Bump+Bad oil filter+oil leak=engine noise

[Lifteddream]

I have a 1998 gsx with an engine noise. It does not sound like knocking. More of a rattling noise compared to the sound of a tattoo gun or a windup rc car. BEWARE: I am telling the whole story, it is long. I would like some advice on my situation so if anyone has a theory or thought please comment.
I was on a road trip to my dads which takes about 2hrs(mostly highway). About 1/3 of the way I hit a dip in the road and scraped since my car is lowered. I figured it was jus my bumper and didn't hear any noise so I keep goin. About 1/2 way I get stuck in traffic and since I'm coasting I hear this scraping. I thought it was my bumper hanging down so I pulled over. I looked and nothing was wrong untill I looked under the car. My oil filter mount for my external oil line broke and was now dragging on the ground. The lines were still intact and the oil filterhad some scrapes on it but didn't look busted. As a quick fix I zip tied it to the intercooler pipe. No more dragging.
So I started my car and let it run for a minute no lights came on and it sounded fine. I started to accelerate and then felt a lack in power as soon as I hit 2nd. I looked down and my oil light was coming on, I immediatly shut the engine off and pulled over. I saw very little steam and opened the hood. No fluid from the overflow. Underneath my car there was oil. My filter had a hole on the side I couldn't see. I had my dad bring me oil and filter and then changed it on the side of the road. About a qt came out so I kno it must have been leaking while I was driving. My car started right up and I didn't hear anything unusual after it ran for 15 min. I thought I got lucky and everything was fine. I proceeded to my dads and as I get down the road it starts to lack power and I hear this rattling noise. I pull over and check everything. No oil leak, good oil reading, no smoke. No rattling when I was idle so I figured it was either my oilfilter against the pipe or my exhaust. I kept goin since my dads was only 10 min away. It took forever to get up to 50 mph so I kept her in 5th on the highway. No noise just lack of power. As I get about a min from my dads the noise comes back but louder. It would get louder as I accelerated.And I no longer heard my BOV when I shifted. I pulled into my dads and the noise was still consistent so I let my car sit for about 2hrs. I went out and checked my oil and looked for leaks or anything else..nothing. I started the car and no noise. No lights. My dad drove it to see if he knew. He came back and there was no noise. Perfectly fine. Running at perfect temp. 2hrs later I went to leave and let it run. Nothing. I start to head down the street and hear the same rattling but not when I accelerate. Checked everything,perfect. 5 min down the road I start slowingdownfor a light and my car shuts off. now it starts to have a Lack of power. About 30 min on my way home I hear the noise again when I Try to accelerate. As I get closer to home it gets worse. And now everytime i let the rpm go down fast it shutsoff. The rattling is rediculous, and it is coming from the passenger side I think. When I get home and let it run in the driveway it has a low idle, when I disengage the clutch it shuts off and if Im pulling out I have to give it alot of gas to keep it from shutting off. Noise is still there.
Please if anyone has a problem like this or any ideas let me know. Thanks.
If it helps I just had a clutch and flywheel installed 250miles ago and the rest in the tranny was replaced 2000miles ago. Everything was fine before this incident.

 

[DSM1G90]

Oil light came on ... just enough drop in pressure to prob smak up the connecting rod bearings on the journal-for remember: with oil pressure up, the crank journals are actually floating in oil around the connecting rod bearings. You lose pressure, rod bearings and journals are direct metal to metal contact. And with a motor hot, oil was almost water thin

You just busted up the motor .. time for a rebuild. Gotta remember: you lower something, make sure that stuff is well secured way high so it doesn't suddenly become roadkill when you scrape.

 

[Calan]

Agreed. ^

I assume this sound you keep mentioning changes with engine RPM, as opposed to something else that got knocked loose and is rattling around, like a lower intercooler pipe?

If the oil pressure light comes on, it's usually too late. My bet is that you starved the rods and/or mains from oil and have bearing damage; especially if you lost almost 4 quarts of oil while driving . You could also have some scoring on the lower cylinder walls causing a drop in compression and contributing to the lack of power and stalling.

There are a few things you could do including pulling the pan and inspecting the bearings, or maybe doing a leak-down test to see if you're losing cylinder pressure. But honestly, I think at this point you may as well start preparing for a rebuild of the bottom end.

 

[scoby41]

especially if you lost almost 4 quarts of oil while driving

He only said about a quart. I wouldn't think losing that amount would cause damage, then again, my motor doesn't sound like that.

 

[Calan]

He only said about a quart. I wouldn't think losing that amount would cause damage...

I'm pretty sure he is implying that a quart came out when he changed it; which means he lost most of the oil.

I had my dad bring me oil and filter and then changed it on the side of the road. About a qt came out so I kno it must have been leaking while I was driving.

 

[DSM1G90]

And the pan holds, at the full line with the dipstick, 4.5 qts of oil.

Definitely would spin a bearing, scar the cylinder walls and a host of other damage...with a half quart that was left..

 

[thomcasey]

You will want to pull your cams too. Starving of oil will also hurt the head. Cams will spin their seats. Had it happen to me, a week ago. The bolt came off my oil pump sprocket. Timing then jumped. Spun rod bearings, main hearings, exhaust came seats, ruined the came, head and bent valves. I know where you are, it ain't fun, but it is definitely time for a rebuild

 

[brian9397gsx]

I have to agree with everyone sounds bad time to drop the pan. At this point I wouldn't bother with a leak down test, I'm sure your stalling has to do with the fact one or more rod bearings are gone causing alot of binding in your lower end since the rods are not supported by oil now and they are just slapping the crank causing your sound.

Ditch the external filter its bad news, and remember if you have an external cooler do not reuse it. It will have all the trash from your motor in it and wreck your next rebuild. If you have clearance issues try a forward facing housing.