for a new engine? When you slam a car you take a chance on something hitting underside and taking anything out including the oil filter.
With evidence showing the filter got tore away from the base then I would say the BF is not liable for anything if there is no evidence he was 4x4-ing with the car. And yes you could easily high side over a gas station ground fill cap and ruin a oil filter on a lowered car as ive seen it happen.
With evidence showing the filter got tore away from the base then I would say the BF is not liable for anything if there is no evidence he was 4x4-ing with the car. And yes you could easily high side over a gas station ground fill cap and ruin a oil filter on a lowered car as ive seen it happen.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 4
From: Brookfield Wisconsin
Does the Corvettes Oil filter hang that low? I dont think so, other major things would get damaged!
I have never heard of anything ripping off an Oil filter before driving on the road.
So you are one of them people who borrow things and return them broken and dont take any responsibility then!
I have never heard of anything ripping off an Oil filter before driving on the road.
So you are one of them people who borrow things and return them broken and dont take any responsibility then!
If the car is slammed then why does the BF owe her for a new engine? When you slam a car you take a chance on something hitting underside and taking anything out including the oil filter.
With evidence showing the filter got tore away from the base then I would say the BF is not liable for anything if there is no evidence he was 4x4-ing with the car. And yes you could easily high side over a gas station ground fill cap and ruin a oil filter on a lowered car as ive seen it happen.
With evidence showing the filter got tore away from the base then I would say the BF is not liable for anything if there is no evidence he was 4x4-ing with the car. And yes you could easily high side over a gas station ground fill cap and ruin a oil filter on a lowered car as ive seen it happen.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Depends on the oil filter being used - some are about even with the pan. There was a thread quite a while ago where someone went over a speed bump and it hit the oil filter and spit it right open.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I agree. If I was to ever borrow anything from someone and especially something as important as a car, and if something happened to it, they would get it back in the same or better condition than when I borrowed it. No way would I break something and return it broken.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
I just changed my oil this weekend and had scuff marks from something on the filter. The car is low and I am very carefull when I go over something to the point people behind me are honking cause of the angle and speed I'm going. Point is you say the car is "slammed" and I'm assuming your sister's bf doesn't drive vettes very often. He may of gone over something and not realised it and broke the housing off. Like I said I had scuff marks on my filter and I try to be be carefull but somehow there are some on there.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
I wonder if something internally broke off in the engine and then caused this to happen. I would want to take the oil pan off and take a look just out of curiosity. 
My guess is that something let loose internally and wreaked this havoc. Now how that happened could lead down a thousand different roads.
Also, he could have ran something over with the front tire and it knocked the filter off which would make sense why part of it was still attached.
My guess is that something let loose internally and wreaked this havoc. Now how that happened could lead down a thousand different roads.
Also, he could have ran something over with the front tire and it knocked the filter off which would make sense why part of it was still attached.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
If there is truly evidence that the filter was torn off it almost certainly had to hit something in or on the road. If a mechanic can give you an affidavit that the engine damage is due to a road hazard then the car insurance company should pay to have it fixed. This would be similar to the circumstance several forum members have reported of their engines being destroyed by hydraulic lock when their car with cold air type intake was driven through a puddle and sucked water into the engine. These members reported filing on their comprehensive coverage for road damage.
Charlie
Charlie
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: USA
QUESTION DOES IT TURN OVER? If it does do a compression check. Find out what cylinder is bad. I would personally take the motor out strip it send it to a machine shop have it just honed out. put new rings in it, and have them check the crank, also new main bearings wouldnt hurt!
Heads should be fine... I would also put in a ported oil pump! Bottom end rebuild is all you need. That cost maybe 2,000 grand most of the cost is the crank inspection and remove and reinstall... If you can remove and install it yourself, it should only be a 1000 bucks for someone to do what I said above. good luck
Heads should be fine... I would also put in a ported oil pump! Bottom end rebuild is all you need. That cost maybe 2,000 grand most of the cost is the crank inspection and remove and reinstall... If you can remove and install it yourself, it should only be a 1000 bucks for someone to do what I said above. good luck
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: USA
NEXT Install a removable skid plate made of stainless steel... Zues fastners are 1/4 turn fastners and have a really good locking feature... Id proctect that oil filter from not doing it again! Or raise the car to stock height. My opinion these cars are low enough I cant imagine lowering it more. Just my opinion though. Good luck
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 4
From: Brookfield Wisconsin
Original poster said the filter fell off, people keep posting about the car being low and getting ripped of, split, tore or what ever. When a filter gets hit from a low riding car it may rip the cover off, split the case but IT NEVER TOTALLY DISAPPEARS because at the least the part that screws on will still be STUCK ON THE CAR!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 2
From: Cedarburg, WI
Original poster said the filter fell off, people keep posting about the car being low and getting ripped of, split, tore or what ever. When a filter gets hit from a low riding car it may rip the cover off, split the case but IT NEVER TOTALLY DISAPPEARS because at the least the part that screws on will still be STUCK ON THE CAR!