Not really Volvo...

[KEWROCK]

But it could apply to anything.

I took a break from working on my Volvo today to change the oil on my mother's Ford Escape. The weirdest, one in a million thing happened to me. When I took the old oil filter out I didn't realize the o-ring was stuck to the block. I put the new filter in and started up the car. About 30 seconds later I hear all kinds of gushing noise, and oil shooting onto the driveway. I had no idea what the hell was going on. I pulled the out the new filter, it was fine. It wasn't until I got a flashlight to look at the mounting manifold that I noticed the ring still stuck there. You have to work blind, and feel around for the filter in this car.

My question is, The car ran about 30 or so seconds freely gushing oil. Then after I re-secured the filter I started up the car and let it run about a minute to see if it still leaked. I hadn't realized how much oil I lost in the gravel until I went to top off. I only had about a quart and a half out of 6 still in the car. So basically the car ran about a minute with only a little over a quart. Did I take any life out of the engine? In that minute the engine was cold, and I did not hear any noises from the head.

Sorry for being a little off topic, But you're my only forum

[Matty Moo]

You should be alright. Just keep an eye on it.

[matthew1]

I did the same thing on a 2000 Honda Civic. The old gasket stuck to the block. I would have noticed my mistake if the Honda engineers hadn't put the filter in a blind, contortionists-only spot. And if that weren't enough, the filter mounts horizontally.

I agree with Matty Moo, probably no damage done.

[KEWROCK]

I swear, that's an inside joke amongst all automakers. "Let's make the oil and air filters nearly impossible to get to". I bet they have contests to see who could come up a *nearly* impossible procedure for what should be as simple as putting gas in the car.
The oil filter drains all over the exhaust pipe, then travels down the chassis so there's no way catch it. The air filter is a bitch too. The two halves of the case split open but only about 3/4 of an inch. The problem is the filter is about an inch and a half thick. So you have to unclamp the flex hose, Unplug the MAF, and another wire harness, disconnect a couple other circulatory hoses and still fright with it. It's NO accident. and it's not just Ford.

[fazool]

No damage was done. The oil was still covering the moving metal parts so everything was still lubricated. It hadn't heated up enough to thin the oil and run and it didnt get hot enough to cause more frictional problems.


You're fine

[rspi]

If there was damage, you'd probably would have heard it. I have checked oil in cars that had NONE on the stick. I personally believe that 50% of our oil supply is reserve, harder to make 4 quarts dirty than 1, also helps with cooling. If that were not the case, most people would be ridding the bus.

[jblackburn]

Try changing the spark plugs on an Escape. You haveta remove the damn intake manifold.

That car was clearly designed to be worked on by service technicians. And even they hate them.

My '88 Accord was even worse. I had to remove the axle from the left side of the wheel to even access the alternator. The engine was crammed in there as close as possible with no room to even change the serpentine belt.

One of the very few cars I have enjoyed actually working on was (surprisingly) a Chrysler product - a Jeep Liberty. Every hose is labeled, everything (including spark plugs!) is SUPER easy to get to, and the thing was clearly thought out for people that want to work on their cars, like most Jeep owners tend to do.

Too bad the Escape has been a much better car than the Liberty.

[Thunderbox]

Everybody has to learn this lesson. I did it on my brand new 82 Z28 Camaro. Actually drove it about 4 miles. Didn't hurt the motor and I check for that gasket everytime now. I now make it a point to remind my teenage son whenever he changes the oil on his Audi Coupe GT.