Used Cars: bought used car lasted less then 5hours, weight oil, car fax

Question
Purchased a used car as is from dealership.  Title was still in previous owner's name.  Told that all cars are checked out by mechanics prior to sale. I did everything but ask for a car fax. Drove car off the lot 5 hours later the oil pressure dropped to zero. I stop on the spot.  You guessed it blown motor. This motor made no noise the dealership told me they drove the car every wed to flint which is about a 150 mile round trip and it ran great. I test drove the car but did not take it on the freeway, there was next to no gas in it. appeared to drive fine. Hard to believe they just drove it all that way two days prior no problems and checked out.  Not only did the motor blow but the passenger side tie-rod end is gone as well.  Do I have any recourse?  I phoned them right away while waiting on a tow truck.  I should say I am in Michigan. Some say that dealers will sometime put in 90 weight oil to hide knocking or loud engine noise.  I am not sure that's the case and unsure how to check.

Answer
Hello Theresa and thanks for your question. I am sorry to hear about your misfortune. In Michigan if the dealer sold you the car "AS IS" than you have no recourse. 5 hrs or 5 minutes it's still as is. A used car in Michigan can be in any condition and does not even have to run. The title being in the previous owners name is correct, the dealership doesn't title vehicles to themselves if the vehicles are for sale. The best thing you can do is try to work something out with the dealer to get you into a different car. Be polite and try to be as understanding as possible, it is very possible that the dealer didn't know anything about this. I am a dealer in Michigan and I hate to think that the dealer would knowingly sell a car that had a bad engine but I know that some do just that. Good luck to you, just remember the only person that can help you here is the dealer so try to work something out with them.  Take care, Shane