I did not do this, but someone i know was towing their 5 speed manual Honda CRV on one of those stiff tow hooks that attaches to his camper and he left the car in gear, turned off.

He towed it for about a mile and then remembered that he left the car in gear. He then tried turning the car on but the engine would not start and there was oil comming out from around the oil pan?

He asked me to see if i could find out if something like towing the car while its in gear can damage the engine.

thank you

 

I'd say so, and if its an 4x4, even worse (are crvs 4x4? I don't even know)

 

CRV is FWD, I don't think it should matter. Unless he towed it rear end first...

 

If he tow it with the CR-V's front wheels on the road...the engine is gone... you are just over-revving the engine...

imagine being in first gear doing 65mph?

 

yup if it was in gear and you went over let say 30mph in 1st?! say BLOWN to the engine

 

Yes his engine is toast. Think of it this way, when you jump start a car when its off what happens? You force the car to roll and the rpms jump when you release the clutch. Well with no key and car in gear with clutch out, the engine rpm will climb. Since he was in 1st gear, and I am sure he went way way past the rpm limit in 1st gear when he pulled it for one mile.

So he can kiss his engine good bye.

 

If nothing else, oil pressure went through the roof. Drain the oil, take out the plugs, turn over the motor to blow out the cylinders. If there is oil blowing out, spray in carb cleaner to flush them til free from oil. Run a compression test. If its cool, add oil and new plugs and give it a shot