#1: Do I really need a new engine? Author: notlovingthe206, Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 4:10 pm ---- Hi,
Would be really grateful for any advice re my 2007 1.4 Petrol, 60K. Is a new engine the only answer?!
Will try and keep it brief...
About 18m ago - emission control warning light came on. Took to a garage (near where I was living at time) - ran diagnostics - replaced lambda sensor and advised against using cheap supermarket fuel! Light on again about a month alter - took back to same garage who checked it again and advised all ok.
No further problems
July 2015 - had annual service /MOT (at local garage that OH uses), no significant issues.
Sept 2015 - engine noise, loss of power, oil warning and STOP light coming on intermittently. Drove back home and took to local garage. Cat completely destroyed and needed replacing. Oil refilled.
OK for about a month. Oil warning light then appeared again intermittently. Checked oil - completely dry on dipstick. No sign of oil loss on driveway or lots of exhaust fumes. Returned to local garage.
Nov 2015 - garage did some investigations (from my notes, so may not be 100% accurate!), they did the following:
Compression test - all (plugs?) even but were all slightly low
No external leaks on head gasket
Coolant chamber - a little bit of oily residue so some may be leaking into it?
Blue test - went slightly green - indicating possible problem with head gasket?
Conclusion: car losing oil internally but not possible to identify location without full engine dismantle (e.g. to check piston rings and cylinder head), which is very costly. Suggest second hand engine replacement (approx. £1000) but no guarantees/warranty. Reconditioned engine replacement - more than value of car.
Since then, I have mostly used OH's car as not sure if I'm doing more damage; but have put 4 doses of Redex in and checked/topped up oil regularly, but it is clearly using far too much (5litres in approx. 2months).
Any thoughts on what might be going on, or further investigations? Is it worth getting a second opinion?
Don't have means to replace, but don't want to spend out on investigating/repair if this really is the end of the road!
Many thanks in advance
Rachel
#2: Re: Do I really need a new engine? Author: RoweY, Location: MiddlesbroughPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 3:22 pm ---- Welcome to the forum sorry to hear about your problem. I'm only an apprentice mechanic but sounds like piston rings to me but wouldn't be sure unless having a closer look. Where abouts are you ?
#3: Re: Do I really need a new engine? Author: notlovingthe206, Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:22 pm ----
RoweY wrote:
Welcome to the forum sorry to hear about your problem. I'm only an apprentice mechanic but sounds like piston rings to me but wouldn't be sure unless having a closer look. Where abouts are you ?
Hi RoweY,
Thanks for your response. Also, posted on MSE forum - where others have suggested the same. My dad's local mechanic suggested some MMO (as rings possibly gummed up), which we put in at Xmas.
Am near Cambridge
Cheers
#4: Re: Do I really need a new engine? Author: RoweY, Location: MiddlesbroughPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:42 pm ---- Could always pick up a bottom end for pennies off a scrappy just a case of getting someone to swap it see if that sorts the problem. Engine could be out, bottom end rebuilt and back in within a few hours on them 1400s. Saves the messing on of trying to find the problem
#5: Re: Do I really need a new engine? Author: kandlbarrett, Location: SwindonPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 6:11 pm ---- Using that much oil is staggering and it should be showing either plug fouling, oil in water or a VERY black exhaust. That oil must go somewhere.
If the oil isn't leaking and it isn't in the water then burning that much oil (the only other place for it to go) will almost certainly be MOT failure on emissions test (high HC reading) at next MOT.
I am a bit surprised they didn't do an emission test as part of the previous fault diagnostic as the HC reading taken is a good engine diagnostic. Alone it won't tell you if it is head gasket or rings but it will help. Though, being honest, lots of mechanics do overlook this as a diagnostic tool.
They really should have also done a "leak down" test but lots of smaller garages don't have this equipment.
And there is part of the problem. As cars become more and more reliable mechanics do less and less fault finding concentrating on basic servicing and the skills are being slowly lost.
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