Stupid Mistake, Now I need YOUR help Options

[Doge]

Hey all...I recently caused a huge problem that could have been prevented had i taken 30 seconds of my precious time!!! *punches self in head* But anyways...i took my car to get its 3k oil change...and afterwards continued to drive it. After 3250 miles i figured i should probably get it changed again...so i got in my car and started driving into town...i live out a country road so driving fast around the twirlies is really fun...and i was doing just that. But then i suddenly heard a pinging...not your usual pinging...i knew right away that it was something bad...but i couldnt understand why. It turns out that my car either burns oil INCREDIBLY fast or the people that changed my oil last time forgot to add a QUART OR TWO! I really dont knwo since i've been too scared to run it anymore..i dont want to make anything worse. So here's where i need you knowledgable people's help...it starts knocking at around 4k rpm. Had a guy listen to it and he said the rod bearing was going out. So odviously the engine is going to have to be taken out and it will need to be repaired...but when i take it in i want to tell them everything they need to know...so they know that they can't mess around and try and rip me off. So in order to repair the engine, what is going to have to be fixed/replaced? And second and most importantly...is it going to cost more to do that or just to buy a new engine? If the latter is more prudent then i think i might just go with the 3s swap. But only if it would be more cost effective...im a starving college student and right now my car is (regretfully) my second priority. So any and all info on what i can do..and what i need to know would be wonderful. Thanks ahead of time for what i hope is alot of info that i can smack down in the mechanics face and demand a fair deal! THE DAY WILL BE MINE!!

Steve (Doge)

p.s. who would'a thought that checking your oil as often as possible could save you so much money

[lagos]

you should check your oil every time you fill up on gas!

every engine consumes some amount of oil. if you drove it 3,250 an never check it then you were low on oil for a while and didnt know about it.

the check oil light only comes on when there is almost no oil in the engine, not when you need an oil change.