Long story short, I got into an accident to where my truck was damaged pretty bad on the freeway. Something put a hole in the oil pan and it leaked all over (a big puddle was under the truck after the crash). I told the insurance rep and the shop rep about it and today they told me they started it up and it was shooting even more oil all over the place.

They said the hole was near the block, but its running fine. They have a new pan on back order.

My question is this, how long would it take to cause damage a 5.4L 3V that sat for 3 days inside a warm shop (having what oil it did have, drain back into the pan)? I don't want this to rear it's ugly head down the road shortly, they said it was running fine

 

I'm taking it that this was a shop that employed the severely mentally handicapped. Otherwise why would anyone start a vehicle that had a KNOWN hole in the oil pan??? Just for kicks maybe??? Sometimes people are just BEYOND figuring out! Tell 'em if they think that's such great wisdom to go do it to their own vehicle but keep their retard tricks far from yours!

 

If the hole was up near the block, then there was some oil down low for the oil pump to get. Most likely, you are OK IMO. If you want to fight this battle now, the insurance company will want to see some evidence of a problem. Somebody will have to tear the engine down to prove there is damage. If there isn't, you'll pay for that. On the other hand, find some way to get it on paper that they started the engine with a hole in the pan to get it documented. Down the road, if something happens, you have it on paper. I think either way you will have a big fight on your hands but you will have more "ammo" if you can prove you have a problem. Like I said, the likelihood that permanent damage occurred is low, so my prediction is that you'll get you truck fixed and go happily on with life. That said...

What a bunch of lazy morons!

 

I would have bet most of the oil was drained after the crash, by the puddle size. They thought that I must have been wrong about it being oil, because the front diff's axle tube had broke and they assumed I saw diff fluid.

I don't know how long they actually ran it. They claim it was running fine and then they noticed a puddle starting. After calling them with my concerns yesterday about the truck being run with low/no oil due to the punctured oil pan, I have an appointment to go have one of their reps show me what's been done so far and what needs to be done "to make me feel better". They said they'd stand behind their repair and if the engine showed signs of bearing failure do to oil starvation (or the like) they would cover the repair. Getting that in writing is probably another thing all together.

I'm tempted to call the insurance company to hold their feet to the fire, since it was their "authorized repair center" they recommended.

Once they do get a new pan, what should I be looking for? A rod knock? ticking?

 

So by what you're saying ......it went from shooting oil everywhere to just a puddle forming?

Is definitely keep open line of communications with the insurance company and everything documented and signed......

Sounds like the shop hired morons of the month.....

 

They said shooting and puddle forming. I'm assuming once they saw the puddle, they dropped down to see it coming out of the pan.

 

Sounds like a pretty bad wreck. Best might have been if the truck were totaled..

 

X2 I agree!!!! these engines are sooo oil pressure sensitive that using the wrong oil can be harmful for the engine, I am sure running it on little to no oil is going to wreak havoc on it. Them just saying they will stand by it, is a lot different than them actually doin it! Get it in writing!!!

 

I popped into the shop to see what was what.

The hole in the oil pan is on the passenger side, at the very top near where the pan flange is. It's 1" wide and 1/2" tall rectangle. It had about 1/2 - 3/4 of the total oil capacity still in it. It was very hard to see, honestly. Given that side's axle tube on the diff had broke, I bet that's how it got punctured. Waiting on the new pan to find anything else out.

I talked to them about it more and they're still waiting on the new oil pan from ford and a knuckle from Trailmaster. The rep I have been dealing with is on vacation, so the guy I did talk to today wasn't aware of any issues outside of the length of the part list and progress. Didn't get the chance to discuss the oil issue.

 

Update:
I went in to pick it up today and they had bad news for me. When they got the replacement pan in, they dropped the damaged one and found the tattered remains of one rod and it's bearing.

As my eye twitched and the veins in my neck and forehead were swelling for an explosion......the rep quickly pointed out they're replacing the engine with a new longblock from Ford, along with some additional A/C components they hadn't noticed were damaged. It could be worse I guess, but I'm pretty happy with the comprehensive repair they're undertaking.

 

If you looked up SEVERELY RETARDED in the dictionary you would likely find a group picture of the sum total of those that work in that shop.
Can anyone on this planet tell me how the truck can "run just fine" with "the tattered remains of one rod and it's bearing"? To classify them as MORONS would be a compliment. I wouldn't want them working on my vehicle if they did it for free! What makes you think you can trust what they say when they have already obviously lied to you? This IS NOT a good omen!

 

Check over everything they do real good. Hopefully they will do you right.

 

They're sending it out for the engine to a dealership to do it for them

 

It should have a warranty. Your good actually might be better then before the wreck depending on what was damaged on the body..

 

Agreed.....