Driving a car that has a knock after oil starvation?

[TroubledSoul]

I'm just after some advice here. If you wanted to buy the aforementioned vehicle because you don't need the knackered engine but want the rest of it, could it be driven a fair way with a knocking engine if you were to pull over every so often and top the oil up?

I don't know a huge amount about why oil strvation causes a knock, so apologies if my question seems stupid. Unfortunately it would be a 150 mile journey so a fair whack. I don't particularly care if the journey makes it worse (if possible!) but I do care if topping up oil is likely to do nothing and the engine could still seize etc.

[Toaster Pilot]

Why was it starved? Is it still struggling to circulate oil?

[Matt UK]

I'm no expert, but 150 miles will feel an awfully long way if it destroys itself after 5mins.

[Toaster Pilot]

Matt UK said:

I'm no expert, but 150 miles will feel an awfully long way if it destroys itself after 5mins.

^ that.

[TroubledSoul]

That's what I am worried about. Whether that is likely to happen or if the thing could be carried with constant top ups on the way.

It's burning oil so will use it as it goes.

[yajeed]

Toaster Pilot said:

^ that.

I've tried, and failed to do that on 2 occasions. First one 30 miles, second 20.

Usually results in lots of smoke and me staring at a broken car wondering what to do next!

[Mr MXT]

Where are you moving it from / to? Getting it transported isn't always that much more than the cost of fuel for you to pick it up.

[Boobonman]

Depends how bad it is. A mate hydro locked an old range rover V8 and that soldiered on making a terrible racket for ages, more than 150 miles anyway

[Toaster Pilot]

What kind of car is it to be worth travelling 300 miles to get a broken one?

[TroubledSoul]

MR2 Roadster. Not particularly special, but in budget and decent enough for the price. My good engine can go in out of my Cat C Roadster.

[crosseyedlion]

Depends how bad the knock is.

I sold a car with a nasty top end knock under load, driven gently it sounded normal - I drove it to mums (30 miles cross country) then the buyer drove it a further 45 miles to Milton Keynes, no problem.

I'd try it, with decent AA/RAC cover, a whole day to do it and preferably someone following.

[Back to the top]

Get some roadside / relay cover ?

[jon-]

MK3?

If it was a Mk1 you could be sure to get it home, without even bothering putting oil in.

[okie592]

Drive it till it brakes down then call the rac and have it transported home?

[Higgs boson]

Is the "knock" directly related to the starvation?

[GAjon]

Go to a farm and buy the largest chicken they have.
Put it in the car with you.
If you break down,
Call the RAC and tell them..........




Your big hens gone.

[TroubledSoul]

GAjon said:

Go to a farm and buy the largest chicken they have.
Put it in the car with you.
If you break down,
Call the RAC and tell them..........




Your big hens gone.

Ha, that actually made me chuckle!

[Busa mav]

My son managed to drive his Celica 190 about a 100 miles with it sounding like a sledge hammer bashing on a steel plate.

It is still a " runner" but the vehicle , on a 54 plate is basically a write off

[996TT02]

Logic would dictate that you asked the owner what he thinks, perhaps convince him to go for a short drive in it and report back. You could be driving that for months in that condition, or it could be minutes, it's a bit of a stretch to ask for prophetic insight from on here

[TroubledSoul]

996TT02 said:

Logic would dictate that you asked the owner what he thinks, perhaps convince him to go for a short drive in it and report back. You could be driving that for months in that condition, or it could be minutes, it's a bit of a stretch to ask for prophetic insight from on here

I know, and it seems slightly ludicrous to do so when I think about it, but hey ho!

He was told by a mechanic that it might go another hundred miles or it might go no further than the end of the street. Not the best news!