Drove while 2 quarts low on oil

[SirRobyn0]

Update: Added 2 quarts, oil level is happy and the pressure gauge is back to pegged, but she's now got a dead miss on at least 2 holes. Gonna borrow a compression tester and figure out which ones. Gonna also check under the valve covers while cranking for possible wiped cam lobes.

I'm sorry to hear that, but as you already know cam issue would be most likely I think anyway.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Now would be a great time to switch to vortex heads dontchaknow?

 

[IcePatch]

quick update: took my laser thermometer out and fired her up. Pointed it at the headers as she was idling, #8 was the only one that wasn't heating up. Pulled the plug out and took the below picture. Gonna pull the rest of the plugs and check for additional fouling. I'll put new plugs in and see if she runs better.

This is likely what I heard getting worse on the freeway. As the plug fouled further the miss became more consistent.

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[IcePatch]

Final update:

New plugs installed, she's running just like new again.

Bought a vacuum guage and fiddled with the idle mixture, also need to get my hands on a different vacuum pot since she's only pulling about 13-15 at idle. (Lumpy cam).

Thanks for all the responses and the reassurances. I'm quite thankful that I didn't actually grenade the motor.

 

[Midnightmoon]

Sure is good news when the fix doesn't have to be big $$$$

 

[SirRobyn0]

Yes that's good news, but that's also some pretty serious fouling. I just went though an oil control issue on my rig, it can get pretty frustrating tracking that source down, but eventually got it fixed. Let us know how it goes!

 

[cstew47]

I agree with all the other guys that say it's probably fine. I use to have a customer with a Suburban 350 in it and she'd run it out of oil regularly. It's amazing what an otherwise healthy engine will take. No matter how many times I told her she could swing by the shop every few weeks, and that I'd not only check it, but top it off for free she'd never do it. When the oil got low enough for the light to flicker on and the lifters to clatter she'd come by, I'd fill it and idle it till it quieted down. This went on for a few years before she sold the truck.

My 1996 Grand Cherokee. When I bought it, it was a private party sale and the price was right to move quickly. When I went to look at it I pulled the stick and there was no oil on it. On a short test drive the pressure gauge would drop every time I hit the brakes. So what did I do I went and bought 5 quarts or oil, put 3 in the crankcase to bring it up to full, the oil pressure was good, the engine was quiet. So I made an offer, bought the Jeep, and have put about 75K on it since then. Still going strong, and valve gaskets fixed the oil usage.

Do you mean valve cover gaskets or valve guide seals?

 

[SirRobyn0]

@cstew47 Sorry about that, in re-reading I wasn't clear. Valve cover gaskets. The Jeep was practically dumping oil from the valve cover gaskets.

 

[IcePatch]

1 year update: It's totally fine.

I changed the oil after this whole fiasco, cut the filter open and it was immaculate with zero metal or nylon shavings. The truck's been running flawlessly and I make SURE to check the oil level at least once a week.
I installed a mechanical oil pressure guage and it's got just under 80 PSI when cold, lowest it gets after heat soaking the engine on a hot day and idling at 650 RPM in gear is 35 PSI, but goes right back up to 60 with any amount of RPM.

 

[Ricko1966]

Now would be a great time to switch to vortex heads dontchaknow?

And a holley,and an ls,yep,that combo will get you 700hp 9s and 25 mpg.. Lol

 

[SirRobyn0]

1 year update: It's totally fine.

I changed the oil after this whole fiasco, cut the filter open and it was immaculate with zero metal or nylon shavings. The truck's been running flawlessly and I make SURE to check the oil level at least once a week.
I installed a mechanical oil pressure guage and it's got just under 80 PSI when cold, lowest it gets after heat soaking the engine on a hot day and idling at 650 RPM in gear is 35 PSI, but goes right back up to 60 with any amount of RPM.

Thanks for the update and info.

 

[SquareRoot]

I have Vortex scopes on several of my rifles. I think @Rusty Nail meant to say Vortec heads. I know this because he has expressed vile disdain for Vortec heads. But hey, people can change.

 

[GTX63]

Lots of stories about the forgiving nature of those old iron motors. They burned oil, leaked oil, and often magically used it without smoking or spotting the driveway. Yet they kept on ticking.
Now try to run a late model Ford eco or GM 4 cylinder low on oil and the timing chains grenade and end the motor's life permanently.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Lots of stories about the forgiving nature of those old iron motors. They burned oil, leaked oil, and often magically used it without smoking or spotting the driveway. Yet they kept on ticking.
Now try to run a late model Ford eco or GM 4 cylinder low on oil and the timing chains grenade and end the motor's life permanently.

My 06 Colorado with a 3.5 straight 5 vibrated the dipstick to death, broke it right off, even the mount. About 60,000 miles before it's death, I didn't care, it had already been burning oil I just started adding when the timing chain started getting clattery I knew the oil was about 2 qts low lol. The oil light would only flash when it was real low under heavy braking.

I got 260,000 miles out of it, I'm pretty sure the timing chain and guides went. Hell I even got 260,000 out of that 4l60e!! Even the transfer case!