24 replies to this topic

[mark_vx]

Took the car out of the garage tonight to change a shock absorber. Noticed a little oil damp on the bottom of the engine when I took the wheel off so I decided to check the oil level which I haven't done for a long time.

 

OMG - the oil is only just touching the bottom of the dipstick. Took 2-3 litres of oil to bring it up to max. Car was full last year - is this normal usage or am I using/leaking excessive oil? I must say the oil was dirty looking too. However I am 6 months overdue a service (on time not mileage), I've only done about 5000 miles in the last 18 months.

 

Any thoughts peeps

 

Cheers

[CocoPops]

OMG you need a Sutol lesson. How often do you check it? Once a year?

[Nev]

>< At least it didn't run out completely

[mark_vx]

I know - all the cars I've had in the last 12 years have hardly used any oil at all so I have got out of the habit

[Tony H]

This sounds similar to a scare I had a few months back. The leak was caused by the sealing rings on the filter either broke or not done right.

[jules_s]

I've had similar before. Didn't check oil (other things on mind) Oil was just on the bottom of the stick, really dark and stank. It didn't end well

[jibber]

My tubby didn't use a single drop of oil for the last 10.000km....

[mark_vx]

I've had similar before. Didn't check oil (other things on mind) Oil was just on the bottom of the stick, really dark and stank. It didn't end well

OK spill the beans then - what am I to expect?

[WindyStig]

I do about 1500 miles a month in mine and i usually have to top up about half a litre every couple of months. I've had it fully check during a service and they can't find a drop of oil anywhere so it isn't leaking out. Must just be getting burned off, which i've been told is fairly normal for an engine over 12 years old.

 

Dan

[Claws]

Jules's situation sounds more like lack of oil coupled with lack of oilchanges or failed oil pump. I've had mine down to the bottom of the dipsick before, 1.1litres will take care of that. Topping up of 2 and 3 litres is running majorly low on oil. My NA uses oil quite sporadically, but more to the point of not using oil then using a small bit rather than using half a litre after X miles.

[mark_vx]

Should a warning light have come up if I was that low on oil?

[mark_vx]

Think I need to book in and get a service and then monitor the situation.

[techieboy]

No, there is no low oil level warning light on the VX. Only an oil pressure light and in my experience, that's useless as well. I totalled the bottom end of my engine at Silverstone from oil starvation and drove it home 40 miles with increasingly nastier sounds coming from it and never saw the oil pressure light once.

 

The NA dipstick is next to fcuking useless for accuracy though and it's best to just dip it 5 times and take the average reading. But, as above, 1 litre covers min and max on the dipstick. So you might have overfilled it.

 

[Nev]

Think I need to book in and get a service and then monitor the situation.

Don't start overly worrying, just check the dipstick every time you have a major blast and every 3 or 4 normal drives. It only takes 2 minutes to do. Oil is just a consumable, nothing to worry about unless you are burning a litre every 100 miles and by then you'll see the smoke coming out of the exhaust anyway.

Edited by Nev, 19 July 2013 - 02:16 PM.

[Kunie]

I had an oil starvation problem with an S2000 once, can anyone tell me if a VXR has a baffled sump?? Cheers

[Nev]

Nope, no baffles in either of the OEM VX220 engines. It was a bit of an oversight by Vauxhall really.

Edited by Nev, 19 July 2013 - 02:29 PM.

[mark_vx]

Thanks for the advice. Just a bit concerned that the oil is rather black, but then that is probably because it's overdue a service.

[VIX]

No oil and overdue a service. It might be a kindness to post the VIN!

[jules_s]

Failed oil pump on mine apparently Only symptoms were low black smelly oil and then the chain snapped

[mark_vx]

No oil and overdue a service. It might be a kindness to post the VIN!

 

 Here is the VIN W0L0N0NE0FURBU51NE55