Saturday, my oldest & I went to see friends about 25 miles out in the country. At lights, w/my foot on the brake, it was 'pulsating ', like I was tapping the gas. And generally acting off. We made it ok, but on the way back, warning bells going off, 'low oil pressure, stop engine'! We were in the middle of nowhere, so I tried to ease on. Finally, it shut off, I pulled over, and it wouldn't crank! I'd checked the oil & tire pressure before we left. Now there was oil all over the left side of the engine. And the dip stick showed nothing! After a few minutes, I tried it again, and it started. Thankful, I really gingerly drove on, a couple miles to a gas station. It took 4 quarts! We made it home without further incident. It'* been raining every afternoon until today, and I found this plug loose, laying on what appears to be the engine mount. It has an indented hex head, and a metal washer. The question of the day is, what is it for, and why would it back out? I tried to thread it back in, but it doesn't seem to want to. Do I need to pull the motor mount to get it started, and if so, best way to support the engine? I'm starting to think this car is cursed! I was afraid it ate the timing chain again, but I pulled the VVT sensor, and it was clean.

I know driving with little oil pressure is terrible, but $ is very tight, had nothing in the bank for a tow, and exceptionally few options! Letting it sit a few minutes gave time for what oil was left to drain down. And the low pressure warnings stayed off most of the way to the gas station. Also, going to need to clean up all that oil, and I'm thinking the old school way I know, Gunk and the garden hose, could be bad with all the fancy computer stuff under the hood.

Ummmm . . . is that the 4-cylinder?