Heavy Metal Grind on Startup with Burning Smell

[njjuliano]

Started the M this morning (40.2k), usual Monday routine, and a loud, heavy metal grinding, friction sound before fully turning over with immediate burning smell (didnt strike me as oil, or plasticky). Engine fully turned, and turned off ignition after 5-10 secs.

Checked oil, it was a quart low (already? oil change 700 miles ago, appx 2.5 weeks). Added oil.

Started car, now how pitched metal grind, brief, then full turnover. Let run for a minute, and drove (city) for 5 mins.

Hour later, start car, normal behavior, drove for 7 mins, with intentional 3 min highway driving and rest city. No issues.

Car sitting, with no apparent sickness.

Any thoughts on sound, culprit, what to have dealer check?

[MaxBolus]

maybe check your serpentine belt idler pulley? That's what mine did just before it failed. The burning smell was from the belt dragging over the pulley.

[sin1505]

I thought that, but the quart low after 700 miles indicates otherwise...
Does your car show any signs of oil leaks?

[njjuliano]

I'll look at the pulley, thanks. The sound was a grinding metal to metal though, almost gear like, if memory serves.

No, no leaks with the oil. I'm certainly concerned with this, even though I've had 1 q consumptions at 1k before. This seems bit much.

Difference in driving for a bit, with my wife having the car for a week and a half, so different driving style, bit more heavy on the pedal she is... Wouldnt call it excessive, couple notches below spirited.

[Ilya]

Alternator?

[njjuliano]

Alternator?

dont think so. batt charges well, but is there something else you had in mind with it?

[njjuliano]

Looking inside for any metal pieces that might have fallen in that could have caused the grind, ie screws, etc, and noticed that I'm missing many retainer clips in the bay. One I want to replace is the ones up front for the grill. Also, plastic shield on the bottom is all bent out, and of course, missing many lost clips (snow this year, I'm assuming). Anyone have a vendor for these things, or just local autozone sufficient?

[Ilya]

Alternator?

dont think so. batt charges well, but is there something else you had in mind with it?

It might be working...but it spins and is mostly metal...who knows...just thinking outside the box.

[njjuliano]

It might be working...but it spins and is mostly metal...who knows...just thinking outside the box.

Ok, got ya. Thanks for responding. If you think of anything else, I'm all ears.

[EniGmA1987]

Not sure what it would be, but I hope you find something broken and bad on the outside of the engine. This could turn really bad if the grinding was happening inside.

[njjuliano]

Not sure what it would be, but I hope you find something broken and bad on the outside of the engine. This could turn really bad if the grinding was happening inside.

My concern as well. Have not found any pieces laying around.

I am inspecting a slight hissing sound coming from the bottom of the car. Don't know yet of its norm.