# Magna has issues starting **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 12, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/magna-has-issues-starting/126608 "2018-10-12T01:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bgroom\_143176](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@bgroom\_143176](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bgroom_143176)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/magna-has-issues-starting/126608/1 "2018-10-12T01:29:46Z")
1998 Mitubishi Magna I am now suspecting has an oil leak. 4-5 days ago noticed engine noise a bit louder than normal. 3 days ago noticed knocking sound in engine and car took longer than normal to start. Realised it might be oil related. I checked and it was bone dry. Put a moderate amount in as it was all I had. While driving the car now runs and sounds fine but I’ve had to continue driving it since then and each time it takes longer to start. Yesterday it took 1-2 minutes to start and today it won’t start at all. The battery isn’t dead and as I try to start engine I can hear a quiet whirring sound from engine. Just wondering if anyone has any insights, I’m fairly car-illiterate and broke. Is it screwed? Thanks if anybody replies. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/magna-has-issues-starting/126608/2 "2018-10-12T01:39:27Z")
When you first started to hear any noises, you should have checked the oil then. Driving another 4-5 days low on oil may have destroyed the engine…or at least drastically shortened it’s life. > [@bgroom\_143176](#): > > Put a moderate amount in as it was all I had Did you ever buy more oil, or are you still running it on the little oil you had at the time??? Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![bgroom\_143176](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@bgroom\_143176](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bgroom_143176)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/magna-has-issues-starting/126608/3 "2018-10-12T02:06:53Z")
I know I screwed up. At least I now have a first-hand understanding of the importance of regular oil checks. I’ve filled it with oil but it hasn’t helped the starting issue. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/magna-has-issues-starting/126608/4 "2018-10-12T02:07:35Z")
My guess, bad compression, possibly from low oil. Suggest a compression test is next.