No oil in filter

[Rev]

A lack of oil in the filter would not in and of itself, cause the bent push rod. Lack of oil to the lifters would cause a lot of "clicking" due to too much clearance in the valve train.

The lack of oil in the filter was probably caused by a faulty drain back valve in the filter itself. That would cause valve train noise until the oil pump filled the filter and restored oil pressure to the lifters.

Rev