2E oil loss - low oil pressure and knocking (video)

[jmsheahan]

Thanks. I cleaned it all out so will keep an eye on it however...

A new development from last night...

Was driving home reasonably enthusiastically but nothing particularly heavy. Came down to a junction and the low oil pressure light started flashing around idle which went out again as soon as I put a little throttle down. Came off of the roundabout and switched off immediately. Low oil pressure also backed up by the VDO registering low.

Let it cool down, checked the levels and still half way up the dipstick (was at just below max around 50 miles back). Started it back up, no light and all was well. Nursed it the half mile home.

Started it up today and no light, compression still great, however it's now knocking above 2000 rpm. Sounds like it's coming from the head but I could be wrong.

Put bluntly it's f*cked  . Can any light be shed from this? I could try and record the knocking.

[Wayne]

Knocking could be a bottom end issue, main or big end bearing in trouble

[jmsheahan]

Yeah thought as much.

Is there anything in the head that could cause the knock though out of interest? It does sound top end rather than bottom end.

[mk2bal]

Low oil pressure can cause the tappets to be noisy.. Check oil pressures, hot and cold, at idle, and at rpm, and on the head as well as oil filter housing. If they're low, drop sump and clean pick up pipe, or replace pump. Simples.

[danny_p]

dosent look good for that engine

looseing useing that much oil is not a good,  also kicking in the low pressure warning at idel when hot means its not holding pressure well.  often means engine is close to end of days. 

cleaning pickup can sort it sometimes , but usally if if blocked woh gunk it's sing that the engines had a hard life and when striped thee often worn, same goes for oil pumps they are usally good for the service life of the engine so if it's work the shells are usally about done anyway

witht he problems you allready have with it IMO it's time for a full rebuild or epplace

[jmsheahan]

Cheers for the help.

I wish it would die properly to be fair - it's never been conclusive i.e compression is still good etc. The knock does sound like it's from the head but I guess I best start sourcing another bottom end (any one got a good 2.0 lump) and hope the head isn't toast. This second engine has lasted about 2000 miles 

Might be time to call it a day to be honest, I'm completely sick of this car and throwing money at it.

[Horney]

I'd be tempted to pick up a known good PB lump for peanuts, chuck it in and then once that's done strip down your old lump and have a good look. You should be able to pick up a good PB for less than £200 as people throw them out when putting in ABF's.

Nick

[Diamond Hell]

You should be able to pick up a good PB for less than £200 as people throw them out when putting in ABF's.

A good PB?  The youngest ones are 20 years old now!

I'd recommend manning up and just inserting the correct engine, as listed above. 

[Horney]

There are plenty of good PB's about. No point adding hassle of an ABF if he's fed up with it. A straight swap can be done in a day and he has a working standard car.

Nick

[jmsheahan]

I still have the original pb lump which was ok however if it's being stripped down yet again I'll try and find a good, documented AGG. If I could find a 2.0 already with a pb head that would save some time. ABF would be nice but the wiring puts me off.

Think I'm just going to leave it in the garage out of sight for a few weeks/months until I decide what to do. Fix it or break it and scrap the remains.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll get a vid of the noise/knock later in the week.