will she live?

[doubleadesign]

Just a few days ago I noticed a knocking sound. I took it to a shop for an audio analysis. They reved it from under the hood and were able to duplicate the sound. He told me to check my warranty because it was big time engine problem. So, is she doomed? I owe more than it is worth as a trade in and now with this I'm afraid I'd be way upside down. I just got new brakes and 20" wheels and tires! Fack! I need to get home tonight to check the warranty. But I thought I'd try to get some advice throughout today.
thanks for all help and advice.

[tomcat837]

My advice is that I got dibs on the wheels and tires if she dies...

Nah, just kidding! She'll be fine just take her in, I will be praying for her speedy recovery.

But seriously, if she buckles, I will like the wheels and tires...

[Mr. I-MAN]

Sorry to hear that your baby is ill. Keep us posted on the status.

Good Luck!

[t2p]

Ouch.
.
A knock can sometimes indicate a rod and/or crank bearing problem.
.
t2p

[yal^]

Hey doubleadesign, what's the actual diagnosis?
The noise and engine problem sound very unspecified....

[AlaskaVX]

How many miles do you have on there?

[doubleadesign]

OK.
for starters I have just over 51K miles.

At lunch I checked the oil. it didn't even register to mark the add section of the stick. So, freaking out I dashed around to get an oil change. It just happend to be about the right time anyway and I had been thinking of it.

So, I pull in (no waiting, yeah! That helps when your freaking out.) I tell these guys my story before we get started so they can observe and make any recomendations. I loaded up with Casrtol synthetic and some gooey additive.

It turns out I had only about a quart and a half come out black as tar. Now I furious at the last place I took it to (White Glove on Clyborn). I was suckered in by the free car wash.

Now the noise is gone except I can hear it once in a while if I strain and it's about 15% as loud as it was.

So, I'm still nervous. Is it a ticking time bomb?

[t2p]

Not good ......
.
Your story is (unfortunately) familiar ........ I have read a few other posts similar to this - on this site and a few others ....
.
There is a good chance there is some 'damage' to a rod and/or crank bearing. An oil pressure gauge would help in this case ....
a scored bearing will usually result in low oil pressure readings.
.
How long ago - miles - was the oil changed before the knocking occurred ...... ?
.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Even though the following may not pertain to this thread's motor issues:

I cannot stress enough the apparant tie-in between high oil usage and failure to change the PCV valve regularly. I found this out myself from this board. My VX always used a normal amount of oil between oil changes since it was new; and then, used almost a quart during a particular oil change period.

I found some posts on the subject and changed my PCV (less than 5 minutes in the AutoZone parking lot.) and the oil usage returned to normal immediately. My last 3,000 mile oil change interval barely used any oil at all...just under full on the dipstick.

[Joe_Black]

It turns out I had only about a quart and a half come out black as tar.

You check your oil how often?

[doubleadesign]

I guess I figured my VX was like a 17 year-old - indestructable. I never had a problem with the oil before. never. and it had only been about a month since my last oil change. how many of you guys went through all your oil in about a month?

Well, I found my service contract. 84 months or 75,000 miles. So, I think I'm in luck. I'm not worried about them trying to get out of it due to negligence since there was none. I might have gone to 3500 miles some times but that's not enough to cause a problem like this.

[deermagnet]

Geez, I hope everything works out for ya. Don't we have a dash warning light for low oil level/pressure? Shouldn't that light have come on?

Mark

[doubleadesign]

it came on for about 2 seconds.

[nocturnalVX]

Some VXes have become terminal due to no/low oil. Get it a complete checkup, and you can get it fixed under warranty if there is trouble.

[ScottinMA]

Doubleadesign,

Is there a supercharger on the engine?

doubleadesign
Super Charged VXer