Was going on a trip so wanted to do an oil change.

Had a really ****ty day but felt obligated to change the oil anyway.
I use the oil filter wrench to tighten the filter because i have carpel tunnel.
I forgot the ****ing wrench on the filter and while driving in the mountains it poked a hole in the filter so oil started spilling as I was driving.

Noticed the "check gauges" light come on for a second and disappear so disregarded it since the oil gauge bounces around sometimes.
The second time it came on and stayed on so I stopped and checked everything out and **** me I'm leaking a lot of oil.

The engine never seized or anything so I got lucky...not really

I got it towed to the nearest mechanic where they gave me more oil and a new filter.

I usually put in 6 quarts on an oil change...it took 5 quarts to be good after the incident so only about a quart left in there....

I heard some engine knocking the day after for a couple minutes...

I heard some faint engine knocking at one point during the day today.

I can't always hear it but I obviously did some damage.

The question is what's next
Am I looking at an engine rebuild in the very near future?
Should I inquire about an engine rebuild or swap now?
Is this engine a ticking time bomb that's gonna give out any week?
What are my options?
What to do...

I love this car and it's engine so i'd probably spend a good amount of my savings on fixing it.

Thanks for the help I hate myself

 

You're going to have to do some digging to fully answer those questions.

 

Have you noticed a drop in oil pressure since the incident?

Time to do some stethoscoping to isolate the knock area.

A remote possibility? Could be the knock was always there and didn't notice it until your ears became hyper sensitive after the incident now listening for knocks?

 

Don't beat yourself up about it. Everyone on the forum can tell a story where they cost themselves a fortune doing something stupid. I once forget to spin the torque converter into the transmission when installing in my 79 Camaro. Tightening up the bolts I heard a *tink* sound. Figured out my error, took it apart, spun converter on. One week later I was replacing the transmission. Had to yank the damn thing out, AGAIN. Cost me a couple dollars.

As far as your issue. I am unable to predict how long that engine will last, but I would run it till it quit or got significantly worse. Scour CL for a part out with a good engine for cheap, or spend the money on a good rebuilt. Are you able to do the swap yourself? Changing an engine out isn't complicated. Label each connection, bag hardware and brackets, take lots of pictures in process.

 

I always see the advice to "drive it till it quits" in a lot of instances and I wonder if that's really good advice. Of course I understand that it really means drive the vehicle until it's obvious that this is its last day on earth and it won't wake up tomorrow. But what if that engine (or whatever part) decides to croak on the highway at 75mph? Or when you're in the middle of nowhere with a spotty cell phone signal? As a female, I don't take chances like that. I don't leave to chance stuff that I can possibly prevent.

I say be pro-active with your research and repair if that's the way you choose to go. Be aggressive about identifying that knock. If you're uncomfortable about the prognosis, don't drive it at all if you have another vehicle.

 

You can drop the pan, inspect the bearings (one at a time) and when in doubt, use plastigage to check clearances. All it will cost you is a 6 pack of oil and a pan gasket set, plus an afternoon to remember. With luck you will find a bearing (or two) that can be replaced rather than a wiped out crank.

 

Probably not. These things are tough. One time my son dropped the filter, drained the engine, put the plug back in, put the filter on, then drove the Jeep down off the ramps and parked it in a better place to refill it.

Oddly enough, he's still alive!

And so is the Jeep.

Suicide.

Better yet,

As mentioned, investigate! Stethoscope that thing. You'll be amazed what you can learn. Listen to water pumps, distributors, anything with bearings, really. Poke the side of the block, move it to different places along the block. Have a listening party and be amazed at what you can hear.

Based on what you find out, maybe you'll drop the pan and do the Plastigauge dance like Charlie Foxtrot said. It's not hard or expensive, and then you'll know.

Won't help on the cam bearings, though, but let's see what that 'scope says before worrying about that.




Yep. That's why I suggested suicide. BTDT. I was towing my beloved antique sports car across country with my '65 Mustang (third owner) and the Mustang developed a water pump leak AND the starter went out. I wound up draining the sports car radiator to limp into Las Vegas (hey, it was just being towed, right?) but I had to stop for something. Can't get started again. So, swapped vehicles, my partner and I tow started the Mustang..... and trashed the other car's engine.

That's just one of many I could tell.

So, kill yourself once or twice (preferably quietly), then get over it.

 

It is really common to hear some new ticking/knocking just because a different brand or weight of oil is being used. So I wouldn't overthink what you have observed so far.

If your engine is going to grenade on you, it will, and you might as well get every last mile out of it until then. If anything bearing or piston related is going bad, it will probably begin making quite the racket before actually failing. But I think you'll find its probably just fine for now.