oil problem?

[snowythebudgie]

Hi All,

Did a 4h drive in the van today (1.6TD) and the oil warning light came on a few times. The first two times when going round a bend and the last time when pulling off the motorway. All times the warning just lasted a few seconds. The oil is full (in fact a little over full - about 5mm over the max line) and it hasn't moved even though I drove 500 miles in 3 days. If I'm not leaking oil then is the light something to worry about and why do you think it comes on when going round hard bends?

The only other thing I can say is that since I overfilled the oil (around 3 weeks ago) I've noticed a couple of times something dripping from near were the waste tank outlet is (just on the inside of this is a small tube that looks like it has oil on it?? This is why I've been keeping a check on the oil and clutch fluid but niether have dropped at all?? Any ideas? I did have problems with a leaking hose in the cooling system but I replaced that and now thats all fine.

Any help would be appreciated and be gentle, I'm new to all this!

Cheers

[kevtherev]

Might be worth while changing the sender to rule that out..

[snowythebudgie]

Could you direct me easily to the sender so I can check it? Also is there any other elecrical parts that could be loose that I can easily check? I'm thinking it must be electrical otherwise when the warning comes on it would stay on because the pressure would stay low, also don't see why the pressure would be low just when I go round bends either?

[kevtherev]

I dont know where they are on a derv.
Im sure someone here will enlighten us though.
As for the odd light round corners, I would fit the new senders first or at least clean up the connections.
However if this does not fix it then an oil pressure check must be made.

What oil are you using?

[colinthefox]

The problem would appear to be oil surge. I've had this sometimes. When you brake or go round corners, the engine oil slops around in the very flat sump and the pickup can suck air for a few seconds. I thought this only happened with low oil level, but apparently there can be a problem with high oil levels too. I've read somewhere that the oil gets whipped up to a froth by the revolving crank, and as a result the pickup can suck froth under the same conditions. I also had something like this happen when the W connection to the alternator was dodgy, but it doesn't sound like that's the problem in your case.

[ewenmaclean]

Hello,

oil surge as colinthefox suggested seems to be what's happening. There is a baffle in the sump to stop all the oil going to the front of the sump away from the pickup when braking, but not for when you fling it round corners. I'd suggest this may well be a clogged up oil screen in the pickup itself, or possibly damage somewhere from oil pump to pickup - when did you last do an oil + filter change, and as Kev says - what oil are you using, and how hot is it getting? If it's a JX then I don't think it's too much of a nightmare to take the sump off and check the oil screen and pump.

Ewen

[snowythebudgie]

Cheers for all the suggestipons guys. This all sounds quite likely to me. I guess the first step is just to drain the sump a bit to get the oil to the correct level and see how it goes (is this just a case of opening a release nut under the sump somewhere?). I'll have to check on what oil because it had a full service a month or so ago and so the oil and filter should have been changed. If that doesn't fix the problem then I guess I should drain and take off the sump and have a look - I don't even have ramps so I guess I better get a garage to do this although it doesn't sounds too hard... Maybe it is just because of the extra oil I have extra sitting in the sump which makes it more likely to collect bubbles when it swills round a corner??

Thanks for all the help..

[ewenmaclean]

Hello,

your first steps are to get the oil to the right level, and to check the oil pressure is good with a wet gauge. The sensor may be wrong as Kev says but I sort of doubt it given this is happening around corners.

It's possible the crankshaft is causing the oil to become foam as colinthefox says, but it could be other things too. If you want to take 5mm out I'd stick a tube in the sump and a vacuum ball and suck it out - that's by far the least messy way of doing it. You'll probably get covered in oil trying to get the sump bolt back in while it's pouring out, but it is possible!

Good luck

Ewen

[snowythebudgie]

Cheers Ewen, I'll try sucking the oil out then. it does sound easier. Whats a wet pressure guage and is it easy/cheap enough for me to buy and fit or should I just get a garage to check. I was thinking that I'll only do this if the warning still goes off when I've taken the oil out - thing is if thats the case then I need to be measuring the pressure when its going off and not when idling otherwise if its normal (when stopped) then I still don't know if I have a problem when driving.

[ewenmaclean]

Hello,

I'd go to a garage and ask to borrow one - it's a pressure gauge which isn't electric and so more accurate - it'll screw into the same place as the low pressure sensor is (blue/black wire going to the cylinder head I believe), or you can take it from a tapping on the oil filter housing - there should be a blank and one with a high revs sensor, with a yellow wire going to it. The reason for checking is that you want to make sure you do really have good oil pressure at idle and revving - this means yours engine internals like bearings and oil pump are ok and you don't have a more serious problem.

Good luck

Ewen

[kevtherev]

Be vigilant about your service items,(Buy them yourself even.) your levels, and your service intervals for various mechanical requirements.

quality service items suppliers and parts are listed in the thread at the top of the mechanical forum.
If you don't service the van yourself you can at least ensure only quality items are used... they are cheaper than new engines
It will get you closer to your engine... till you become one...