Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: minifreek on 31 January 2016, 15:01:57
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So whats folks opinions, Im reckoning oil pump...
Oil warning lamp is lit and wont go out, plus theres a very distinct rattle coming from top of engine, possibly oil starvation...?
Would it be the suspect of a new pump required....?
Anybody got any links as to where to obtain 1 that is available for me to collect, local to Wigan.... :y
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Unlikely to be the pump - very likely that the pick up strainer is blocked with gunge.
To change the pump involves undoing the bolt in the end of the crankshaft - people struggle to shift it even with a 3 foot scaffold tube.
Start off by dropping the oil pan and cleaning out the sump and pick up strainer. If that doesn't fix it - or if the noise continues even after the oil light goes out then the big ends will need re-shelling :(
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No noise from the big ends though....?
OK, I'll start by dropping the oil and take a look at the strainer... hope its as easy as that, didn't really want to shell out for a new pump. Would be cheaper to get another engine....
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Is the oil pressure switch easy to get at? worth disconnecting the plug and earthing to check operation?
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Was also thinking that too TIDLA, but the engine is making a hell of a racket at the top-end...
I'll do what ANDY H suggested and drop the sump and clean the strainer... hopefully it'll only be that....
thanks for the suggestion though :y
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Oil pressure switch is just to the left of the crank pulley - as you look at the front of the engine ;)
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As said unlikely to be switch if accompanied with some top end noise.
Has it symptom started after an oil change?
Have you used an engine flush?
Best move is don't run it! sump off check pick-up, clean if need, change filter, new oil then crank over without the engine starting immobilise by whatever means (pull the injector relay). See if the oil light goes out.
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Thanks, possibly worth replaceing too....
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Oil pressure switch is just to the left of the crank pulley - as you look at the front of the engine ;)
A new one is only £4.
But the noise suggests a lack of flow/pressure, which isn't difficult to check.
Cleaning the pickup in the sump is the place to start.
Hopefully your noise is just oil starved lifters, and not knackered cam bearings.
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As said unlikely to be switch if accompanied with some top end noise.
Has it symptom started after an oil change?
Have you used an engine flush?
Best move is don't run it! sump off check pick-up, clean if need, change filter, new oil then crank over without the engine starting immobilise by whatever means (pull the injector relay). See if the oil light goes out.
Its kinda been an intermittent type thing...
Every now and then I get the oil light come on, stay for a couple seconds then go out. Only happened when at idle, give it a blip of revs and it goes away...
The engine is due an oil and filter change, and TBH a bloody good service. Iv just been looking at pricing up filters for the AR25 to change the AT fluid and PS fluid too... Need this car to last a while longer, well at least another 12months... MoT not due until March so will be servicing it before it goes for its test. Also exhaust has a blow, somewhere from the front - Im suspecting manifold... might be time to update to the 2.6/3.2 headers... Not touched this car for a while as Iv just been too busy dealing with bereavments in the family, so car servicing has been on a backburner for a while... plus the weather hasn't helped either...
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Oil pressure switch is just to the left of the crank pulley - as you look at the front of the engine ;)
A new one is only £4.
But the noise suggests a lack of flow/pressure, which isn't difficult to check.
Cleaning the pickup in the sump is the place to start.
Hopefully your noise is just oil starved lifters, and not knackered cam bearings.
Need to take the camcovers off anyway as theres an oil leak from the NS camcover... might as well do a full service whilst Iv got the bonnet up... No need to do the cambelt though, that was only done about 6-8 months ago...
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Ok, out of interest how many miles has the oil done and what oil in it at the moment.
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Honestly, I really couldn't say but Im suspecting it hasn't been changed for about 20K, I only use Vx semi synthetic...
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So the oil looks like it's had a good bashing.
If it was mine I would be
change filter, new oil
Connect an oil pressure tester then crank over without the engine starting, see what results I get.
Whichever root is taken you need to minimise risk of engine damage.
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Honestly, I really couldn't say but Im suspecting it hasn't been changed for about 20K, I only use Vx semi synthetic...
I would definitely drop the oil pan and give it a good clean in that case.
Simply changing the oil can be counter productive because the fresh oil tends to flush lumps of crap into the sump. If the strainer is already bunged up it is the final straw.
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Honestly, I really couldn't say but Im suspecting it hasn't been changed for about 20K, I only use Vx semi synthetic...
:o :o :o
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No noise from the big ends though....?
OK, I'll start by dropping the oil and take a look at the strainer... hope its as easy as that, didn't really want to shell out for a new pump. Would be cheaper to get another engine....
Good! The valve gear is your early warning. It takes decent oil pressure to fill the lifters but isn't immediately damaging to the camshafts as long as there is some oil splashing about.
The crankshaft bearings are a different matter. When they wear they let oil escape which makes it difficult to maintain oil pressure - particularly at idle.
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We shall see what happens tomorrow, I'll get me the service items needed and see what happens.... hopefully its just the strainer needs cleaning/unclogging....
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Well Iv been at it all day...
Dropped the oil, takes a fookin' age to empty when cold..... so went to the local Vx dealer and bough me an oil filter and 2 tubs of oil, also ordered a filter and gasket for the gearbox too.... £60 oppsing quid for a ruddy filter....!!! also bought the gaskets for the rocker covers whilst I was there as the OS rocker is starting to weep a bit... and its dropping onto the exhaust manifold and stinks whilst its burning...
So got back, oil had stopped falling out, bloody horrible black and thick oil... blimey..!!!
Took sump off and located the strainer/pick up..... absolutely full of crap, so removed it... Looks like it had got blocked with silicone sealent, and a couple of knackered O rings too.... so cleaned it out and gave it a general clean and tidy, same with the sump pan, gave that a ruddy good clean too - plenty crap in there too... need to get a magnetic sump plug....
So, refitted the oil pickup and refitted the sump with new paper gasket.... dropped the car back onto its wheels so it was level and proceeded to pour in the oil....
Took the immobiliser chip out the key so the engine wouldn't fire, and span the engine over a couple times to get the oil circulating.... put the chip back in the key and started the engine.... the oil light went out but there was a hell of a clatter from the top-end.... shat myself then realised theres no oil at the top of the engine LOL
Anyhoo ran it for a while, its gradually got quieter and quieter but theres still a slight tappity type noise from the lifters (I presume).... so might get some oil treatment for that, unless it buggers off and I can leave it alone...
So all in all, no need to get another engine or oil pump as it was the strainer/pickup that was blocked... thankfully...
So onto the next job, need to fix the exhaust blow from the manifold now.... might just replace the manifolds for 2.6/3.2 headers... need to source them now :)
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Unlikely to be the pump - very likely that the pick up strainer is blocked with gunge.
To change the pump involves undoing the bolt in the end of the crankshaft - people struggle to shift it even with a 3 foot scaffold tube.
Start off by dropping the oil pan and cleaning out the sump and pick up strainer. If that doesn't fix it - or if the noise continues even after the oil light goes out then the big ends will need re-shelling :(
Good call on that mate, it did turn out to be the strainer :)
Thankyou :)
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Unlikely to be the pump - very likely that the pick up strainer is blocked with gunge.
To change the pump involves undoing the bolt in the end of the crankshaft - people struggle to shift it even with a 3 foot scaffold tube.
Start off by dropping the oil pan and cleaning out the sump and pick up strainer. If that doesn't fix it - or if the noise continues even after the oil light goes out then the big ends will need re-shelling :(
Good call on that mate, it did turn out to be the strainer :)
Thankyou :)
Excellent news :y
Glad you got to it in time.
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Good result!
Give it another oil change in 500 miles (it'll have absorbed a lot more of the crud floating round in there) and that will most likely sort the lifter noise.
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The lifter noise has almost gone, must've been dry...
I'll change the oil in a couple of weeks as it takes a while for me to clock up 500 miles in the Miggy.... I drive my proper Mini when out and about during the week, the Miggy is the school bus and weekend taxi...