'01 engine oil filter fell off
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Something VERY FISHY here...
How well do you trust the boy friend? Maybe someone was hot-rodding and started a engine knock and pulled off the filter to hide it???? Maybe not, but I can tell you in over 34+ years of being in the auto business I've NEVER seen an oil filter blow off if the right one was put on. Seeing you have done all the oil changes are you sure the right filter was installed? There are some that the thread takes a larger size adaptor thread but it would have been a different part number. I have seen split oil filter cases but the base always remains attached to the engine.I feel sorry for you sister too. That really sucks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,349
Likes: 1,124
From: Dyer, IN
my sister has a '01 C5 that she uses as a weekend driver. this past week her b/f used the car since his car was down. i get a call this morning from my sister and she said her car is at the shop. apparently, as her b/f was driving it, somehow along the way, the oil filter came off and he drove it until the engine took a croak.
when the car got towed to the shop and they got it on a lift, the shop discovered a missing oil filter and oil splattered everywhere underneath. the shop said they can swap in a used engine for about $4,500. i told her to tell the shop to hold off on everything and get it towed home so i can take a look at it.
i'm the one who does all the maintenance on the car. the oil was changed about 2 months ago by me. i'm pretty sure everything was tight b/c if it wasn't oil would have leaked right away. it there was some kind of leak, the low oil light would have come on. her b/f didn't notice any light coming on whether it was the low oil or check engine light, any smoke, or oil residue in his driveway. he also said once it was at the shop, they put on a new filter, added oil, and tried to start it, but it wouldn't turn over.
as of right now, it will be towed back to the house. what should we check for? i just feel really bad for my sister right now. sorry for the rambling and grammar. i just need some advice as to what we should do at this point. TIA.
when the car got towed to the shop and they got it on a lift, the shop discovered a missing oil filter and oil splattered everywhere underneath. the shop said they can swap in a used engine for about $4,500. i told her to tell the shop to hold off on everything and get it towed home so i can take a look at it.
i'm the one who does all the maintenance on the car. the oil was changed about 2 months ago by me. i'm pretty sure everything was tight b/c if it wasn't oil would have leaked right away. it there was some kind of leak, the low oil light would have come on. her b/f didn't notice any light coming on whether it was the low oil or check engine light, any smoke, or oil residue in his driveway. he also said once it was at the shop, they put on a new filter, added oil, and tried to start it, but it wouldn't turn over.
as of right now, it will be towed back to the house. what should we check for? i just feel really bad for my sister right now. sorry for the rambling and grammar. i just need some advice as to what we should do at this point. TIA.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 2
From: Greenville SC
St. Jude Donor '10
Wow that sucks, my condolences to your sis. Even if the filter wasn't tight it would have lost enough oil to set off the warning light way before it spun itself off, very strange. Hope you can get it fixed without breaking the bank.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Yes, the story that the filter fell right off sounds like BS and the story that no warning or light came on is BS. It didn't just spin off.
The only way I can think of the filter falling off is if the wrong one was put on with a slightly larger thread, like a metric filter thread on an imperial engine mount. It could have held enough to go on but under pressure stripped and popped off.
If it won't turn over then it's a complete tear down and rebuild or a replacement engine.
Peter
The only way I can think of the filter falling off is if the wrong one was put on with a slightly larger thread, like a metric filter thread on an imperial engine mount. It could have held enough to go on but under pressure stripped and popped off.
If it won't turn over then it's a complete tear down and rebuild or a replacement engine.
Peter
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 4
From: Brentwood TN
Pure 
that the filter "fell off". What does your sister need to do?
First of all find a guy to date who has the b@ll$ to stand up for what he does and not come up with some story that screams "I think you are the dumbest people I ever met and I am so going to get over on you with this fairy tale".
Second, "encourage" this dirt bag to do the right thing because he dogged the car and blew the engine.
Charlie
that the filter "fell off". What does your sister need to do? First of all find a guy to date who has the b@ll$ to stand up for what he does and not come up with some story that screams "I think you are the dumbest people I ever met and I am so going to get over on you with this fairy tale".
Second, "encourage" this dirt bag to do the right thing because he dogged the car and blew the engine.
Charlie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
, Ever notice how many turns it takes to get the filter off? About 2 turns and it would pump all the oil out. Oil pressure WARNING, and the car would not run long enough for the filter to come off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
I have seen a oil filter gasket blown out before but the owner forgot to make sure old gasket was off and it wasnt so new one blew out. Oil ight came on before the filter screwed off.
Yea something doesnt sound right at all....BUT I know guys that are so clueless about cars its unbelievable and would never look at a gauge or even notice a message or light going off either.
Yea something doesnt sound right at all....BUT I know guys that are so clueless about cars its unbelievable and would never look at a gauge or even notice a message or light going off either.
Last edited by briann510; Apr 19, 2009 at 12:45 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
Check codes and see if something weird shows up??? Check the dude's driveway and trash and see if he was dumb enough to remove the filter at home. You can't just reach under a Vette and take off the filter so any chance he has a shiny new jack/jackstands in his garage?
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
C5runs,
You really need to manually try and turn the engine over. The starter or the battery might not have enough to do it or might even have gone bad. Before anything try and turn it over with a big breaker bar or some other means.
Regards,
You really need to manually try and turn the engine over. The starter or the battery might not have enough to do it or might even have gone bad. Before anything try and turn it over with a big breaker bar or some other means.
Regards,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 33
From: Texas-out west
bummer, post a pic if you can. I agree may have hit something and not realized it or drove it thinking it was ok to go to where he was going. Had a friend with 66 GTO that thru a rod and he made it 1/2 mile home and oil light came on as he coasted into driveway. Strange things can happen. good luck with fix.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 1
From: Sartell Minnesota
oh man that sucks. I've heard of people hitting stuff and wrecking the filter and taking out the engine. I agree to get a big bar and try and hand crank the engine. If it turns it may just need a rebuild.