Which oil?

[cosmicsheep]

Sat at the roadside waiting for the RAC. Had a breakdown with big plumes of smoke from engine.
Oil light came on so stopped at a motor factors and bought some 15w40 mineral oil.
Now thinking it maybe should have been synthetic?
If I have got it wrong and mixed my oils, what damage am I likely to have done? Terminal?

[bigherb]

If I have got it wrong and mixed my oils, what damage am I likely to have done? Terminal?

None. Mineral and synthetic oils are miscible.

[ghost123uk]

Sorry to hear your engine has died Stephen, glad you are with the RAC at least. It won't have been the oil you put in, but if the light had come on it is likely that it was very low on oil and this damaged the motor, or summat was on the edge of failing, and now has

Hope you find a replacement soon and cheap.

[Mocki]

Mineral oil in a DG .
Oil light coming on either means low oil level or low oil pressure .
Oil level low add oil. Oil level not low but added oil , overfill = loads of oily smoke as it burns it off !

Of coarse it maybe more serious , it needs proper inspection now , good luck

[ghost123uk]

Oil light came on so stopped at a motor factors and bought some 15w40 mineral oil.

I just read that again, was it an amazing coincidence that the oil light came on just as you where passing a motor factors, or do you mean it came on so you drove it to a motor factors ?

If the latter, well

[Ian Hulley]

Oil level low add oil. Oil level not low but added oil , overfill = loads of oily smoke as it burns it off !

Been there, done that when the terminal came off the B.O.D. sensor near the oil pump.

On an '89 DG you would/should have had the buzzer of doom come on if you had low oil pressure ? Check the wire that goes to the sensor between the nearside push rod tubes, make sure it's not rubbing on and earthing out on the tube guard.

Ian

[cosmicsheep]

Thanks guys, you were spot on. Oil level wasn't low and I overfilled it.
RAC man drained some out but oil in carb and everywhere. Still not running right but off to garage for a checkup.

[Mocki]

So...... Keep us informed on the outcome, and the reason the oil light came on, and if the BoD made its presence known please.....

[what2do]

This has got me thinking, oooh it hurts!!!! Is there a way of checking that the BOD actually works? I regularly check my oil (it weeps a little here and there), plan on fitting a pressure gauge BUT would like to think that the BOD would give me a heads-up should the need arise. Mitch.

[Ian Hulley]

What year/engine type is your van ... add those details to your signature so we can help you.

Ian

[Aidan]

This has got me thinking, oooh it hurts!!!! Is there a way of checking that the BOD actually works? I regularly check my oil (it weeps a little here and there), plan on fitting a pressure gauge BUT would like to think that the BOD would give me a heads-up should the need arise. Mitch.

to test the system, disconnect the two pin plug with the oil sender feeds (Brown both, front left of engine bay), one is low pressure and one is high pressure, work out which is which, high pressure is at rear on engine down by the bottom pulley - earth the low pressure contact on the plug going to the dash and start engine, oil light will flash and go out, rev it to over 2000rpm and bod should go off and light flash, earth the high pressure contact and it won't

[what2do]

Just the info I was after, thanks.

[cosmicsheep]

Never been sure if my bod works either. Bus has previously had an aftermarket oil pressure gauge fitted which was reading ok ( if only I'd looked at that before topping up - or checked the dipstick) oh, we'll, lesson learned.
And yes, the oil light came on as I was passing a motor spares shop
Awaiting the verdict from the garage tomorrow, will keep you informed.

[Ian Hulley]

After just switching the engine off there's very little engine oil on the stick even with 4.5 litres in .... it's all playing hide & seek round the oily bits for quite some time till it get's bored and returns to the 'sump'.

Ian

[Mocki]

if mr volks thought it needed a oil gauge, he would have fitted one.....