Ran m20 with no oil, now sounds terrible😳

[hallockg806]

So recently I bought my first e30- 1987 325e with stock original motor (180k miles). My car has seemed to have been burning oil, I have had to put more in it about once every month. I could really only smell burnt oil when I really punch it for a good second, and there's no oil leaks. Anyways, so I got in my car today and drove it down the street and it was lacking power and was reallllyyyy loud. It sounds terrible and anything over 2.5k rpm it is screaming and it has never done that before. Not only that, but it was slow as hell with almost no power. I checked the oil and it only has one dot of oil on the dipstick, so it was basically dry. I immediately put 3 quarts of Castrol Edge 10w-30 and let it idle and then drove it a while and it is still doing the same exact thing, it's no better. Anyone know what's wrong or what I can do to fix it? I don't have the money for a new engine or rebuild, and am really hoping that's not the case..

[glnr13]

time for a compression test, i don't have good news for you.

[rturbo 930]

Sorry to say, but your engine is probably fucked, and it sounds like it wasn't in good shape to start with.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Yea that thing is toast.

[hallockg806]

time for a compression test, i don't have good news for you.

Should I take it someplace to get the compression checked or do it myself?

[glnr13]

you can rent one from vatozone or oreilly's and diy it. take it to a mechanic if you have no idea what you're doing.

[hallockg806]

you can rent one from vatozone or oreilly's and diy it. take it to a mechanic if you have no idea what you're doing.

Vatozone lol, but aight, I'll do it and post up what I get, thanks!

[digger]

i think there are other problems besides compression...

[hallockg806]

i think there are other problems besides compression...

Would I be able to rebuild it? I was thinking of swapping on i top end but idk if the bottom end is ruined?

[TobyB]

I would worry most about the bearings.
It may still have decent compression,
but without oil, the bearings will wrap
themselves around the crank and
then stick...

t

[hallockg806]

I would worry most about the bearings.
It may still have decent compression,
but without oil, the bearings will wrap
themselves around the crank and
then stick...

t

So would a rebuilt top end help it, or would I have to rebuild the whole thing? (I don't know much about engines) lol

[digger]

It's cheap to swap a whole working lump.

[bangn]

its fucked..

don't keep driving it or it will chuck a leg out of bed

[hallockg806]

It's cheap to swap a whole working lump.

Okay for sure. I was looking at rebuilt m20s and they'd run me over a grand just for the motor.

[hallockg806]

its fucked..

don't keep driving it or it will chuck a leg out of bed

There's nothing I can do? I mean it drives, just not very powerful and takes a while to get into high rpms, and it's loud.