I thought I'd share what turned out to be an interesting "event" with this car. Makes me like the new cars less--too much plastic!
Symptoms: clattering lifter, followed by loss of coolant, and finally an engine that wouldn't start.
Cause: the PLASTIC intake plenum developed a crack. This piece actually has a water passage, and the crack let coolant into the oil/crankcase (hence the loss of coolant). The water-oil mix lacked the viscosity needed for the lifters to function (hence the clatter). Eventually enough water ended up in the cylinder to prevent the engine from starting.
The mechanic said this was the third one of these he's done. Makes me question the wisdom of putting plastic parts on an automobile engine.
This would have been caught earlier by taking a better look at the oil level and quality.
The irony: this cost less to fix than the cost of replacing the tail light across the back of the trunk lid.
Symptoms: clattering lifter, followed by loss of coolant, and finally an engine that wouldn't start.
Cause: the PLASTIC intake plenum developed a crack. This piece actually has a water passage, and the crack let coolant into the oil/crankcase (hence the loss of coolant). The water-oil mix lacked the viscosity needed for the lifters to function (hence the clatter). Eventually enough water ended up in the cylinder to prevent the engine from starting.
The mechanic said this was the third one of these he's done. Makes me question the wisdom of putting plastic parts on an automobile engine.
This would have been caught earlier by taking a better look at the oil level and quality.
The irony: this cost less to fix than the cost of replacing the tail light across the back of the trunk lid.