Help is my engine dead again?

Post by **MarieJ** » 20 Jun 2007, 22:32

Hi, On my journey back from Wales recently the dreaded oil light came on and off. I pulled in and toppped up with a litre of oil. Further down the road it came on and off again. More one litre top ups did not stop the oil light lighting up sporadically. I rested the van for over an hour, checked that there wasnt a poolof oil under the van and continued on the journey home. I kept the speed to a max of 50mph and travelled over 100 miles. 30 miles from home I felt confident enough to increse the speed up to 60. On doing this black smoke came out of the back so I slowed down to 50 again and got home. I havent driven the van since although it starts up fine. Do you think my engine is damaged? I could smell burning oil on the way home. It is a non turbo 1.9 diesel. I dont know whether to spend money putting in another engine or just get shot of the van and start again. My heart wants to keep it but I am tired of changing engines.
Any advice would be gatefully received.
MJ

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 20 Jun 2007, 22:48

maybe overfilled it with oil? smoke is just burning off excess. I am no deisel expert though. check your oil level see if it is above the max mark if you are chucking in a litre here and there above what it needs you may be giving it too much. It may be an electrical fault causing the light to come on.

Post by **HarryMann** » 21 Jun 2007, 00:16

Have youi calibrated your (non-std) 1.9 dipstick?

Is this an upright or a 50 degree installation?

When did you last chaneg the oil and filter?

Post by **toomanytoys** » 21 Jun 2007, 09:37

Check the oil level... the oil lamp doesnt mean its hasnt got oil in it...
Get the oil pressure checked out..
fit a new pressure switch, it could be that simple...

Post by **SplendiferousII** » 21 Jun 2007, 11:22

As above. Start with a new switch. Some of the VW one work within a pressure range, if its outside of that range the light comes on.

Best thing to do is screw a pressure gauge in there and see what pressure it shows.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 21 Jun 2007, 14:16

Drain the oil and re-fill with 4.5 ltrs of oil, then you know it`s got the correct ammount in it to start with.

Post by **Louey** » 21 Jun 2007, 14:44

as westy says but remember 4.5 litres is if you change the filter (which you should, especially if you've had problems) 4litres without.

After you've filled up, look at the dipstick and then mark off the level as full

Post by **MarieJ** » 21 Jun 2007, 22:58

Thanks for all of ther information, its beginnning to make sense. I am really hoping that I overfilled the oil (after having had two engines go and then the oil light light up in the paSt , once the oil light went on i put oil straight in). If calibrating the dipstick means marking off 4.5 litres then yes I did this for the 1.9D engine only to have my lengthened dipstick snap in two shortly before the return journey. ( if someone has a solution to replacing car engine dipsticks for van ones iu would love to know). Sorry for being stupid but where do I find the pressure switch? is it in the sump?
once again thank you for all of the advice,
.
MJ

Post by **HarryMann** » 21 Jun 2007, 23:34

http://wiki.80-90.co.uk/index.php/Alter ... gine_1.9TD

3rd topic down

2 pressure switches I expect, one in top of oil filter housing and a lower pressure one in the back of the cylinder head (just in front of the black electrical junction box)

MarieJ, please put your location in your profile fro reference, thanks...

Post by **MarieJ** » 10 Jul 2007, 23:19

Hi, thank you all for the information re my original posting about my engine oil light flashing.
I drained the oil and found that i had 7 lires of oil in the sump. I having been using my van for work - only clocked up about 50 miles but the engine starts great and feels good. I have taken the engine up to 60 miles an hour which felt good without smoke. I feel no damage has been done. Im thinking about taking my van on a slow drive to the West coast of Ireland. Do you think this is wise? My engine is a 1.9 diesel btw.
thanks MJ

Post by **HarryMann** » 10 Jul 2007, 23:31

Ah! That's good news !

I have taken the engine up to 60 miles an hour which felt good without smoke.

As long as the rest of the van is still with you at 60, you stand a good chance of making Ireland

Taken steadily can't see why not (tip your hat as you pass the various fairy wells and all will be well

)

Check the oil level after each long drive until confident you know how often it might need a drop ( a drop is about half a litre) -

Keep an eye on water temp gauge too, but don't panic, they will go up a bit when hill-climbing or with a heavy load - back off a bit and go down a gear on longer or steeper hills, into top and speed up quickly down the other side if all is clear So read the road as far ahead as you can, making early decisions on speed and gear for any hazards

Make sure your wipers good and screen clean inside and out, washer tank (under the passenger floor mat) is full and all work OK. Go round and check all your lights, brake lights and indicators before you leave and before you return ... Spare bulb sets can be got from Halfords or GSF in one neat plastic pack. Know and set your tyre pressures... check your spare for inflation and jack for 'where it is'.

Know how good your handbrake is on steep hills, you might have to park in some funny places... stick it in 1st gear if in doubt.

Presume you have Relay Recover or Roadside repair and a mobile phone, so you can relax regardless... a cigar lighter socket 12V mobile charger is handy when on the move, unless you have a mains inverter fitted.

Sorry, eggs, me, sucking, teach

But more than anything enjoy the drive as much as the destination...

Post by **MarieJ** » 11 Jul 2007, 23:04

Thanks for the useful advice Harry, I feel more confident about taking my old van to Ireland now. Part of our oil level problem is a constant oil leak which we have not been able to trace. I'm sure that the engine did not leak when it was in the car that it came out of. My partner has told me that he fitted a new sump drain plug and sealed the gap around the dipstick, this has not solved the problem. Is it worth fitting a new gasket on the sump itself? This is the only area I can think that the oil may be coming from. My Father in law tells me that all disel engine leak a little oil. Is this really the case?
All the best MJ

Post by **HarryMann** » 12 Jul 2007, 00:09

No not all, but many... it just notices more maybe, because it gets dirty very quickly in diesels...

You would have to get under there in overalls and vinyl gloves and wipe down and clean all the oily surfaces, to establish if it was the sump gasket... and then look carefully soon after... that's not easy area to clean nor partic. easy to see the source as any oil is quickly blown a round when it's driven.

The other sources are the camcover gasket, it might run down onto the exhaust manifold and smoke a bit -often at the back of the engine - the camcovers can get distorted on the JX, those retaining nuts on the 1600's mustn't be overtightened, can maybe be sorted with new gasket, a degrease and some RTV silicone sealer.

Or if a Turbo diesel, it might just be breathing heavily, and where the breather tube joins the inlet duct, down by the turbo, can leak out there a bit (can't do too much about that, other than fit an oil separator/catch tank between cam-cover breather outlet and the breather pipe.. or again if TD, check the turbo oil return pipe (large unions (22mm?) on turbo and sump.

The turbo itsef can also ooze oil if the bearings and seals are getting well worn...

Seems its a 1.9D, turboless, so sump or camcover prime suspects - could try just nipping up all the (22) sump bolts, see if any are a bit loose.. 3 are hard to get to without a 1/4" scoket set and using correct torx or hex bits (if those set-screws are the proper ones for T25s)

Post by **MarieJ** » 19 Jul 2007, 14:31

My husband has now changed the two oil pressure switches, fitted a new oil filter and fresh oil. The oil light now flashes on and off. Prior to this the van had been driven 165 miles around town without problems. A local VW garage has suggested that the oil filter in the sump may be blocked up, another mechanic has said this is unlikely and we should check the actual oil pressure with a gauge. Where can we buy one? Any ideas. I'm losing faith in my van again and thinking of taking the skoda and a tent to ireland.

Post by **HarryMann** » 19 Jul 2007, 14:46

Re-check there are good connections to the pressure senders...

Re-check the right ones are in the right holes... low pressure (.25~.3bar, BLUE or BROWN) in the back of the head and higher pressure (.9bar GREY, BLACK is 1.4bar) in the oil filter housing tapping..

Take the pod off the dash, read the Wiki about checking the wiring connectiond for the DOPWS there... (Dynamic Oil Pressure warning System)..

http://wiki.80-90.co.uk/index.php/All_e ... and_causes

Yes, actually checking it (at both high and low rpm and at oil temp of about 80C) would be a good idea... could ask on here to borrow a gauge and connection hoses/adapters

If it is just flashing and doesn't buzz when hot and over 2000 rpm, then it'll like as not be the one in the head, so check that connection and colour of sender first.

If it flashes straight away, when cold & not just when hot, I'd say it's unlikely it's the oil pressure... possibly the dash wiring. Also think it'd be rare for the screen in the bottom of the oil-pump to have blocked up, if the oil has been kept changed regularly (and seem to remember it being flsuhed with 7 litres a while ago?

PS. The buzzer of doom and DOPWS has been known to drive people to the brink of madness & beyond - take care

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