My oil pressure light came on for a few seconds about 3 weeks ago, came on again the next two days only for a couple of seconds each time then not seen it again till sunday just gone. Stayed on this time but was already home, stopped on the drive and had a listen to the engine and all sounded fine and quite. Drove it to work on monday morning and the light came on again after about 2 miles and stayed on till i got to work another 3 miles, engine was still quiet and no change in performance, on the way home from work light was on before i got out the car park and just as i got home the engine started to sound very tappety, switched it off and left it a few mins then started again, was still tappety but quietened down after a couple of seconds. that was the last time i ran it, it's now in bits on the drive.

I took the sump off expecting to find some sludge but it's spotless, shiny metal with a little bit of burnt oil at the top edge.

Took the oil pick up off and that is spotless too no sludge at all, if i hold it up and look down the pipe i can see daylight coming through the gauze.

The bit of the oil pump i can see through the pick up pipe hole is also spotless and shiny, the chain is still there and tensioned.

Now i'm a bit stumped as to what it could be, will be checking the oil filter tomorrow when it's daylight again.

Any other ideas anyone?

P.S My car is a 2000 Octavia 1.8t 4x4 Estate.

Edited 7 November, 201114 yr by 4x4 1.8t Octy

low oil level? i know its basic but if you didn't check that it could be the culprit if everything else seems ok

low oil level? i know its basic but if you didn't check that it could be the culprit if everything else seems ok

Low oil pressure is red, amber is oil level what colour light was it?

faulty oil pump? I was told the VVT is the first thing effected by oil starvation, could explain the rattle.

or could be faulty tensioner

The light was red with a beeping noise so is definately low pressure, the oil level was the first thing i checked and is/was just about at the max mark, where it has been since i bought it 6 months ago.

Wasn't the VVT that was rattling it was the tappets/lifters been starved of oil, sounded like and old ford engine. I've blown a turbo on a tdci before so know the sounds and signs of that failing.

turned the engine by hand today to check if the oil pump was turning which it does, and it also pushed some more oil out of the filter hole when i turned the pump so presume it is ok. the chain is still tensioned and can't see any signs of it slipping

I'm getting a new filter and some oil tomorrow after work and going to put it all back together and see what happens, begining to think it may have had the wrong oil in it and not had proper oil changes (changed the oil but not the filter)

If it's still got low pressure i will change the pump.

I will update at the weekend when it's back together

Edited 3 November, 201114 yr by 4x4 1.8t Octy

Could be a faulty oil pressure sensor, it does happen

Could be a faulty oil pressure sensor, it does happen

wouldn't of thought a dodgey sensor would stop the oil circulating, I may be wrong though as that happens too (quite a lot )

Have you taken the rocker cover off to have a nosey in there?

Edited 3 November, 201114 yr by rk696

wouldn't of thought a dodgey sensor would stop the oil circulating, I may be wrong though as that happens too (quite a lot )

A faulty pressure relief valve in oil pump could reduce the oil pressure but switch usually located somewhere near crank area just moniters the pressure but doesn't regulate it, its usually switch that is removed to tap into oil line to check pressure

Did you say you found pieces of shiny metal in the sump? A worn big end and mains can give low oil pressure

Just re-read your first post, ignore the bit about metal pieces, a bit tired last night :S

Edited 5 November, 201114 yr by harve4544

Could be a faulty oil pressure sensor, it does happen

wouldn't of thought a dodgey sensor would stop the oil circulating, I may be wrong though as that happens too (quite a lot )

Agreed with Volvomeg; what I've seen happen is a speck of carbon get into the sensor capillary and stop the sensor sensing the pressure correctly. The oil flow and pressure could be fine everywhere except in the sensor.

Edited 5 November, 201114 yr by KenONeill

Decided just to change the oil in the end and the filter, Put it all back together on saturday after giving everything a good clean.

Been out 5 times now and not had any rattling or flashing lights and to be honest the car is completley different, such a smooth drive now loads better than it was before.

emptied my old oil out of the oil pan today to take it to the tip, has a thick sludgey layer in the bottom with lumps in it so i presume when the garage where i bought it from 6 months ago said it had just been serviced that it had not been done properly with the correct oil and filter looked quite old.

Hopefully it will be ok now, just need to sort the electrics again as my convenience module has started to have fits again