Loose change in the oil pan

[burgandy81]

Well not really, just sounds that way when idling.

After a very hard run this summer my car now has a tragic sound of loose change rattling around in the front of the oil pan.

With any throttle the noise goes away. Car still seems to run OK and has reasonable power although I have not pushed it.

My assumption is a destroyed main bearing although i do not understand why it would quiet down with some force applied to it.

Any thoughts?

This seems like the excuse I needed to build up an engine. The timing is not ideal as we just moved and are renovating house. Any insight from this vague description is appreciated.

Cheers,

Jordan

[RoyBatty]

Remove alternator belt.
Start and run engine. See if noise goes away.

[vandor]

What grade oil are you using? Oil pressure may be low at idle but build at higher rpm.
Have you changed the oil and check for metal in the oil draining out?

[BNelsonAz]

I would drain the oil then let it set for an hour and put a magnet in to check for metal. Don't wait or you might find what I did in the bottom of the oilpan. .

[baltobernie]

Have you changed the oil and check for metal in the oil draining out?

+1
Might be a broken pickup. There will be chips in the oil.

[burgandy81]

Thanks everyone.

Optimistically i am hoping Csaba is correct and I am low on thin oil (neighbor gave me some free 10/30).

If not, I will start looking for shiny bits in places they are not supposed to be.

Car is not at my house right now and hope to check this weekend.

Best regards,

Jordan

[Auspider]

Mines started doing a similar noise. But I noticed that when I pit the lights on or the thermofans came on, it went away. Turns out to be a bearing in the alternator. +1 for taking the aux belt of to see if it goes away.