Fearing the worst - after seeing oil warning light
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From: UK - North Staffordshire
Fearing the worst - after seeing oil warning light
I've seen a few threads that touch on this but I thought I'd just describe my problem from scratch and see if anyone can tell me anything reassuring!
I have a 2005 Mazda 6 Sport 2.3L with 75,000 miles on the clock. It is booked in for a 75,000mile service next Monday. Last Friday my Low Oil Pressure light came on. I was about a mile from a garage in slow moving traffic (stop-start never above 30mph) in a bad part of town in the dark so rather than stopping and walking to find oil I chose to drive on - the oil warning light was not on all the time but flickered on and off. I got to the garage and topped up with oil and all seemed to be well.
Since then there has been a metalic clattering noise from the engine (sounds like the top of the cylinder head) - occasional and quiet to start with but getting worse over the past few days. Today I've roared up and down the motorway for 90 miles with no apparent loss of power but for the last 15 miles or so in stop start town traffic the noise was getting really loud and worrying. My questions:
1. Is it just in need of a good service?
2. Have I fried the engine and is this likely to be really bad (and expensive) news?
3. Do I risk further serious damage if I drive up and down the motorway (90 miles per day) for the next 4 weekdays before my service on Monday?
Any thoughts?
regards,
Jon
I have a 2005 Mazda 6 Sport 2.3L with 75,000 miles on the clock. It is booked in for a 75,000mile service next Monday. Last Friday my Low Oil Pressure light came on. I was about a mile from a garage in slow moving traffic (stop-start never above 30mph) in a bad part of town in the dark so rather than stopping and walking to find oil I chose to drive on - the oil warning light was not on all the time but flickered on and off. I got to the garage and topped up with oil and all seemed to be well.
Since then there has been a metalic clattering noise from the engine (sounds like the top of the cylinder head) - occasional and quiet to start with but getting worse over the past few days. Today I've roared up and down the motorway for 90 miles with no apparent loss of power but for the last 15 miles or so in stop start town traffic the noise was getting really loud and worrying. My questions:
1. Is it just in need of a good service?
2. Have I fried the engine and is this likely to be really bad (and expensive) news?
3. Do I risk further serious damage if I drive up and down the motorway (90 miles per day) for the next 4 weekdays before my service on Monday?
Any thoughts?
regards,
Jon
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From: southern New Hampshire
How much oil did you have to put in when you "topped up" with oil? If it was less than a quart/liter, then you're good to go, however, if it took two, three, or heaven forbid four quarts, then you might be looking a some expensive engine work.
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I fear it may be the hard lesson. Probably 2 litres.
I do check my oil but not weekly. And part of my difficulty is that I find the dipstick very hard to read. I also drive about 500 miles per week - so a 2-3 weekly check on 500 miles is not as good as a 2-3 weekly check on 100 miles0.
Thanks anyway. I'll just have to postpone the refurbishment of the bathroom!
What's the point of an oil warning light if it only comes on after the damage is done??
I do check my oil but not weekly. And part of my difficulty is that I find the dipstick very hard to read. I also drive about 500 miles per week - so a 2-3 weekly check on 500 miles is not as good as a 2-3 weekly check on 100 miles0.
Thanks anyway. I'll just have to postpone the refurbishment of the bathroom!
What's the point of an oil warning light if it only comes on after the damage is done??
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From: Manor, TX (Outside of Austin)
I used to do that too... until one day the bottle (plastic, of course) developed a crack in the seam before I realized it. It slowly leaked out all over the back of the car. Carpet, spare, etc, all saturated. What a PITA that was to clean up.
Many find the dipstick hard to read. They do suck, especially in '06 and later cars. Even my '04 leaves something to be desired, but it's not as bad.
'Sorry for your trouble.
To answer your question about the idiot light: I think if they made it that sensitive, it would likely trigger falsely when the engine was hot (thinned oil) and idling (slow running pump) for a period of time. That's when the oil pressure is generally at its lowest. But I do feel your pain.
Consider installing a gauge!! 'Cheap insurance in your circumstances.
I fear it may be the hard lesson. Probably 2 litres.
I do check my oil but not weekly. And part of my difficulty is that I find the dipstick very hard to read. I also drive about 500 miles per week - so a 2-3 weekly check on 500 miles is not as good as a 2-3 weekly check on 100 miles.
I do check my oil but not weekly. And part of my difficulty is that I find the dipstick very hard to read. I also drive about 500 miles per week - so a 2-3 weekly check on 500 miles is not as good as a 2-3 weekly check on 100 miles.
'Sorry for your trouble.
To answer your question about the idiot light: I think if they made it that sensitive, it would likely trigger falsely when the engine was hot (thinned oil) and idling (slow running pump) for a period of time. That's when the oil pressure is generally at its lowest. But I do feel your pain.
Consider installing a gauge!! 'Cheap insurance in your circumstances.
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From: UK - North Staffordshire
Update
It was indeed a lesson hard learnt.
New engine needed. They quoted £7000 for new engine but managed to find a second hand one that had only done 12,000 miles (mine had 75,000) for £4000 including labour. Still a vast ammount of money to find for something that was my own stupid fault!
I asked them what the car was worth in part exchange and they offered £200 (yes - that's two hundred - I haven't left off a zero)! 2005 (55 plate) and 75,000miles. £200!!! The radio alone is worth more than that.
Just waiting for the work to be done now which means doing the 90 mile round trip up the motorway to work in my wifes 10 year old Astra. I'll try not to break that one as well!
New engine needed. They quoted £7000 for new engine but managed to find a second hand one that had only done 12,000 miles (mine had 75,000) for £4000 including labour. Still a vast ammount of money to find for something that was my own stupid fault!
I asked them what the car was worth in part exchange and they offered £200 (yes - that's two hundred - I haven't left off a zero)! 2005 (55 plate) and 75,000miles. £200!!! The radio alone is worth more than that.
Just waiting for the work to be done now which means doing the 90 mile round trip up the motorway to work in my wifes 10 year old Astra. I'll try not to break that one as well!
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We've all blown up at least 1 engine in our days.
It could be worse....my friend has a 1000hp engine in a 1968 Ford Bronco - We've blown it up 3 times in 3 seasons off-road. The block alone is ~$8,000 USD ($30K complete engine)
It could be worse....my friend has a 1000hp engine in a 1968 Ford Bronco - We've blown it up 3 times in 3 seasons off-road. The block alone is ~$8,000 USD ($30K complete engine)
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From: UK - North Staffordshire
Thanks virgin1 & sstlaure. I feel much better!
[quote]
Any idea what caused the car to go through that much oil?
[unquote]
No idea. No oily patch on the driveway and no blue smoke (or smoke of any kind). I suspect it was down to the following:
- long-term running slightly low on oil due to not checking or topping up oil quite enough - but not quite low enough to trigger the warning light
- roaring up and down on the motorway everyday - 90 miles per day
- some extra mileage (about 600 miles over one weekend) just at the point the 75,000 mile service was due
- some foot-to-the-floor overtaking on the day it all fell apart
- and finally - driving (slowly) for a mile to get to a garage AFTER the oil warning light came on (and probably not topping up enough even then)
But from what you are saying perhaps it is the mark of a true petrol-head to burn out at least one engine in a life-time. Actually one engine in 25 years of driving isn't too bad I suppose. Over my lifetime £4000 is only £93 per year (that's only 25p per day!).
[quote]
Any idea what caused the car to go through that much oil?
[unquote]
No idea. No oily patch on the driveway and no blue smoke (or smoke of any kind). I suspect it was down to the following:
- long-term running slightly low on oil due to not checking or topping up oil quite enough - but not quite low enough to trigger the warning light
- roaring up and down on the motorway everyday - 90 miles per day
- some extra mileage (about 600 miles over one weekend) just at the point the 75,000 mile service was due
- some foot-to-the-floor overtaking on the day it all fell apart
- and finally - driving (slowly) for a mile to get to a garage AFTER the oil warning light came on (and probably not topping up enough even then)
But from what you are saying perhaps it is the mark of a true petrol-head to burn out at least one engine in a life-time. Actually one engine in 25 years of driving isn't too bad I suppose. Over my lifetime £4000 is only £93 per year (that's only 25p per day!).