Am I in bother?

the long lad · 27-12-2010 10:01pm #1

Had a bit of trouble with my 00 polo. Was driving on xmas day and I got a beep from the dash (i think the oil pressure was low), half a mile later she konked. Thought it might just be the battery but it doesn't appear to be the case. I've since learned, that if it was low oil pressure, the engine might be f***ed altogether? Wont have a mechanic for the next day or 2. Does anyone here who'd know anything about these things think it'll be beyond repair or what are my chances of keeping it on the road?

-Corkie- · 27-12-2010 10:05pm

Did any warning light come on?

the long lad · 27-12-2010 10:07pm

yes, I didn't know it at the time, but it was the oil pressure light... the watering can light!

MagicMarker · 27-12-2010 10:07pm

When was the last time you put oil in it?

the long lad · 27-12-2010 10:09pm

September, when it was serviced. I've hardly driven it the last few months for a number of reasons, so it shouldn't have been low... unless I had a leak.

Lets say i was out of oil. Is my engine likely to be f***ed?

-Corkie- · 27-12-2010 10:10pm

MagicMarker wrote: »

When was the last time you put oil in it?

A time nearly as long as The long lad by the sounds of it.;)

bazz26 · 27-12-2010 10:10pm

A low oil pressure light would not come on if the battery was dodgy. Impoosible to tell what exactly is wrong but I would have pulled over and not driven it any further once the light came on. Continuing to drive it with the low oil pressure warning light on was propably not a good idea and most likely caused more harm to it than good. Worst case your engine has run dry of oil and ceased up.

the long lad · 27-12-2010 10:13pm

in which case, that'd be get a new engine or would it be possible to get it repaired?

i haven't even been able to get it towed home yet, so i guess i'll know more in a couple of days. thanks for the replies lads.

Neilw · 27-12-2010 10:13pm

Have you checked the oil level since the light came on?

the long lad · 27-12-2010 10:15pm

no. it was xmas day, i tried jump starting it with a nice guy who pulled in. didn't start so i went home, getting it looked at tomorrow.

bazz26 · 27-12-2010 10:17pm

Well if the engine was starved of oil and ceased up then you are most likely looking at needing a replacement engine. On an 11 year old Polo it might not make economic sense to spend that kind of money on repairing it.

But it is only a guess by me on what you have described, a mechanic will need to examin it and then advise you better.

Stheno · 27-12-2010 10:32pm

I tend to have spare oil in the boot of my car, never been told it's hazardous, it's in a proper container etc.

Do most people not do this?

jimmyw · 27-12-2010 10:46pm

Stheno wrote: »

I tend to have spare oil in the boot of my car, never been told it's hazardous, it's in a proper container etc.

Do most people not do this?

Having oil in your boot is in no way hazardous.You only need to have it there if you have a bad leak, or your car is burnning it, which should be seen to.I dont have it even though mine is losing it a bit.Not bad enough to do so.

Neilw · 27-12-2010 10:47pm

Stheno wrote: »

I tend to have spare oil in the boot of my car, never been told it's hazardous, it's in a proper container etc.

Do most people not do this?

No, your average Joe couldn't be bothered opening the bonnet between services.

Stheno · 27-12-2010 10:47pm

jimmyw wrote: »

Having oil in your boot is in no way hazardous.You only need to have it there if you have a bad leak, or your car is burnning it, which should be seen to.

I just have it there as my car tends to run low on oil, and I check it in the garage, and like to have it handy to fill up, rather than hoping that the garage will have the type of oil, I check it about every two weeks.

Until recently I did 1000 miles in that time frame.

jimmyw · 27-12-2010 10:53pm

Stheno wrote: »

I just have it there as my car tends to run low on oil, and I check it in the garage, and like to have it handy to fill up, rather than hoping that the garage will have the type of oil, I check it about every two weeks.

Until recently I did 1000 miles in that time frame.

Thats OK makes sense.No point in rooting in the shed for oil (maybe the wrong type:p) when you need it especially if you will need it often.

Stheno · 27-12-2010 11:16pm

jimmyw wrote: »

Thats OK makes sense.No point in rooting in the shed for oil (maybe the wrong type:p) when you need it especially if you will need it often.

Yeah I've an alfa 156 and whilst I don't check the oil every time I fill up, I check it regularly and want it there then to top up

Plus I save a fortune not buying the oil if it is available in the garage

bmw535d · 27-12-2010 11:26pm

basically you did everything your not supposed to do when that light came up. your lucky its only a polo your driving, it it had been any thing more expensive youd be well fecked. id say scrap the polo and buy a new yok.your engine is siezed, or the rings are worn very badly so you need a new engine or a full rebuild which would cost more than an 11 year old polo so it makes no sense to repair it unless it has unreal sentimental value.

Nissan doctor · 27-12-2010 11:38pm

If it is an oil pressure issue, either low on oil or a failed oil pump, and the engine cut out due to this then its unlikely that the engine will be very healthy even if it did start again. For a polo of that vintage, a good second hand engine could be got from the likes of traynors for a couple of hundred euro. A proper rebuild wouldn't be economical for the type of car.

Henry Ford III · 27-12-2010 11:52pm

This sort of thing has come up recently.

If you get an oil pressure warning stop immediately.

Anan1 · 28-12-2010 12:39am

Henry Ford III wrote: »

This sort of thing has come up recently.

If you get an oil pressure warning stop immediately.

It's amazing how few people seem to know this, a friend of mine recently destroyed the engine in a SAAB 9-5 doing exactly the same thing.

@OP - You might get a cheap engine somewhere, but to be honest i'd consider the car written off.

Stheno · 28-12-2010 12:55am

Anan1 wrote: »

It's amazing how few people seem to know this, a friend of mine recently destroyed the engine in a SAAB 9-5 doing exactly the same thing.

@OP - You might get a cheap engine somewhere, but to be honest i'd consider the car written off.

I'm not being a bitch but tbh it's amazing the amount of people who don't know to check their oil regularly!

First thing I was told when I got my first car ten years ago was to check the basics at least once a month! Like oil, tyre pressure, water for the wipers etc?

kildarelad · 28-12-2010 6:32am

drop me a pm if your looking to move it on the way it is

Lurching · 28-12-2010 6:38am

the long lad wrote: »

no. it was xmas day, i tried jump starting it with a nice guy who pulled in. didn't start so i went home, getting it looked at tomorrow.

Did the engine turn over at all when you tried to jump it?

galwaytt · 28-12-2010 11:05am

the long lad wrote: »

yes, I didn't know it at the time, but it was the oil pressure light... the watering can light!

LOLOL............Oil & Water.

So, if you knew it was low on oil, you'd have done something about it - but not if it was water ? Either way, your engine won't like you

the long lad · 28-12-2010 3:52pm

Paid my car a visit earlier. There is, as i thought, plenty of oil in it. But it was still the oil pressure light that came on, so obviously something is up.

Nice to have so many smart comments, but i'm convinced very few people know that the watering can symbol is to do with oil pressure. By the same token, i'd say very few people would know to stop the car immediately. My first thought, not knowing what the light was, and considering it was -11 at the time, was that it might be okay a minute or two later when the car heated up.

Mechanic picking it up tomorrow, so i'll have a better idea in the next few days how hard this is gonna hit my pocket.

the long lad · 28-12-2010 3:54pm

Lurching wrote: »

Did the engine turn over at all when you tried to jump it?

it just gave a scratching sound... as if you turned the key with the car already running.

jimmyw · 28-12-2010 3:59pm

the long lad wrote: »

Paid my car a visit earlier. There is, as i thought, plenty of oil in it. But it was still the oil pressure light that came on, so obviously something is up.

Nice to have so many smart comments, but i'm convinced very few people know that the watering can symbol is to do with oil pressure. By the same token, i'd say very few people would know to stop the car immediately. My first thought, not knowing what the light was, and considering it was -11 at the time, was that it might be okay a minute or two later when the car heated up.

Mechanic picking it up tomorrow, so i'll have a better idea in the next few days how hard this is gonna hit my pocket.

Yes I agree with you that a lot of folks don't know what any of the warning lights mean.But ignorance is going to cost someone in the long run.Some possibilities about your problem is pump gone,faulty sender or blocked filter causing strainer to clog up with crap.Watering can actually means oil can.

Dartz · 28-12-2010 4:06pm

the long lad wrote: »

it just gave a scratching sound... as if you turned the key with the car already running.

It's seized. Engine's dead.

jimmyw · 28-12-2010 4:09pm

Dartz wrote: »

It's seized. Engine's dead.

Sounds like it alright.Get someone else to see if the engine is actually turning over.

Nissan doctor · 29-12-2010 11:05am

If there is still plenty of oil in it then possibly the oil pump has failed. Either way, as I said already, if you ran it until it stopped then it destroyed. Even if it did start after fitting a new pump it won't last long.

On issue of the oil can light, That is the universal symbol used by all car manufacturers as an oil light, it will have been widely tested as the most recognizable symbol relating to an oil problem, hence why it is used. Its the same reason that the engine management light on all cars is exactly the same, as is the brake warning/handbrake light.

A watering can doesn't relate to anything in an engine, most manufacturers use a picture of a radiator to indicate a water issue as the two are immediately associated by anyone who at least knows that there is water in an engine.

Same goes form the oil level/pressure, they've made it look like the most stereotypical classic oil can for a reason IMO.

Matt Simis · 29-12-2010 11:43am

Stheno wrote: »

I just have it there as my car tends to run low on oil, and I check it in the garage, and like to have it handy to fill up, rather than hoping that the garage will have the type of oil, I check it about every two weeks.

Until recently I did 1000 miles in that time frame.

I leave it in my cars too, so if (and its rare) the Oil light came on I dont pay the 400% markup on mystery oil in the nearest Petrol station. I think everyone should do it, but was surprised when people commented in a Car Selling thread that it "makes it look like its burning oil". I always considered it due diligence.

I also have a Fire Extinguisher in my cars (and two of them came with it from factory), does that make it look like Im prone to random fires? :rolleyes:

Am I in bother?

Comments