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99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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mina
New User
May 18, 2007, 2:00 AM
Post #1 of 6
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99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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Hi...I have a major problem. I have taken excellent care of my 99 2.2 litre Sunfire. My engine was so quiet, you had to listen too closely to make sure it was even running. All of a sudden, last week, I hear a slight knocking, and the oil light came on for a few seconds.
I asked a mechanic friend, who said it was probably the oil pump, but that I could drive it to work until I could have it repaired. Two days ago, the engine started to sound like a roller coaster. Now my friend says to tow it to his job, and they will put it up on the diagnostic machine to see if that's the problem. That's $100 right there.
I spoke to another mechanic who says if it's knocking like that the motor is trashed, and it will cost $1600 to replace. The car is still running, with no overheating. I don't want to pay $100 just to have them tell me I need a new engine.
HELP!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 18, 2007, 5:05 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: 99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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An engine that is perfect can be destroyed in no time without oil or oil pressure. You are hearing noises so some damage has been done at a minimum. Total loss of that engine is likely.
For readers: Folks don't play around with oil or temp warnings! They are red lights and mean business. It doesn't mean check it out when you have time because you'll have plenty of time walking real soon if you ignore those warnings.
Pay attention!
T
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mina
New User
May 18, 2007, 11:04 AM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: 99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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So, once it's knocking there's no saving it? The one mechanic keeps telling me that if I bring it in and "try" a new pump, it may replace oil to the engine and it will be ok. That's total crap, right? He just wants money. grrrrr
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 18, 2007, 1:00 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: 99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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Your oil light, if we are on the same page here, came on while you were driving indicating lack of oil pressure which can be caused by low oil level or pump can't pump. Same damage either way.
If it still runs ok a new oil pump may overcome the wear in the engine parts that would be worn from low oil pressure and it might behave for a while unknown how long. An oil pump may get you out of it for now in other words. That's guessing and a gamble you may want to take.
______________________________
Understanding oil and its pressure for an engine: Engines do not use roller bearings (with few isolated exceptions) to lubricate the important engine parts.
Try putting even water between two perfectly flat surfaces and they slip on each other like ice. The bearings are lubed the same basic way and need constant flow as the oil that just about prevents any metal to metal contact is leaking it out at a known rate and the oil then goes right on to the next important bearing and on to all kinds of other parts. These surfaces are not flat but close tolerance between the surfaces and they essentially are not touching. For a second when you start an engine up there is no oil pressure and more wear happens in that second or two than the drive you may go on. The difference between the parts that wear is very slight to hold the oil there. You really can't see the difference between an out of spec part and a good one by eye very well. It's hair line tolerance or there is imediate wear of the parts and they burn into each other and can ulimately seize the engine.
I hope that makes some sense as to why it's important, how it works and the risks involved....
T
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mina
New User
May 20, 2007, 1:16 AM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: 99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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Thanks, Tom. That helped a lot. I still cannot understand why a licensed mechanic would tell me I could drive it...oh, well. Live and learn. One more question. I know someone at my job who had a '97 Chevy Cavalier and wrecked it. The engine is good, though. The body just got messed up. Is that engine adaptable to a '99 Sunfire? My friend is checking to see if it's a 2.2 or 2.4. Does that matter?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 20, 2007, 5:29 AM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: 99 Sunfire oil pump/new engine????
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You could drive a car if light went out again if filled with oil and quiet again. Overheating can kill an engine too which is why the warning lights for that are red too. Red warning mean too late mostly and amber ones mean soon and heed the warnings.
As far as the engine swap: Someone really has to verify that you need to go that far and you might.
The engine you know of would be awesome if you know the history and it fits. To know if that can just drop in and replace yours you'll need to get some information.
Start with looking at stickers under the hood and verify if it's the same size engine at all. Then with VIN numbers of both and date it was made which is on driver's door jam or known thru VIN will be needed to verify the correct drop in engine. Some salvage yards are very good at this and can tell you that the engine will fit but may need items from old one and so on. I don't have that info at hand and don't know if it's available on the web for free or low cost but I'd still check with a salvage yard that deals with these things if you have to go that far. You also need to know that the wreck of the donor car didn't hurt the engine. You said it was good and should hear it run and the risk of dealing with a friend/coworker vs a salvage yard that will take responsibility for what they sell.
It's hard for you not to get involved with this job. Get hands on advice. We do our best but we aren't there looking at the situation. Different techs will have different approaches to big problems and may suggest go for new only parts. For engines I'm a proponent of good, known used whole engines unless the car is so new that new would be the way to go.
More: If you really are in for a big job like this it's time to find out what your car is worth right now. Edmunds.com, NADA Guides.com, KBB.com to name a few can give you an idea. It might be worth changing cars and let the dealers deal with the problem,
Good luck. Here to help as I can and others may jump in with different ideas and pay attention to what they suggest as well,
T
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