exasperito

Everything was fine until I had a sudden loss of power on a mountain road. I continued to drive to town, where it slowly died. It started up the morning after being towed home, but the motor makes a terrible noise. I'm worried it's the crankshaft bearings. I unplugged the spark solenoid so I could hear what it sounds like turning over without combustion. It sounds normal. Wouldn't the crankshaft bearings be noisy even being turned by the starter? I took off the serpentine belt to check all pulleys for grinding or resistance, and found none. This noise is something awful, especially from inside the van with the cover off It sounds like the motor has negligible lubrication. It is definitely not the sound of a starter solenoid failing to disengage.

Any ideas? Thanks!

kevinkpk

If you can post a video, would be easier to try and diagnose. How many miles?

oldchevy

What does the oil look like? Did it overheat? What is the oil pressure?

geo1

Continued to drive?it's toast,you can't drive it with spark disconnected,so the test is start it,I'm thinking you know the results,stuff happens,time for a project

exasperito

Good point re: video! I'm grateful for your responses, not used to this level of engagement in auto diagnosis forums!

The oil looks fine. I initially suspected head gasket failure but no signs of coolant & oil mixing nor of exhaust in coolant. Good point re: oil pressure, not set up here to test it. I did use OBD reader to check for codes and there were none despite that the service engine light had come on.

I never drove it w spark solenoid disconnected, i just turned the engine over while parked so i could listen for the noise with pistons moving but without it running.

geo1

Yep,no load on pistons,no knock,oil looks ok?oil pump failure,I hope I am wrong,just be prepared

exasperito

Wouldn't the oil pump failure have manifested as engine seizure that first day? also what of the extremely sudden loss of power just as I was about to accelerate to pass another motorist? Thank you for your input!

geo1

When they cool off,movement happens,and about to pass another vehicle?you mentioned,you drove it till it died,that's heat and now you have"awful noise",oil is o.k.,fire it up,idle,no revs,listen,down low,yikes

exasperito

please clarify why you mean by no revs, listen down low THANKS

geo1

Listen for rattle,if it's outside the motor,no harm done,follow the sound,internally,knocking,you can't fix that with a small part