Solara Engine Troubles - Need some insight
Lemme start off by sayin the Sola is stuck at a mechanic and doesnt start right now.
First some background story. We use mobil 1 Syn w/ Mystery oil additive when we change the oil, and I always use premium gas even tho I have a 4cyl 5SFE, and the only engine mod I have is an Injen Intake.
So last weekend dad an I are doin some maintenance on the car, since it just hit 50K. I do the brakes and change the battery, and dad flush and changes the oil and the coolant.
So I got the brakes and battery done, he does the coolant, and asked me if I wanted to change the oil. I saw I only gone about 2.7K since my last change, so I said do it next week. We checked the temp levels after he did the coolant and it was a little high so we diluted it a little more, and that brought it down to normal. One thing I did notice was that after he flushed it, he put in pure coolant first, and then about the same amount of water, rather than mixing it in a bottle before putting it in, and he only flushed the radiator and not the engine block, but I didnt think much of it at the time. That was Saturday.
So I take it for a ride, actually all the way to long island and back on sunday (About 75 miles each way), then about another 60 miles on sunday night, as well as some other local driving. So I drove about 250 long miles since all that stuff was done. Monday I drive to work like usual, no issues 5 miles there and back.
On tuesday, do the same 5 mile drive to work. About 2 miles on the way there, I start hearing what sounds like knocking or scratching in my engine or below the car. I drive on it a little, thinkin a splash guard came loose (I stripped two of the bolts last weekend messin under there so it made sense).
Then all of a sudden, my engine cuts off, my CEL comes on and so I coast it over to the side of the road. I pop my hood and the engine blocks smokin from the passenger side, and theres a puddle of smoking coolant right inside hthe passenger side front wheel, under the the coolant reservior. I didnt see any leaks though, and wasnt sure where it was leaking from, but there was definitly a good sized puddle.
I went back and checked my temp and it was still in the middle where it should be. I let it cool for a few minutes and cranked it again, I think it starts, and it hit about 1K RPM and dies. I also checked my oil, and it looked pretty low even tho I only drive about 3K on it. Now when I crank it, it wont even start anymore.
Its at a Sunoco right now, courtesy of AAA, but does anyone know what it might be? I'm thinking let Sunoco do an oil change and a coolant flush, but I dont even know if that would get it back on its wheels if something else in the engine broke.
If dad broke my Solara, Im gunna make him buy me another car, or at least money to cover a 1MZ swap (its as good a time as ever).
So any of you motorheads think this is gunna be fixable by Sunoco, or is it RIP 5S-FE and I just start making plans to make dad get me a new engine/car?
First some background story. We use mobil 1 Syn w/ Mystery oil additive when we change the oil, and I always use premium gas even tho I have a 4cyl 5SFE, and the only engine mod I have is an Injen Intake.
So last weekend dad an I are doin some maintenance on the car, since it just hit 50K. I do the brakes and change the battery, and dad flush and changes the oil and the coolant.
So I got the brakes and battery done, he does the coolant, and asked me if I wanted to change the oil. I saw I only gone about 2.7K since my last change, so I said do it next week. We checked the temp levels after he did the coolant and it was a little high so we diluted it a little more, and that brought it down to normal. One thing I did notice was that after he flushed it, he put in pure coolant first, and then about the same amount of water, rather than mixing it in a bottle before putting it in, and he only flushed the radiator and not the engine block, but I didnt think much of it at the time. That was Saturday.
So I take it for a ride, actually all the way to long island and back on sunday (About 75 miles each way), then about another 60 miles on sunday night, as well as some other local driving. So I drove about 250 long miles since all that stuff was done. Monday I drive to work like usual, no issues 5 miles there and back.
On tuesday, do the same 5 mile drive to work. About 2 miles on the way there, I start hearing what sounds like knocking or scratching in my engine or below the car. I drive on it a little, thinkin a splash guard came loose (I stripped two of the bolts last weekend messin under there so it made sense).
Then all of a sudden, my engine cuts off, my CEL comes on and so I coast it over to the side of the road. I pop my hood and the engine blocks smokin from the passenger side, and theres a puddle of smoking coolant right inside hthe passenger side front wheel, under the the coolant reservior. I didnt see any leaks though, and wasnt sure where it was leaking from, but there was definitly a good sized puddle.
I went back and checked my temp and it was still in the middle where it should be. I let it cool for a few minutes and cranked it again, I think it starts, and it hit about 1K RPM and dies. I also checked my oil, and it looked pretty low even tho I only drive about 3K on it. Now when I crank it, it wont even start anymore.
Its at a Sunoco right now, courtesy of AAA, but does anyone know what it might be? I'm thinking let Sunoco do an oil change and a coolant flush, but I dont even know if that would get it back on its wheels if something else in the engine broke.
If dad broke my Solara, Im gunna make him buy me another car, or at least money to cover a 1MZ swap (its as good a time as ever).
So any of you motorheads think this is gunna be fixable by Sunoco, or is it RIP 5S-FE and I just start making plans to make dad get me a new engine/car?

2000 Black Solara SE
- Jon11582
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