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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: danyo on 16 June 2012, 09:00

Title: low on oil...
Post by: danyo on 16 June 2012, 09:00
Hi Guys,

Last night i was on the way home, within a mile of my house the oil warning light comes on and tells me to stop. So i pull over and leave it for 5 mins or so. then decide to just cruise home.

As i got home, my car lost all power and started making a loud ticking noise, which doesn't sound good!

Any ideas on what damage may have been caused? Before i take it to the garage.

Cheers Dan
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: Bandit127 on 16 June 2012, 09:09
Top it back up with oil (to the right level) and start it up. If it still rattly it could be serious.

You might have got away with it though, so worth a try.
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: danyo on 16 June 2012, 09:35
looks like i haven't got away with it :( do you know what parts would have been damaged?
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: DubAndDubber on 16 June 2012, 09:47
Sound like your pick up pipe was blocked, should never ever drive it when the oil light comes on.
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: cobalt6700 on 16 June 2012, 10:41
Loud ticking?

Probably the hydraulic lifters, maybe big end bearings.

Loosing all power because it was seizing up.
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: rockmonkey69 on 16 June 2012, 10:42
You really need to take it apart to inspect it for damage, scoring on the camshafts, tappets likely to need replacing, cam chain tensioner and probably the turbo (assuming you its a turbo engine you have as you failed to mention what engine it is) normally you would get away without damage done to the big end bearings and crankshaft, if it wasn't driven for long or hard with slightly low oil.

In terms of price, a set of tappets, assuming once again you have a 20vt engine cost me upwards of £400 for the part from VW this was a few months ago. For the cams you should be able to source a good condition second hand set relatively cheap. If you have a 20vt the cam chain tensioner and chain is likely to need replacing, price varies from non-vvt to vvt unit, but expect to pay upwards of £60 for a second hand vvt unit.

Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: richw911 on 16 June 2012, 11:16
Sound like your pick up pipe was blocked, should never ever drive it when the oil light comes on.

+1  :cry:
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: danyo on 16 June 2012, 11:20
sorry yes, its the 1.8 20v turbo 180bhp auq engine. Just dropped it off at my mates garage so he can take a look, and let me know the damage, fingers crossed its not to bad!
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 16 June 2012, 12:01
Sound like your pick up pipe was blocked, should never ever drive it when the oil light comes on.

as my mate has recently found out after driving his around for a month telling us its a faulty sensor...i told him i bet the pick up pipes blocked...he took it to a garage, the pipe had melted! so was blocked...whole engines f*cked.  :sad:
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: cullygti on 16 June 2012, 12:02
that pick up pipe cost me a new engine as i had the dreaded oil light come on was 4 hours from home aswell  :cry:
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: barrym381 on 16 June 2012, 12:05
that pick up pipe cost me a new engine as i had the dreaded oil light come on was 4 hours from home aswell  :cry:
the 1st thing i do after buyin a golf is drop the sump an change the pipe  :smiley:
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: cullygti on 16 June 2012, 15:29
was the first golf i have ever owned so didnt have any knowledge of them what soever infact i didnt even like them  :grin:
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: Dalo Harkin on 16 June 2012, 19:24
happened to me STOP came on drove very slowly home (about 10 miles) and then had the sump off and pick up pipe replaced etc...
Luckily I got away with it

Hope no serious damage is done, if its blocked then you adding more oil it would still sound tickety, replace the pipe and then see how it is
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: Wayne on 16 June 2012, 21:07
Your going to need to be really lucky to have escaped causing any damage.
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: Bandit127 on 16 June 2012, 21:16
Your going to need to be really lucky to have escaped causing any damage.
Wondering if the lack of power was down to pistons getting hot and binding in the bores.

I can't be the only one here who let a 2 stroke run out of oil in their teens and had it slow down and stop only to restart 10 minutes later - with piston slap aplenty. Scored bores and piston skirts was the result of that.
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: mar_k on 16 June 2012, 21:35
so if you stop as soon as the light comes on would you have stopped in time to avoid damage
or is it too late by then
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: DubAndDubber on 17 June 2012, 03:24
Well of the car has told you you to stop, and you did. Well done. If you driver on after the car has told you to stop, then well you are just stupid!
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: danyo on 18 June 2012, 11:02
bad news guys...... gonna need a new engine! well thats the cheaper option anyway! removed the sump and there was all sorts of bits floating around, metal, plastic etc. also took the head off and the cams are a mess!

it turned out the be the pick up pipe was blocked!

anyone know anywhere i can source a recon engine from? or any reputable breakers yards, that will give some sort of guarentee / warranty?

cheers guys!
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: Granta Gti on 18 June 2012, 11:29
Sorry to hear this mate  :cry:
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: cullygti on 18 June 2012, 11:31
try cooki on here he had an agu engine going cheap

or take the whole car if he still has it  :grin:

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=233418.0
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: JimBR on 18 June 2012, 11:42
This thread scares me  :sad:

I'm going to let midland VW do mine when ive got the cash.
Title: Re: low on oil...
Post by: Dalo Harkin on 18 June 2012, 12:08
Do it yourself, its easy when you know they are 10mm bolts and not hex nuts (if anyone remembers my post on it  :grin: )
 you just need a decent socket set, a new pickup pipe from VW, oil, and some axle stands (oh and some sealant)