*** Problem from Sport engine ***

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:23 pm

Hello people, my car broke down today. The oil light's come on the dash where all the ABS, pads, hand-brake lights sit. The sump gasket went a while ago & think the mechanic didn't do a good job as the car's starting to leak oil again

When turning the car over it firstly struggles & makes a sharp noise from the engine. Just wondering whether anyone knows anything about the noise

The cam seems to be running okay but was wondering whether it was maybe a valve spring or rocker

Any help will be much appreciated, thanks

Regards, Jo.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:31 pm

Could be a broken rocker...

When did the oil light come on, whilst driving?

Have you checked the oil level??

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:35 pm

Last night the light came on. Hasn't turned off since. I've had to keep topping up the level as it's leaking out!

When I broke a rocker earlier this year, it sounded worse; like it couldn't breathe.

This sounds like somethings jammed & finding it hard to move (hence squeeking).

Regards, Jo.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:38 pm

The oil light is on for a reason, stop driving it

Where is the noise coming from? drop off the rocker cover and see what's going on in there...

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:41 pm

Thought the light would have turned off by now. Why does it stay on? Something wrong with the oil pump or something?

I'm at work & cannot open it up till i finish but was wondering whether anyone knew what's in line for me???

Regards, Jo.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:48 pm

No oil pressure = lovely illuminated light = knackered engine = Ãƒ”šÃ‚£Ãƒ”šÃ‚£Ãƒ”šÃ‚£

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:54 pm

Oil pressure light means STOP THE ENGINE NOW!! Not when you get home, not when you find a laybye, but NOW.
Just push it out of gear and kill the engine.
Oil light coming on is not good news at all. There's a good chance that your engine was scrap when it came on, but if you've continued driving it, then it almost certainly is.
Top end troubles in the engine don't cause loss of oil pressure, bottom end or lack of oil do.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:54 pm

Knackered engine already? Only rebuilt it about 1500 miles ago (top & bottom). Also wacked in a 288/288 Schrick with high performance valve springs. U not think it could be one of the springs Mark? Or something related?

Regards, Jo.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:59 pm

Brian, didn't know what that light was fella. Therefore drove it home untill it started squeeking. Then my pal towed me home with the engine off!

I topped up the oil when i heard the squeeking as thought it might be lack of oil etc but didn't make a difference!

Car's resting at home waiting on finishing work & opening it up.

Regards, Jo.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:59 pm

As Brian correctly said, engine pressure losses are due to bottom end problems. Ignore the rockers for now, if you've been running it with no oil / pressure then the cams may be knackered now...

It's going to be impossible to diagnose this over the net, get a reliable mechanic to take a look at it, not a mate from down the pub...

Best of luck.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:43 pm

Looks like Big Jo's in trouble! Heard bottom ends aren't cheap to fix!

Thanks guys

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:15 pm

BIGJO wrote:Looks like Big Jo's in trouble! Heard bottom ends aren't cheap to fix!

Thanks guys

But 325 bottom ends are plentiful enough. With a 325 engine, the value is in the head.

Post Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:12 pm

If your bottom end is gone don't stress too much, plenty of good complete engines around. I have one.

Sal