Need diagnosis help and info 2005 Vibe

[the_nite_owl]

Yesterday I was on the highway driving up hill in my wife's Vibe and the engine started making noise. I immediately pulled over to the side and as I stopped the oil light came on and the engine stalled.I checked and no oil was registering on the dipstick. I let it cool for about 30 minutes while my wife came with some 5W30. Added several quarts and started it up and the oil light did not come on but there was still a bit of engine noise which began to ease as the engine ran. I tried driving off the highway and it was doing better for about a mile then the noise came back and the oil light came on again.There is still plenty of oil in the engine and it does not seem to be leaking anywhere. I suspect the oil pump may have gone bad.Anyone have other ideas? Anyone able to give me info on locating and replacing the oil pump if indeed that is the issue? I can pull the valve cover and see if the oil is circulating but if the pump is working but not well I would not be able to tell.I am not sure how the oil got so low. It had an oil change late last fall and does not visibly seem to be burning oil.

[star_deceiver]

What mileage are you at?1) How black is the oil?2) Do you check it regularly (every time at the gas station) and does the level change?3) Sludge? Perhaps dropping the oil pan and having a look may be a good idea. 4) When you change the oil, take the filter and cut the can off so you can have a look to see if there's any big metallic debris!

[the_nite_owl]

Car has 115,000.It is my wife's car and she does not take good care of it.She told me she had gotten the oil changed late last fall but when I got under the car I found markings on the filter indicating it was changed in February 2009 so she has a good 20,000 on it since the last change.There was not much sludge in the engine but the oil was a bit scorched.Pulled off the valve cover and things look pretty good there. Cleaned it up a bit and replaced the plugs. Oil pump seems to be making a loud whine and we appear to have a lot of noise in the bottom end. I think we need to pull the engine and give it a full inspection in the bottom end and probably just go ahead and rebuild.

[joatmon]

a number of us have developed oil consumption issues as the engine rack up the miles, with no visible signs of leaks or burning, but it goes somewhere. The lesson in here for all of us is to check the oil level periodically, not just at oil change times. Even with checking, I still had mine get too low once, so now I check it more often.You didn't say if you replaced the oil filter after the incident. Sonds like the pump starved for oil, something became unlubricated and damaged. If you're lucky, it could be something like the rod bearings, which can be replaced without pulling the engine , if you're careful and the crank isn't damaged. Maybe the oil filter or the oil pump pickup screen is clogged with bearing bits. First diagnostic step I'd take would be to drop the oil pan. When my rod bearings went, there was a lot of glitter that stayed in the pan even after draining the oil, but the glitter was all bearing surface (doesn't pick up with a magnet). If the oil filter and oil pump lickup are not clogged and you still have oil pressure issues, then maybe you do need to replace the oil pump (and probably some other things as well) Getting to the oil pump in the 1ZZ requires taking off all the pulleys and the timing chain cover and timing chain. Here's a PDF showing oil pump replacement on a 1ZZHere's a PDF showing how to get tot he oil pump

Attached files x040001.pdf (28.9 KB) 

[joatmon]

that first PDF assumes you;re already into the engine pretty deep. Here's the procedure referenced in step 2

Attached files x040001.pdf (385.1 KB) 

[the_nite_owl]

Thanks for the info and the pics.Based on the noise I think we are just going to pull the engine so we can give it a good check and make sure whatever went did not cause other things to go as well. Given the mileage we may just rebuild the whole thing while it is out.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by the_nite_owl »Thanks for the info and the pics.Based on the noise I think we are just going to pull the engine so we can give it a good check and make sure whatever went did not cause other things to go as well. Given the mileage we may just rebuild the whole thing while it is out.Sorry for your troubles. Sadly, 115,000 miles isn't much at all on today's engines. back in the 60's and 70's 100,000 on an engine was cause for celebration, today, it is expected.Just highlights the importance of not only changing oil on a timely basis but for also checking the oil on a timely basis.Let us know what you findDave

[cptnsolo77]

Yes This is very helpfull. I check all my fluids & tire pressure once a week BEFORE I start the car in the morning. This way I can get a accurate reading on the dipstick because all the oil has drained to the pan overnight. Also if I need to add ioil its easy to tell how much I added. Same with the tranny fluid & radiator fluid. Its much easier for me.