Please Help: What Could It Be (xud Sump Related)

[Sam 4]

First of all the car is a 306 Diesel (n/a) with the XUD 1.9 unit in it.

 

Right, this isn't your usual clear cut "replace the sump" situation. Earlier on today I was following a Skip truck (bad move) and something fell off the back (a brick it looked like) which proceeded to take out the little splitter on the front of the car as well as dent the sump. I carried on driving until I could have a look under the car, I had a look under and there seemed to be a dent to the sump but it hadn't peirced it, I carried on with my short journey nursing the car around but as I got to my destination and breaked I noticed the oil light, argh. I got the car home, checked the oil, noticed it was low so topped it up. Even after the topping up the oil light comes on along with the "stop" light. I'm going to check the level again (I put about 3/4 of a litre in it) and see if that solves it. What have I damaged?? The dent in the sump is about 7 or 8mm deep and is mostly at the rear of the sump, due to the shape.

 

Could I have damaged the sensor/oil pump (in that the take off is partially blocked)? I was going to get the sump off at the weekend and repair it as best I can.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Oil pump possibly, not sure how close it sits to the base of the sump but must be pretty close for it to work well and it is located at the drivers side of the engine.

 

Rob

 

P.S. Of course it is possible the dent has disturbed some crap that the pump has sucked up.

[Sam 4]

Thanks for your reply Rob. I just got off the phone to Sandy and he seems to think that the pickup may be partially blocked. I guess the light is to do with Oil Pressure and not level.

 

I'll have to change the sump tomorrow and see if that helps matters.

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Yep, light is oil pressure.

[Sam 4]

OK. I assumed it was that but thought it might be closely related to Oil Level.

 

Heres some pics:

 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2006 by Sam

[jonah 1]

I dented the sump on a road rally once. Didn't cause any immediate problem, but on the way home the next morning the pressure was well down, and the light was coming on at idle...

 

Decided to try and nurse it home, but after a while I decided to see how high the pressure would get if I revved the engine... took it to about 4k rpm and the problem instantly disappeared!

 

Turned out I had cracked the oil pump pickup - a chunk of it had broken off and later got sucked up by the pump and chewed to bits in the rotors A lump of it must have got wedged in the pressure relief valve and held it open. Revving the engine had dislodged the lump so the valve worked again. I eventually found all the pieces of metal lodged in the oil filter...

 

So anyway... you've probably got a cracked oil pump!

[Sam 4]

Bugger. Bet thats a bit of a bitch to change in situ? There goes a big wedge of money.

Edited March 28, 2006 by Sam

[smckeown 1]

that must have been some brick, or your car is seriously low

[Sam 4]

Yep Sean it was bloody huge. The cars only a standard 306 diesel! From what I saw of it, it looked like a shortened breeze block (not sure if thats right) stood on its end!!

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

If it is the same as a GTi then it is no hassle to change once the sump is off. 3 bolts and off it comes.

 

Rob

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Oil pump is fitted same way as the GTi afaik, just the three bolts once the sump is off.

 

The sump damage doesn't look that bad imo, I've seen worse on some cars still on the road.

 

The oil pump pick up is near the centre of the sump so it might be restricting it from drawing in enough oil. Take it off, hammer the sump flat again & refit it if it definately isn't split.

 

Check the oil pressure switch wire isn't simply making a dodgy connection, I used to get this on my old white diesel & a quick wiggle fixed it.

 

Graham.

[Sam 4]

Thanks Graham, my dad said he'd pay for the sump (its his car) but I may repair this one.

 

I know what you mean about seeing cars on the road with worse, thats what got me wondering really.

 

I'll check the switch tomorrow, is it somewhere annoying?

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

Same place as on petrol XU's, RHS of block behind / next to alternator. Quite clear when you look iirc.

 

Graham.

[Sam 4]

Got the sump off today (eventually), I had to remove the alternator, power steering pump, and the huge bracket that both of these are bolted to. It wouldn't clear otherwise.

 

After doing all that I noticed the pickup had been crushed in (the plate), simple I thought, just bend it flat again. As I degreased it I noticed a hairline crack, arse. Then I checked the pump and thats cracked too. £77 for a pump from the local factors under trade.

 

Safe to say it doesn't take much to damage them.