Help - Car Broken

thehullram

Thanks for all your comments. At the time I was in the outside lane of the motorway doing 70mph overtaking a lorry. Sometimes, you can't just stop. Is this a common problem, never heard of it before.

thehullram

fivetide wrote: »

Your manual will tell you. Some manufacturers will use an amber light to warn of low oil and red to stay "stop and switch off".

Worth reading these things as (hindsight being 20/20) you could have walked or caught a bus to the garage then taxied back with some oil.

It might well be worth finding out what happened to the oil that should be in there though. Has it leaked somewhere? Or did the garage who serviced it in December put the right stuff in etc etc

The oil was still in there

mattyprice4004

thehullram wrote: »

Thanks for all your comments. At the time I was in the outside lane of the motorway doing 70mph overtaking a lorry. Sometimes, you can't just stop. Is this a common problem, never heard of it before.

You could have stopped within 100-200 yards (tops) of the light coming on - complete the overtake and safely pull over.

If the oil is still there, sounds like the oil pump has died.

motorguy

thehullram wrote: »

Thanks for all your comments. At the time I was in the outside lane of the motorway doing 70mph overtaking a lorry. Sometimes, you can't just stop. Is this a common problem, never heard of it before.

Yes, it happens and chances are if it was the pump went and you were doing that speed, even if you stopped in the minimum time possible it would still have damaged the engine.

Whats done is done. You're here for advice on a resolution, not an inquest on what you could have done differently.

forgotmyname

Big lesson here. Oil light comes on stop the engine instantly.

2nd hand engines are a risk when paying a garage to fit it.

If the engine turns out to be a dog or have issues itself then the garage still want paying because they did what you asked and fitted it.

If the garage cannot source and offer a warranty on the engine then you need to be careful. You may end up spending double what a new engine costs.

Stooby2

forgotmyname wrote:

Big lesson here. Oil light comes on stop the engine instantly

He did say he couldn't

At the time I was in the outside lane of the motorway doing 70mph overtaking a lorry.

Bit of a trade-off for safety really. Diving across three lanes of motorway traffic whilst slowing down very rapidly could end in disaster. Perhaps a damaged engine is worthwhile?

thehullram

Thanks for all the replies. I understand I probably should have stopped sooner, but who knows if this would have helped.

Anyway, another question that I need answering. I have a 12 month warranty on the car as I only bought it last July. Anyone know how strict they are with mileage. The warranty says 20000 miles or 12 months wheichever is sooner. I have done 23,000 miles. Will the warranty company run a mile?

Joe_Horner

This is the problem with the number of Idiot Lights fitted to cars now.

Not so long ago, an oil light meant only one thing - you have no oil pressure. It didn't matter whether the lack of pressure was because of no oil, a dead pump or dying bearings because the action was the same - STOP before you do any more damage. Most drivers knew this.

The oil level was checked using a thing called a dipstick, which is a completely infallible piece of technology as long as you weren't stupid enough to not bother using it.

Now you have lights for low pressure, low level, maybe temperature, and possibly "I prefer the green coloured stuff but I'll run on this if you insist". Then people get confused, misunderstand what they mean, and blow their engines up anyway.

All of which could be prevented by simply accepting the old wisdom that, if you want to use a machine, you should have at least some very basic idea of its needs and attend to them now and then.

Think of the lightbulbs that could save!

bigjl

Easiest way to ensure the engine you get is a good one is to buy the salvage car it comes from.

Something hit from behind is always a good bet.

I though the oil pump problems on VAG diesels only affected the 2.0?

Have a check of the VW forums or Seat forums as if it is a common fault you might be able to get Seat (VAG) to pay for some or all of the costs.

Sounds like the oil pump has suddenly given up the ghost rather than blocked oil pick up becoming clogged.

Do some research on the oil pump problems on the 2.0 diesel lump as fitted to Passats etc around 2007, 2008.

I seem to remember it was an engineering fault.

Don't know if it affects the 1.4 but you have nothing to lose.

In the short term I would buy a little cheap runaround to see you through.

If you want to keep the Seat for the long term but a new or recon lump.

But be very careful as lots of these recon places are extremely dodgy.

Find somebody that has a good reputation on the forums relating to VAG cars, VW specifically.

Richard53

thehullram wrote: »

Is this a common problem, never heard of it before.

Not common, but it happens. Oil pumps are normally very reliable components, but when they fail they usually take the engine with them, unless you are very lucky and can stop the instant the light comes on, and sometimes not even then. I have heard it said that once the oil light comes on, it's already too late - perhaps over-dramatic, but close to the truth.

Incidentally, I am also a fan of the humble dipstick. No moving parts, 100% reliable, foolproof and has probably not changed its design significantly in over 100 years.