help needed with oil problem.

Post by **drumnut182** » 28 Oct 2008, 17:27

Has anyone cleaned the oil pickup and sump before because it was clogged up inside the engine? If anyone has a few pics or tips on how to do it and what to watch out for i would apreciate it (or is it just a case of cleaning it well and replacing?). I dont have oil pressure, the buzzer on dash wont go off and the oil pressure light is flashing. Have replaced low and high oil pressure switches and changed oil and filter but it has made no difference.
I have recently fitted new cylinder head and gaskets. (last week)
I recon that the oil pickup is clogged up and the oil isnt getting to the top of engine because there was water and oil mixed together (which is why i replaced cylinder head) which has caused a sludge to clog up the system.
I did do an engine flush before i drained out old oil but that hasnt seemed to do too much. There is new engine oil in there now of course which is black.
Anybody done this or had same problems before? Do you think i should buy some more of that flush and give it another go...does that engne flush stuff even work?
Questions questions! :\

cheers

ROB

Post by **camper** » 28 Oct 2008, 18:19

Thinking is this a 1.6 diesel if so.The oil pump sump pick up has a gauze removed by opening up its metal clip holder.Wash out then refit ensure the metal holder is folded to keep it in place.The low oil pressure could be a worn oil pump.

Post by **Red Westie** » 28 Oct 2008, 22:48

The reality is unfortunately that whilst running on the water/oil sludge the bottom end has likely picked up a bearing and your troubles run much deeper than simply cleaning a pickup gauze.

Best of luck.

Post by **drumnut182** » 29 Oct 2008, 21:14

ok thanks for your replies. Im in the dark a bit about the two possibles above. Would it be poss to explain a bit more in detail exactly what you mean please? I am taking off the sump tomorrow morn to clean any nasties outa there but while its off i obviously want to check for other damage or work that i may or may not have to do.
What is meant by "most likely picked up a bearing" and "worn oil pump"?

I basically need to know what to look out for tomorrow or in the next few days so that i dont put the sump back on and then find i have to take it off again to sort something else out!
My main reason for taking it off (the sump) is because i have the oil light flashing and the buzzer going off on the dash.. (I mean how many things actually are there that would be causing this?!)
Any ideas lovely people?

Its becoming like a never ending story already and i need to get it sorted for my own sanity..my wife is thinking about filing for divorce! (alright slightly exaggerated)...

Cheers
ROB

Post by **Red Westie** » 30 Oct 2008, 00:09

Simply put; running on a water/oil mix means the big end and main bearings will not have been lubricated properly and so may have overheated and 'picked up' ie; worn off some of the white bearing material.
Engines rely on crankshaft/big end and main bearings having the closest of fits to their respective journals to retain good oil pressure. Excessive wear to the journals and bearings means that the oil pisses out the gaps reducing the overall oil pressure and bringing on the warning lights especially at low revs.
You really should get the oil pressure properly checked with a gauge but if you are removing the sump I suggest you drop the the big end and main bearing caps one at a time and check bearing and journal wear visually to see if any of them are worn excessively.
Martin

Post by **drumnut182** » 30 Oct 2008, 10:13

Thanks very much for quick reply. Ok ill have a look under there and check.

Engines rely on crankshaft/big end and main bearings having the closest of fits to their respective journals to retain good oil pressure. Excessive wear to the journals and bearings means that the oil pisses out the gaps reducing the overall oil pressure and bringing on the warning lights especially at low revs.

Regarding above. Am i correct in thinking that if there is excessive wear to the journals, then wouldnt it smoke excessivly indicating this? Its not smoking hardly at all when i started her up initially. I havent driven her any distance yet just around car park (thats when buzzer and oil light came on)...and she ticks over nicely and revs nicely with hardly any smoke.
Basically what im trying to ask is if there is a lot of worn damage because of the journals, crankshaft/big end and main bearings would there be a lot of smoke or not?
Secondly, is it fairly straight forward to check for wear to the bearings?

Any other nuggets of advice (from anyone in the know) would help enormously.

Thanks.

ROB