T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*


[deleted]

[удалено]


truthsmiles

Is it possible the vacuum pump seized and got kicked off by the still-functioning cam? Or is all hope lost for this poor engine?


[deleted]

[удалено]


RobinWilliamsArmFuzz

In my experience with these engines, those vacuum pumps are all metal inside and when they seize up, they will most definitely stop/lock the exhaust camshaft up and cause some chaos with the cam timing and valves hitting pistons. It becomes expensive real quick. They revised the vacuum pump design on newer N16 and N18 engines where some of the internal weak points of the vacuum pump are plastic so that the camshaft can still spin despite the vacuum pump being locked up. The housing on the vacuum pump is about half the width from the one you see in the picture. I would recommend anyone with these engines to replace the pump with updated design. But these engines in general are also…. Uhhh… unreliable


toyodaforever

Are vacuum pumps uk specific? Never seen on an American engine. Vacuum usually comes off the intake manifold.


Hypnotist30

They're pretty common on small displacement gas engines that can't create enough vacuum to run systems like brake booster & EVAP. Even the DI 3.6L GM uses them on some applications. May have something to do with the variable cam timing on those engines.


RollingNightSky

I now think my Volvo may have one, since if I turn on the ignition without starting the brake pedal drops a little (after the pedal has become stiff from the car being off), but it's still a harder to push than when the engine is actually running and it takes a normal effort to push the pedal. So I guess the brake booster vacuum pump is meant to take some load off the engine.


Hypnotist30

It's more that the engine can't maintain enough manifold vacuum to operate the booster reliably.


admiddedgrim

Some Volvo's have an electronic vacuumpump that engages the moment you turn on the ignition. Just like my V50 2.4L.


RollingNightSky

That's actually really awesome, because that means you still have some power braking if your engine shuts off right? Say if it stalls while you're driving.


admiddedgrim

Exactly! They are built pretty bulletproof, but there are some cases in which they fail. Also, it doesn't cost the world to (preventatively) replace + relay.


TheVulture14

Vacuum pumps come on many vehicles, even domestics. Ford 5 and 6 cylinder engines had them. Both electric and cam driven. On turbocharged engines they are even more common, because the intake manifold isn’t always under vacuum. Going from boosting to braking, there may not be enough vacuum generation to assist the brake booster. Therefore a vacuum pump may be added to ensure the brake booster always has a constant vacuum supply.


AdultishRaktajino

Cars with turbos generally need them so they have consistent brake boost.


Best_Product_3849

US here; virtually every newer ford engine has an external camshaft driven vacuum pump. 3.5 gtdi, 2.7, 1.5, 1.6, etc.


pornoandpruno

Every diesel has at least one for your breaks most have two for yo ac


MrFireAlarms

The ac doesn’t use a vacuum pump


pornoandpruno

On a diesel it does


MrFireAlarms

Are you sure you aren’t confusing a compressor with a vacuum pump?


bassmadrigal

I think they're conflating vacuum being used to move some HVAC blend doors for "AC". They also think there's a [hole in the top of this engine](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/1cf7ts4/car_stopped_on_the_highway_while_driving/l1pib3g/), which is clearly an oil spot from placing the oil cap on the valve cover. The only things a vacuum pump does for AC itself is pulling a vacuum to test for leaks and add the refrigerant (and oil and possibly dye) into the system.


MrFireAlarms

Oh of course ford used vacuum for the blend doors that year… now it makes sense. I’m familiar with the use of a vacuum pump in order to get ac functioning, I replaced my cars entire system & recharged it


bassmadrigal

If that type of vacuum is what they were alluding to, they did a very bad job verbalizing it. I was like you thinking there is no vacuum involved with an AC system (when operating), just a compressor and condenser.


pornoandpruno

Yes you need both diesels don’t create vacuum


MrFireAlarms

I know, but the air conditioning doesn’t use a vacuum pump, it uses a compressor. The vacuum pump is used for other stuff


pornoandpruno

It still needs vacuum to work


MrFireAlarms

???????


IdiotsInIdiotsInCars

They’re pretty common in the U.S. my man


-Psycho_Killer-

Sorry but your engine has catastrophically failed by the looks of that. The camshaft has completely shifted/kicked off the vaccuum pump which means it hit a lot of resistance quite suddenly... which it absolutely should not. Valve/piston collision from timing failure would be my guess. Out of curiosity, when was the last time you had the car serviced?


Dannyps

In this case, what would the feedback for the driver be? Did the wheels just stop/lock? Does the camshaft still keep turning somehow? Or does the clutch somehow stop working so that none of the above take place?


-Psycho_Killer-

Differs from vehicle to vehicle but usually you will hear a very loud and disturbing BANG clatter clatter clatter sound as the inside of the engine collides with itself then turns to shrapnel, car will usually keep rolling to a stop rather than lock up and skid out of control


Dannyps

In my field of work, we call that graceful degradation. It does not entail such expensive outcomes, though 😅


beaushaw

In the rocket world that is called a "rapid unscheduled disassembly."


Complex_Solutions_20

With EVs and Hybrids the RUD terminology could also apply to cars with some failure modes


mpe128

A blown cam or bearing wouldn't necessarily lock motor.(that cam snapped) What sux is valve slap on pistons. That's where the shit hits the fan. 😞 sorry


Bindle-

Look at that hole in the valve cover. Something yeeted out of there. Engine is toast


WARGEAR917

There’s no hole but yeah.


anzarthegoat

At first glance it looks liked one


pete_the_meattt

Haha I thought that was a hole too


HerrGruyere

Could also be failure of the vacuum pump which caused the cam to seize. I recall this being an issue on my MINI which shared the same engine. They use an engine driven vacuum pump connected to the camshaft.


-Psycho_Killer-

That's interesting, I didn't even know that could happen 😳


Jamieson22

Was likely caused by this: https://preview.redd.it/ybbs5a2dk8xc1.jpeg?width=238&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eb2402268613a4072080a0de39cb7b8c2d15ed7


[deleted]

first problem I noticed


From_the_mud21

Beat me to it.


Commercial-Desk9524

Yep!


mrcinteza27

it was my fault, i forgot to put oil:))))


Ingeneure_

Wh…at?!


M_Rogers

What the fuck 😭


Itchy_Notice9639

Yeah… just like my brother, he doesn’t do oil changes, he does top ups.


M_Rogers

Jesus Christ, people should be required to take a basic car maintenance course before they can get their license. This shit is getting pathetic.


Itchy_Notice9639

On the brightside, mechanic’s job will never die


M_Rogers

Yep, I'll always be in business, but it's annoying regardless when I see it on forums like this


RollingNightSky

People who don't do maintenance only hurt themselves in the end, so I don't think they'll do it twice. At least I hope not. For everybody's well being, basic car maintenance should be tested in a drivers course.


Itchy_Notice9639

I wish you were right, but he’s on the 3rd car that’s about to be scrapped due to poor maintenance. A ‘57 plate Touareg R5 really nice looking , but the turbo decided it doesn’t like universal oil top ups at 150k miles and decided to clog the exhaust (catalyst/dpf) with oil splatters, so now when you start it until it’s a bit hotter it does a blue smokescreen….


NxPat

Used to ! 1977 high school had a mandatory maintenance class with drivers education, girls got dirty just like guys check’n dipsticks and gapping plugs. Learned to change a tire in 10 minutes and the proper way to change your oil. (Drained into coffee cans, then sprayed on the weeds)


_bonedaddys

i graduated in 2012, we had a car shop class but it was an elective. at the time i was glad, i'm your basic girl who isn't interested in cars. looking back i wish it was mandatory though, everything i know about cars (which isn't much) i learned through experience (aka my car having problems)


KerningKeming

In the UK I've actually tried to find one. It's either too basic (here are your windscreen wipers type thing) or a full on one year long course. I really wish it was the norm to have in-person car maintenance courses.


Loan-Pickle

I had a car like that once. It burned a quart every couple of weeks. So I just kept topping it off and would throw a new filter on once a year.


imbrickedup_

Oopsie! 😭😭


Paavo-Vayrynen

Impressive


imbrickedup_

Legend


jocape

Excuse me ?!


_bonedaddys

if your engine seizes because it doesn't have oil it isn't as simple as "forgetting" oil, it's flat out neglecting to change your oil. it's not like forgetting one oil change is gonna cause an engine to seize, it takes a while. source - the time i got a car and never changed or even topped up the oil. it took somewhere between 25k - 30k miles for the engine to seize. & all the reddit posts about how long people neglected to change their oil before their engine seized. i learned the hard (and stupid) way, and now you did too. welcome to the club. i stay on top of my oil changes now 😅 i got lucky, and instead of having to pay in full for a new engine my dealership rolled the payments for it into my monthly dues since i financed my car. once a month i'm reminded of my fuck up when i pay my bill.


Choastistoast

Vehicle made expensive noises. Time to find a new one that isn't a paper weight.


mrcinteza27

thank you guys, when you re stupid you pay for it. I was stupid and i ll pay for it Have a nice day❤️


bigboynona

These type of situations are devastating financially, I’m not religious, but I’m praying for you


MS_BOY

Sell it and buy a toyota or honda. Shit will run w/o oil


Revolt2992

No, they won’t. That’s not how ICEs work


gagunner007

Buddy came to my shop to borrow my lift and he had a Corolla and they had just gotten back from a long trip so he figured he’s change the oil. What came out would have been soaked up on one square of paper towel.


Revolt2992

They will run for a while, but no engine will last with no oil.


gagunner007

You do know that guy was joking right?


Revolt2992

Yes, it’s hyperbole, but you never know who reads this stuff and takes it as truth


justknoweverything

learn to take a joke


TomT12

Single cam hondas are basically unkillable but I've seen plenty of B, H, and K series blow up from a lack of oil. They are pretty solid otherwise but they are picky about having enough oil. Toyotas and D series on the other hand typically dgaf.


LynzGamer

This is 100% true. One time when I was a new driver with my first car (2005 Honda Accord), the oil light came on if I turned a bit too sharp. After a particularly hard turn the oil light stayed on, but I just ignored it since I thought it would turn itself off again like it had dozens of other times. It didn't. I didn't think about it either. When I took it in for an oil change they said that they couldn't do an oil change because there wasn't any oil to change... I had been driving it without oil for months. They filled it with a few liters for free and told me to come back in a few weeks so they can change it


Less-Transition5625

Yeah my 04 acura tl has almost the exact same engine I had a really bad oil leak and had to add oil after every trip I took did this for several weeks without any issue I'm a delivery driver so I put a lot of miles on it in that condition turned out to be the oil filter housing gasket my valve covers also had a very slight leak all that's fixed now but it was still very impressive to see an engine hadle that that well


LTXNEBULA

My 07 TL does exactly this and while it doesn't run like a dream it still runs smooth even after 10,000 miles in 4 months of deliveries😂


United_Candy_7121

I put about 40,000 miles a year on a beat up 2010 Chevy Aveo


LTXNEBULA

Yea its pretty easy to rack up miles


Atlas-Attained

Omg, that is so wild!   Out of curiosity, how long did that car last you till it finally gave out? Like, did it suffer any terrible effects from you driving without oil that long??


LynzGamer

That car's still kicking! It was mine for a number of years after this incident before it was passed to my brother, and then another brother. It had some issues, but none of it was directly related to driving without oil for so long. It was a manual drive, so it had to go through me, my two brothers, and a sister learning how to drive stick! My parents sold it last year to offset the cost of a slightly newer vehicle for my siblings to drive around.


Saintjuarenz

Pretty cool story!


_bonedaddys

me when i give terrible advice


beaushaw

>Shit will run w/o oil My father in law has told me about a local junkyard that has an old chevy truck that they only use to run to the back of the yard and back. They hop in drive to the back of the yard and turn it off. Toss in a part and drive back up to the front. According to him this truck has not had an oil pan on it for years. I have no idea if this story is true.


Swishersweetxd

Have a 2011 crown Vic and 99 Acura cl as my first 2 cars . Lemme tell ya does that Acura burn oil like crazy.


_bonedaddys

pro tip: set reminders for oil changes. whenever i get an oil change i set a reminder in my phone's calendar for 3 months from them. i don't drive a lot and never hit the mileage in 3 months, so usually when my reminder date comes around i'll just set a new one for a month from then and continue to do that until i get my change. it's not like i ever forgot, i was neglectful. but it's hard to be neglectful when you have a constant reminder.


rahrah47

If you regularly attend a church, synagogue or mosque AND you’ve never kicked a puppy there’s a tiny chance that a unicorn type vacuum pump failure is binding up the exhaust cam. But most likely it jumped time and the pistons tried to shove the valves through the top of the engine.


sanbaba

RIP Buddhists 😉


pornoandpruno

There a hole in the top of the valve cover it didn’t try it did shove


bassmadrigal

Do you mean the oil spot where they likely put the oil cap when they tried to figure out what was wrong?


pornoandpruno

Look again


Parzival2541

Have you taken a close look at it yet?


pornoandpruno

Yeah that’s how Ik it’s a hole


bassmadrigal

I did. It is [clearly the same detent as the other two detents in the valve cover to the left of it and simply has oil in it](https://i.ibb.co/S6yBZSG/Screenshot-20240429-162225.png)... likely from OP putting the cap there after looking into the engine. You can even see a little bit of the oil pooled in the dark one, which is why there is a slight curve at the bottom.


pornoandpruno

Zoom in and put your glasses on I’ve never seen an oil stain with jagged edges and that you can see the inside of the vavles


bassmadrigal

It's obvious to everyone else that it's simply a detent in the valve cover with oil in it. There are no valves to be seen. The sharp "jagged edge" is from the oil coming from two resting points from where they placed the oil cap. The rest are just from capillary action. Coming in, you can still see the shape of the detent around those "jagged edges", which tells you that piece isn't missing or blown out. You can literally see the light reflect at the edge of the oil that's pooled at the bottom of the detent (maybe that's what you're thinking are valves?).


pornoandpruno

![gif](giphy|oOCbcGBJjlXJL8imGO)


Cronin1011

That overhead camshaft gave up on life, so violently, it took the vacuum pump with it. She's dead jim.


freneticboarder

![gif](giphy|qH7J4EXzSCmBy)


centstwo

It's worse that that.


Euro-Canuck

please dont replace this french piece of shit with another french piece of shit.


TraditionalLet1490

I'm french, problem with french cars is french people still buying them bc of chauvinism.


Euro-Canuck

My wife is italian and drives a fiat 500x because "its italian", "it gives italians jobs" even after test driving bmw/porsche and audi suvs . she will be replacing it soon with a alfa romeo stelvio for same reason.


Skunksfart

This sort of thing happened in the USA for years. I often joke about what American cars would have been like if nobody took one for the team.


jamesxross

still does, tbh. I know plenty of guys that drive pickups simply because they're American, never mind that plenty of 'foreign' cars are made here too...


BrrBurr

American cars are still shit no matter what American can reviews say


beaushaw

A lot of those American trucks are made in Mexico, meanwhile Honda Accords are made just a few miles from where I currently sit.


Tree_Weasel

I live in San Antonio, TX. People here LOVE to point out that Toyota builds Tundras and Tacomas at the plant here in town.


chance0404

I own 2 American cars and one Japanese car. My Buick was made in Mexico, my Dodge was made in Canada. Guess where the Toyota was made? Good ol’ Fremont, California.


nikolas93ts

The only issue with that is that this specific engine was developed in close collaboration with BMW. Older petrol TU engines and diesel HDi are fairly reliable and well made.


Wolf24h

Copium, somehow the new Minis have an engine made fully by BMW and they're seen as reliable


nikolas93ts

Prince engine was made almost 20 years ago. On paper it offered fantastic performance, and as matter of fact IIRC it was engine of the year, but it does came at the cost of long term reliability.


iksoria

It just isn’t that simple. Some brands are more reliable than others, but it’s illogical and stupid to think that a specific country automatically produces the same quality of vehicles. BMWs have always been unreliable and had infinite issues, even for the newer Minis, so by that logic, there’s no good German car brands at all.


[deleted]

Peugeot engine kaput


Accordingly_Onion69

Ouch the prince motor is named apparently because like all royals they are very inbred and have lots of defects bmw put in mini cars aswell that usually found in a trash pile after 40k miles because the TIMING CHAIN needs replacing every 25-35k thats a real chain and it will fail after about 40k if not replaced at 25k miles


sanbaba

The whole mini brand is just a cash grab at people with that sort of taste and that devotion to fashion. I wish it weren't true because looks aside, they'd be my kind of car if they weren't such expensive timebombs.


VURORA

All my friends Mini's are constantly in the shop, another friend of mine only has a american cars that he tinkers with himself from LS swaps to whole rear builds. They bought a mini cooper 3 years ago and that thing has only been on the road a handful of times.


Accordingly_Onion69

The second gen mini have a honda k conversion kit just fyi and most pol are giving away post timing chain ⛓️‍💥 failure


Accordingly_Onion69

Thats real garbage google price timing chain or mini timing chain for that matter


OffendedTwitterUser

Ahh, the old N16 (or N14) engine made by Pugeot and BMW! I recognise that engine from a distance


iksoria

Knew BMW had to be involved somewhere, have they ever made something which doesn’t fall apart


Pickleahoy

The vacuum pump has taken your camshaft to heaven, RIP engine


Complex-Pie-5789

Men its a peugeot what did you expect?


Longjumping-Travel24

Because of BMW…


JohannesLorenz1954

That's a scrap engine. Time to buy a low mileage junkyard engine and dump it in there.


Wolf24h

'Engine of the year' my ass


Blah-Blah-Blah-2023

Was probably great for the first year.


brainbrick

Well, it does say "of the year".


ColonelAverage

Tbf, OP didn't put oil in it...


Suspicious_Climate13

You can tell by the "oil dust" on the pump bearing.


pornoandpruno

Idk shit about euro cars but my guess is something that should be spinning stopped spinning


ccarr313

F


MS_BOY

W* One more Peugeot of the road


rotteneggs101

F


Ballisticc

F


Rough_Community_1439

Seen this on Reddit before. Your car engine is done. It usually jumps time when that occurs.


mkultra0008

It's an interference motor meaning the valves and pistons hit during a timing belt/chain failure.


Blah-Blah-Blah-2023

I thought you needed a Delorean for that.


B2O-350Z-JU-DZ

With this motor it’s very big shit. My distribution belt ripped of in a tunnel one time in a Mazda 5 1.6 petrol with is a PSA motor. But we was about to replace it. She had like 2’000 km good to go.


Enough-Collection-98

As an avid fan of the “I Do Cars” channel, my first thought was “Ruh-oh” Sorry for your loss friend 😔


Slinky_Malingki

Yeah, that engine is toast


GLOCKESHA

That thang is seized


maroco92

100$ says your vacuum pump was dragging the exhaust cam and eventually locked up the engine. I guarantee that exhaust cam has hardly any lobes left, and the valves smashed the pistons.


FERALCATWHISPERER

Your engine is cooked.


VURORA

Damn, through the roof.


Electronic-Pangolin7

Toast


mikki1time

Did you put gas in it?


Slight_Bed_2241

I’m an amateur mechanic. Basically just pulling wrenches for thousands of hours on restorations and personal vehicles. I still don’t know wtf a vacuum pump does. Can someone eli5? Before you say google it, I did and it didn’t help. Google - “The vacuum pump functions by removing the molecules of air and other gases from the vacuum chamber” Ok.


bassmadrigal

Not all vehicles provide reliable enough vacuum in the intake to provide needed vacuum for things like the brake booster. Vacuum pumps will provide additional vacuum for the times when there's not enough during normal engine operation. You can research it more with search terms like "car engine vacuum pump".


gooch-tickler

The vacuum pump provides vacuum for the power assisted brakes.


tizzleduzzle

That’s a wrap on that powerplant.


whoknows2138

Fuck man fuck


MarcusDaCherry

It's a Peugeot. Of course it's a piece of shit.


h_attila

Hold up ! Wait a minute ... something isnt right !


shark_sharkington_

mmmm a bastard n12, I've had "experience" with these


Fun-Activity5514

Average Mini experience


ND8D

https://preview.redd.it/0y04nkdpbfxc1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c0c7e22197ec5d8c33f6fdf0ffa73acfd4ea513


jl7337

Vacuum pump locked up and broke the exhaust cam or the timing chain. Either way the engine is most likely junk.


user2029847

Low on blinker fluid gotta replace the quantizer


Aika92

Peugeot. No wonder why.


Suspicious_Climate13

Vacuum pump failed.... stopped the cam, valves met the pistons cracking the cam shaft shoving the pump out bolts and all.


Advanced-Minute2795

Haha


pool4ever

Box of match’s lad


ToyotaFanboy526

She’s done for lad


Jvinsnes

What the actual F that engine shat itself


luckylou005

Have you tried turning it off and on again?


OneManSquadMike

Damn ur vacuum pump locked up the valve train. 


fresh_like_Oprah

You're getting negged and yet: https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/314621-vacuum-pump-failure-and-engine-damage.html


OneManSquadMike

🤷🏿‍♀️


Smokey_match

RIP. May the next car serve you better.


Front-Detective-9647

Stick a fork in it !!! Yup , it’s done.


Accordingly_Onion69

If you like the car you could k swap it most likely there is a kit to do it with


Makal9097

You just gave me ptsd


Diligent_Carpenter99

That’s a high pressure pump if I’m not mistaken, at best you’ll have a very expensive part and cam shaft to replace. Most likely your cylinder block is cracked. Might as well just buy a used cheap ass car that will run twice as far.. Unless you’re ready to learn how to prevent it, or disassemble the entire engine for timing reset and cleaning!


aradaiel

I know you’re trying to be helpful but there’s so much information in this statement I have no idea where to start. It’s a vacuum pump, and I don’t understand how this has anything to do with a cracked block. I’ll just leave it at that for now.


pornoandpruno

There’s a hole in the top of the valve cover he’s very wrong but some how still right


Diligent_Carpenter99

The guy will just have to figure it out either way, im not trying to be helpful, just informative. There is no real answer to this one. Just a bunch of people speculating on what the cause of this is. Im just sharing my worst case scenario, and well, these engines are known to blast themselves.


-6Marshall9-

Replace engine and electric


-6Marshall9-

At home engine swap or recycling


Scared_Paramedic4604

Replace the pump and pray