Q: No oil which caused timing belt to break and camshaft

asked by on March 19, 2017

A few weeks ago my car broke down. The problem was that I had no oil. I got my oil changed back in November of last year(2016) and the mileage the car would have to reach to get changed is 344806. Even though I had another thousand something miles left to go I was going to change it the day after my car broke down before It actually happened. I got a mechanic to come check it and he said my camshaft and head gasket needed to be changed and told me to order a camshaft and head gasket set. But I want to know if there is anything else that would need to be changed like the timing belt or the crankshaft. Just to be certain

My car has 344605 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

What is of concern to me, is that the mechanic did not mention that the engine in your vehicle is an interference engine. This means that the pistons and intake and/or exhaust valves occupy the same space. As the name timing belt implies, it is responsible for making sure the valves and pistons move in the proper time so they are not in the same space at the same time and make contact. When the timing belt breaks, the valves will slam closed from the valve spring tension. The crankshaft and pistons will continue turning for a short time from the inertia and rotational force. The pistons will then hit the valves and bend them. Simply replacing the timing belt and/or camshaft will most likely not result in a properly running engine when done. In all likelihood, there will be low or lack of compression in one or more of the cylinders due to the bent valves. Compression will blow right by them. If in fact the head gasket is faulty, the cylinder head has to be removes in order to replace it. While the head is off the engine, it should be sent to a machine shop for testing before reinstalling it. If there is any indication that the valves and pistons made contact - which in all likelihood there will be - then the most cost effective repair would be to install a completely rebuilt cylinder head. It would be less expensive than rebuilding the existing head. In order to remove the cylinder head, the timing belt and possible intake and exhaust manifolds will have to be removed. If you go ahead with the repairs, any part that was removed to perform the repairs, should be replaced with new ones. For example, the water pump is in the way of the timing belt. No matter how old the water pump, thermostat, timing belt tensioner, etc are, now is the time to replace them. While everything is apart. There should not be any additional labor charges, just the cost for the new parts. Also, the pistons should be carefully inspected for damage as well. If any of them are damaged from contacting the valves, they will require replacement as well. If that happens and you want to repair the vehicle, consider a good used engine as an alternative to repairing the existing one. Just be sure that if a used engine is used, replace things like the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, etc, before it is installed. With the mileage listed and the fact that it ran out of oil, odds are that the cylinder walls and/or piston rings are worn, allowing oil blow-by. That alone makes installing a known good engine a more cost-effective alternative. Most used engine suppliers will offer some sort of warranty as well, anywhere from 30 days to one year..

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Car jerking
Hello. There can be many causes for a jerking sensation; it could be a fault with the engine, the transmission, suspension, or even the tires. I would recommend hiring an experienced mechanic to diagnose your jerking issue (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-jerks-forward-at-high-speeds-inspection); be sure...
Hydraulic lift gate not working
The lift gate could have many problems that might cause it not to work. I would recommend taking the truck to the lift gate manufacturer or the dealership to have them look over the problem. They will have all the...
Can't find oil plug
Hello. The drain plug for the oil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-change-your-oil) should be underneath the truck in the oil pan of the engine. There may be a splash shield covering the oil pan. If there is, this will need to be removed to...
Car won't start
Hi and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. It seems to me that there may be a cable detached from the starter when it was changed. If all of the cables are on the starter then I would check the fuel...
Humming sound after 30 mph - 2007 Toyota Corolla
This is definitely something that may be caused by uneven tire tread wear. This may also be caused by improper alignment which is what tends to cause the uneven tire tread wear to begin with. This may also be potentially...
Check Engine Light is on, trouble codes P0001 and P0006 are showing.
The fuel shut off (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-shut-off-switch-replacement) valve is a solenoid that is controlled primarily by the shut off relay. The message you are receiving is telling you the circuit has low voltage. This means the solenoid is not energizing the way...
Car keeps needing to be jump started after sitting for a day or two
Pep boys is probably right about there being a drain, but they may not have the know-how or equipment to detect it. Chances are your CAN (control area network) is not 'going to sleep." The can is the line of...
My 2014 ford focus whenni hit the lock button on my remote the beep does not sound and the horn does not work either.
Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle has a fuse that is specifically for the horn, and you are going to want to check that first. If the fuse is blown, it is a simple fix in which you...
My car is not accelerating past 40 mph.
Hi there. Typically when the car will not accelerate past 40 MPH, it's due to either the vehicle being in a limp mode, or other mechanical (fuel or ignition system component) failures. The best way to determine the root source...

Related articles

Top 10 PZEV Cars for Eco-Friendly Drivers
Teddy Leung / Shutterstock.com The whole idea of a PZEV (that is, a partial zero-emissions vehicle), seems paradoxical. You’d think it’d have to either be zero-emissions or not in the category at all. But as contradictory as...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Dog Trainer
If If you are a dog trainer, you expect a lot from your vehicle. You want a ride that is safe, roomy, and of course, dog friendly, since your training operation will often mean that you need to transport the...
The Best Used Cars to Buy for Dog Owners
Dog Dog owners are a special breed of drivers. When they shop for a used car they have a list of requirements that can be quite different from other drivers, which tends to make the process a bit of a...