Last night I drove on the freeway (trying to go at 60) for about 5 miles in gear 2... in my automatic. I wasn't aware I was driving in this gear until about half way to my destination. I was afraid of just switching gears from 2 to D (I thought it would screw up my transmission). When I got home my car stalled in my parking lot and it smelled like something was burning (a rubbery smell). My oil indicator was telling me I needed oil (even though I had just put a quart in that same day). My engine made a bit of a clacking noise but it wasn't too bad and when I finally parked it and checked under the car I notice a leak on the passenger side toward the front of the car.

So, how messed up is my car?

 

What kind of oil is leaking, engine or trans?

Doubt the trans was damaged.

How high was the engine reving, how hot did the indicator temp indicator gauge get on the dash.

You might have revved the engine high enough to burn or blow out the engine oil.

The smell could be the oil dripping on the exhaust pipe.

Track the oil leak to its source on the engine.

 

I didn't check the kind of oil, it was too dark to tell. The engine was revving between 5 and 6 RPMS at some points but it never the red area. The temp indicator on the dash did not ever reach the halfway point. I drive a 1993 Camry. Could I have caused damage to something else?

 

At these RPM's a lot of engine oil is being thrown around. It could have been burned, leaked out, etc.

Typically if the RPM never got above redline and the coolant temps were OK, the engine should be OK. However the clacking noise is not good but might just be low oil.

Check the engine oil for signs of coolant and the coolant for signs of oil.

Top off the engine oil and restart engine.

Determine if the engine still idles OK. If not you may have a problem.

If OK and still has the clacking noise try to narrow down the location. Such as valve train noise (tap, tap, tap), front of engine where the timing belt cover is, from inside the engine block (more of a dull knocking noise the get worse if you give the engine some gas).

Or slim chance of an accessory such as PS pump, AC, etc.

Try to narrow down the location of the oil leak engine off and on. Note: trans, diff and PS fluid is red.

If the situation happens again, let off on the throttle to get the engine RPM down to idle, then shift the trans into Drive. This will not harm the trans.