Subject: Severe Vibrating
Question: I just incountered VERY SEVERE shaking/vibrating
in my car. Earlier today when it started, it was mild it was still shifing okay and running fine. As i was heading home on the freeway from work it go so intense i thought the engine might literally fall out. when i got home i noticed i had no oil. I added two quarts and it all leaked out in a big puddle. just as if it were going thru another funnel. the car would die if i came to a stop at a light and when i pulled into a parking space but started right up.
My father and his friend think i might have a broken rod in the engine. What is your opinion and how much can i expect to pay for repairs. Thank you.
Timothy Pena
Answer: Timothy,
Not knowing what kind car you have, it's hard to give specific details about what could be causing this. So, I'll give you general car info that can cause this.

Severe rattling/shaking could be do to a faulty timing belt. If you're your timing is off or your belt is broken, you'll get vibrating. Check all your belts, pulleys and tensioner. Your balance shafts may be worn. If you have an Eclipse, some people remove the shafts to get a little more horsepower. That can cause oil pump failure.

Your idle could be set wrong or you may not be getting enough fuel to your engine. That'll cause vibrating as well.

If you do have a broken rod, piston, or bad piston ring, you could be looking at some hefty repairs. Here's a scenerio that could have lead to your problem:
Your PCV valve may have been clogged for a while. That will make your crankcase pressure very high. Over time, that high pressure can blown your rear main seal and you'll see oil leak out like crazy. That high pressure can affect your piston rings and cause them to wear prematurely. When they wear unevenly, it prevents your pistons from moving up and down nicely; plus the lack of oil causes enormous amounts of heat and friction. That can wear down and eventually ruin your piston rods.

If the above scenerio is the case, you'll be looking at a pretty large repair bill. Depending on your engine, it could be in the thousands of dollars.
Hope I was able to give som good info. Good luck!