So a while back I posted about my engine making a kind of metallic 'clipping' nose...similar to if you were to stick a piece of paper in the fan, but more metallic sounding. I'd also get sudden loss of power when accelerating hard, and it would start to buck.

I was told this sounded like the map sensor...anyhow, it kept getting worse and so I took it into the mechanic. Apparently, according to what he said, a bearing had worn out, or down, or broke, and metal fragments were in the engine. (I'm a newbie when it comes to the mecahnics of a car, forgive me). He said that it appears that the car was run out of oil. I never got a check engine light either.

I had always kept up on the maintenance, but I did buy it as a returned lease with 23k miles on it. It has 45 currently. I have mechanical breakdown insurance through my bank, but they're trying to deny the claim because they said the same thing, it was run out of oil...except I have all of my maintenance records.

So my question to you guys is, based on the pretty shotty description of the problem, do you feel anything else could have caused this?

 

What do maintenance records have to do with running out of oil? Do you check the level between oil changes? If not, then it's quite possible that it was run out of oil.

Also... not sure why anyone said that the MAP sensor would cause a tapping sound. That would be more of a valve adjustment or cam chain tensioner, in my opinion.

 

It is owner responsibility to check oil level at each gas tank fill. It even states this in the owner's manual.

 

I've never understood that. Isn't it best to check the oil level after the engine has cooled a bit and the oil has had a chance to drain back into the oil pan? It doesn't seem like it would give an accurate reading if there was still a lot of oil up in the engine.

Anyway, yeah... I don't check my oil level at the gas station, I do it at home about once every 3 or 4 fill-ups. But, following the guidelines in the owner's manual is generally a good idea.

 

You are absolutely right. I gave a fairly lengthy explanation about this some time ago, but it may be worth doing again.
I believe Honda wants us to do a "hot" check because it is easier to do when we coincide it with fueling up. Traditionally, people always checked their oil at the gas station (well, the pump jockey used to do it for us) because it was an easy habit to get into and if oil was needed, it was handy to purchase.
I have found that when done correctly, the difference between a "hot" check and a "cold" check is no more than 1 "x" on the stick. Remember, HOT oil drops back down into the pan very easily, as opposed to, for example, trying to check the level immediately after an oil change when the oil never gets very warm. (That's why I make sure the oil level is at least about 1/2 on the dipstick after an oil change and a short idle period to fill the filter. Then I top up in the morning.)
If you arrive at the gas station and immediately pop the hood and pull the dipstick out, then go fuel up, by the time you're done fueling, the bulk of the hot oil has dropped down into the pan and also out of the dipstick hole. Pulling the dispstick out right away facilitates removing the surface tension that's created by the presence of the stick in the hole, so the oil can better fall out of the hole, making for a cleaner "read" when you're done fueling. Now, take a note of what the level is. Next morning, you can check again when the engine is cold and the oil has had all night to drain down. You will most likely make the same discovery that I have made. The difference will then be known to you and you will also realize that it isn't as much as you may think.
This is all assuming that where you check your oil at home is level. Most gas stations' fueling pad is pretty level. No matter. Now you know the difference that will compensate for any slope of your property where you car normally lives.

 

I did check the oil regularly and changed it every 3k miles. Besides, the insurance company would not be able to know if I ran it out of oil, all they would have is the maintenance records to go by. My question basically is could it have been run out of oil by the previous owner, but took some time to show up?

 

There is a major difference,between being a bit low,because all of the hot oil has not dropped down,and RUNNING OUT OF OIL !!!

 

Wouldn't you think the oil light would come on if it were to actually run out of oil?

 

Already too late,when it comes on.!!!

 

You would have to have 2 qts or less to get that light to come on. The light is pressure related not volume related. You may have enough oil to generate enough pressure for idling or mild running conditions but not for any kind of above average kind of operation.