THE MA61 - Mysteriously Losing Engine OIL

**fact0r** · 21-02-2009, 12:39 AM

Hey guys! I've just bought myself a ma61 on the first of december, looked through over 300+ car sales pages looking at every car and fell in love with this at first glance. My second real life glance was even better and I picked it up for a nice price from a guy named Sean, I think the only guy that could love this car more would be me, and indeed i am in love haha. .

So heres my DILEMA the car has been making an 'egg beater sound' by this sound i mean it sounds like your mums baking a cake n shes getting the butter n cream whipped up in a large glass bowl and the beater is hitting the side of the bowl, now imagine theyre both metal, usually around 2400 to 2600 revs and this is the sound i'm hearing. It is most prevelent in Neut 1st & 2nd gear . . and seemingly dissapears at higher revs OR could just be masked by the increasing engine noise however to me it does seem like it quietens down to just a light 'beat' or not at all.

The exhaust is very sooty and shoots out black soot when reved, i can provide short videos i'm sure, if you guys Think it will help u out further..

There are almost 110% certain no leaks comming from the ENGINE as i have checked thoroughly myself as well as leaving it at the mechanics over night on ramps with the same result, no leaks.

So as the story goes .. . .i' have been to two mechanics and both have told me theyre unsure but it sounds like my big ends or lifters.. . and its going to cost $thousands to fix . . ahah . .great

So i figured id come to my fellow supra owners/lovers and see what the boys have to say!?

anyways here she is . ..

shes running a plain old 7mge its my first car ( first love) i dont want to sell her thats not an option so if worse comes to worse and my engine blows . .. id look for a different engine 7mgte most probably. . . but i definately dont want to come to this decision as all i want and need is a reliable, fun daily runner which she is with the looks also money is very tight i still have 3000 to go on my loan for her .. and starting uni in a week which she was supposed to be my daily runner for! and money definately wont be flowing in!

CHEERS once again for any help!

**ViPeR_NiPPleX** · 21-02-2009, 12:45 AM

7mge's don't have lifters... direct action from camshaft lobe to shim->bucket->valve stem.

What's likely to have happened is that it's had oil surge at some stage and it's spun a big end bearing. Find another 7MGE you can nab the bottom end from, or get a new motor.

**fact0r** · 21-02-2009, 12:50 AM

Hmm i guess i'll have to try and find some prices for the bottom end of a 7mge from the wreckers. .

I wouldn't expect they'd be too expensive? .. any ideas on how much the labour would be?

re- no lifters in 7mges ahah guess it pays to try n find a mechanic who knows supras

**ViPeR_NiPPleX** · 21-02-2009, 01:03 AM

My suggestion. Take the car as is (DO NOT START IT, DO NOT DRIVE IT) to your preferred mechanic and get them to inspect the bottom end. Tell them you suspect it's spun a bearing and get them to no only check the condition of your existing crank/rods/bearings, but also oil. It's possible your bottom end may be salvageable, but the more you drive it now, the worse it's going to get, and it's dramatic. I've been there. Not fun.

The worst thing is finding your oil is a glitter festival. Pretty though.

**fact0r** · 21-02-2009, 01:07 AM

hmm, so i guess it comes back to spending $1000's of dollars getting this checked out - something i can't do . . .

**woggin** · 21-02-2009, 03:57 AM

or just find a replacement 7mge, price varies, but can be had for as little as $500 dollaru, and, just drop it in!! or 7mgte!!

**rob** · 21-02-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by woggin

or just find a replacement 7mge, price varies, but can be had for as little as $500 dollaru, and, just drop it in!! or 7mgte!!

actually they can be had for much cheaper than $500 if you are lucky enough to find a cressida owner doing an engine swap

**crowncustom** · 21-02-2009, 08:26 PM

Could have a Gudgeon pin gone.
Cheers Brett.

**Robbos_Toyotas** · 21-02-2009, 09:52 PM

my ma70 7mge does this after i cooked it one day (blew heater block off and had no water) does it fro
m about 2200rpm - 3000ish i guess
was told it was a suspect big end, but have been driving it since for about 2000km without problem increasing, im suspecting gudgeon too,..
imo. keep driving till it dies then put a 1j/2j/ 1uz in it

ALL 7m's are ticking time bombs....

**allencr** · 22-02-2009, 04:56 AM

Originally Posted by fact0r

...usually around 2400 to 2600 revs ...most prevelent in Neut 1st & 2nd gear . . dissapears at higher revs...

I do not believe that there can be any problem with a bearing - main & rod, from a piston or from the valve train that will only happen in a certain RPM range and then become quieter ordisappear!!! It may be absent at idle, but it will always increase in level and will always be in sync never random, with the engine speed.
Some ball bearings will have a non-synchronized sound.
I think it's your waterpump, an accessory, an idler or something is vibrating.
*****************************
ALSO, what's with the engine oil???????????????? How many liters per kilometer?

**the_random_hero** · 22-02-2009, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by allencr

I do not believe that there can be any problem with a bearing - main & rod, from a piston or from the valve train that will only happen in a certain RPM range and then become quieter ordisappear!!! It may be absent at idle, but it will always increase in level and will always be in sync never random, with the engine speed.
Some ball bearings will have a non-synchronized sound.
I think it's your waterpump, an accessory, an idler or something is vibrating.
*****************************
ALSO, what's with the engine oil???????????????? How many liters per kilometer?

I had the exact same symptoms, it didn't disappear but was a bit less noticeable at more revs. Bearing gone, scored crank, block wasn't looking too healthy either.

**RyleyMA61** · 23-02-2009, 10:54 AM

so if it aint leaking you would have to assume that the oil is being burnt. which is usually blue smoke... black is indicative of running rich. but i suppose it's not always that clear cut.

so you say the problem goes away once topped up with more oil? or is it constant now?

if it is burning the oil it would seem the rings could be stuffed

either way, if you have to do major engine work i would recommend just getting a new 7m (ge/gte) but make sure the headgasket is okay... because it will blow at some stage to.