Low oil - could I have damaged my engine?

[general_piffle]

Just got the MK3 GTI (16v) back from having some work done. One of the jobs was replacing the rocker cover gasket. So I picked the car up and took it for a spin today, about 2 to 3 hours just driving around in the sun. Only to find when I stopped back home that it was leaking oil! No warning lights were on if that matters.

Popped the bonnet and sure enough it seems to be coming from where the rocker cover gasket was replaced. The garage were brilliant and picked it up filling it back up with oil before taking it away to fix. But from what they put in I worked out I'd lost about 1 to 1.5 litres of oil while driving around.

Do you think it's possible / likely that any damage could have been done to the engine in this short time? The garage said they'd check but what would they be looking for?

Put my mind to rest fellow Golf nuts! Ta

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

Cheap gaskets can cause problems.  Was it a genuine VW rocker cover gasket you fitted?

 When it comes to inexpensive parts like this, keep to genuine VW parts, less hassle and cheaper by the time your finished trying to sort the problem with cheap copies

You need to use sealent on the  circle bits even on VW gaskets. GSF/Euro gaskets one are rubbish.

[Leon27]

Only if the low oil warning pressure light came on then it would be a worry. As with tapping/knocking noises.

Unless you were on the motorway at 6k rpm for those 3hrs I wouldn't worry

To check for engine damage, the quickest method would be to assess the top end - remove the rocker cover - remove one cam cap at random only on the inlet and exhaust and check for scoring marks.

The garage seemed to rectify the problem correctly but I would get them somehow to document what has happened for your records. Try asking for a 2nd repair invoice clearly explaining exactly what happened, the parts replaced etc therefore you would be covered if in the very unlikely event something oil related fails.

[gasketface]

It is probably terminal so probably best to give the car to me straight away,i won't charge you much to take it away

[general_piffle]

Thanks Leon27 the garage are looking into it now and have said they'll check the top end carefully for scoring, they're going to take pics too so that's good.

I didn't notice if the oil warning light came on but then I was concentrating on the road while driving. However, when I pulled over and first noticed the leak the engine was off. I then put about 200 to 300ml of oil that I happened to have in the boot into the car and started her up again watching the warning lights.

They all behaved normally and the oil warning light went out as soon as the engine was running so am I right to think it's unlikely that it had been on?

[Bellend]

It'll be fine, wouldn't worry in the slightest.

[general_piffle]

It'll be fine, wouldn't worry in the slightest.

Thanks B! What makes you so sure?

[madmanmart]

It's the bottom end that needs checking, it won't take long for no oil to ruin the big end bearings.

[general_piffle]

It's the bottom end that needs checking, it won't take long for no oil to ruin the big end bearings.

There was still plenty of oil. It lost about 1.5 litres of it's 4.5 litre capacity so I'm probably being over cautious but wanted to check in.

[gazareth]

most engines run fine on half the oil they are meant to have. as long as you are not cornering hard on the redline when I bought my golf near 3 yrs ago the oil level wasn't even showing on dipstick and after a pressure check it was spot on.