AA recovery after I cracked the sump

[Nickliv]

Morning

Earlier this month, a combination of a high road crown and a couple of potholes meant I scraped my sump, damaging it. I turned the car off immediately, and coasted into a farmyard from where the car was recovered by the AA (So far, so good)

When my local garage had replaced the sump, I headed over to collect the car, to see a huge dent in the driver's door, and 3 parkintg tickets on the passenger seat.

Viewing the garages CCTV, it was obvious that the damage had been done in transit, and this is now in hand, the AA are footing the bill for a new door, etc.

The parking tickets are being dealt with, again by the AA

My concern now is that in the 12 (Yes, Twelve) days it took the AA to get my car from Cumbria to Scotland, someone might have mistakenly started the engine (a natural concern, given how well they looked after the rest of the car...)

Does anyone know if there's an interlock which prevents the car from being started on the key when there's no oil in it?

Cheers

[Adam T7]

Not sure about not starting with no oil but We Connect may tell you when it was last updated (i.e when ignition cycled) or maybe an ODB reader could tell you more precisely?

[Nickliv]

Ah, it's been run, after the sump was replaced and new oil had gone in. It seems ok, (makes decent power, no untoward noises etc) but I'm not sure how else I'd check if it had been run with no oil, if even only for a short time.

[symonh2000]

If damage has been done through running with no oil it will probably show itself pretty quickly.

[Adam T7]

If you are really worried a compression check on all cylinders would help but as above, doesn’t take long for an engine to eat itself with no oil in the sump. By coincidence I watched a YouTube video this AM where two guys were timing a Porsche V8 and a BMW straight 6 (at least I think that’s what it was) without oil (obviously old clunkers) to see what lasted longest. The Porsche won at over 20 minutes before it exploded spectacularly, but the noise after less than a minute was like a load of spanner’s in a spin dryer. I think you will be fine if it runs ok now👍

[Nickliv]

I'd thought as much.

The takeaway from all of this is. DO NOT LET THE AA RECOVER YOUR CAR IF YOU CANT ACCOMPANY IT

[Adam T7]

Or put a big sign on the dash ‘THERE IS NO OIL IN THIS CAR, DO NOT START ENGINE’

[willni]

If you are really worried a compression check on all cylinders would help but as above, doesn’t take long for an engine to eat itself with no oil in the sump. By coincidence I watched a YouTube video this AM where two guys were timing a Porsche V8 and a BMW straight 6 (at least I think that’s what it was) without oil (obviously old clunkers) to see what lasted longest. The Porsche won at over 20 minutes before it exploded spectacularly, but the noise after less than a minute was like a load of spanner’s in a spin dryer. I think you will be fine if it runs ok now👍

I saw the same video, was very surprised how confidently he stood beside the Porsche, then it blew up in his face...

[Adam T7]

If you are really worried a compression check on all cylinders would help but as above, doesn’t take long for an engine to eat itself with no oil in the sump. By coincidence I watched a YouTube video this AM where two guys were timing a Porsche V8 and a BMW straight 6 (at least I think that’s what it was) without oil (obviously old clunkers) to see what lasted longest. The Porsche won at over 20 minutes before it exploded spectacularly, but the noise after less than a minute was like a load of spanner’s in a spin dryer. I think you will be fine if it runs ok now👍

Isaw the same video, was very surprised how confidently he stood beside the Porsche, then it blew up in his face...

It was funny wasn’t it😂

[willni]

If you are really worried a compression check on all cylinders would help but as above, doesn’t take long for an engine to eat itself with no oil in the sump. By coincidence I watched a YouTube video this AM where two guys were timing a Porsche V8 and a BMW straight 6 (at least I think that’s what it was) without oil (obviously old clunkers) to see what lasted longest. The Porsche won at over 20 minutes before it exploded spectacularly, but the noise after less than a minute was like a load of spanner’s in a spin dryer. I think you will be fine if it runs ok now👍

Isaw the same video, was very surprised how confidently he stood beside the Porsche, then it blew up in his face...

It was funny wasn’t it😂

Very funny, glad it wasn't me though