QuestionI have a 2000 Range Rover vogue, with typical 4.6l motor. Took car out this morn after givin it a lovely wash and noticed the oil light come on. Pulled over and put in some oil, the slight noise i had heard from tappets immediately subsided. Once on a nice straigh main road i gave it a bit of welly only to have the oil light come on again. I dropped in more oil but noticed the noise from the tappetts did not subside this time. Only one bank of the tappetts are making noise.
Since getting home i have put in even more oil.. Only to find the oil light remaining on, however dipstick appears to show engine is full of oil. Im confused as the tappetts are still making themselves clearly heard... Help i still love her
AnswerI put this question in the question pool only to get it out again...
Poor, old, degraded or contaminated oil can cause low oil pressure, are you using the right grade and is the oil clean, EG honey coloured, not black! is so change it.
---
Have you tried an engine flush like wynns engine flush £8 or so, that could work if you have gummed up oilways.sludge etc.
also a clogged oil filter is a possibiliy, so when you do the flush change the oil filter too.
Materials needed:
ENGINE FLUSH (STP,Wynns,Comma,Holts etc)
OIL, (recommended oil) your motor parts shop will tell you what oil you shouild use... if they don't know go to the next shop... 15w20 I think it should be but not sure, so ask in the shop.
OIL FILTER - Pattern part will do, you can get a genuine one from the dealer but it will be 3 times as expensive
NEW SUMP PLUG WASHER (50p at halfords/ANY car parts/accesories shop)
---------------------------
Follow the instructions on the engine flush tin, once done fit the new filter, then fit the sump plug with the new washer, then fill the oil to the MAX mark on the dipstick, add a little at a time till its more or less spot on MAX.
See if the tapping has gone.
---
If it still has low oil pressure, tapping etc......
The possibilities (in no specific order):
Worn out oil pump (this can cause just one side of the engine to receive low oil pressure, or make it appear that way...
Worn oil pressure relief valve... (the oil pressure is regulated by a valve, when the pressure reaches a certain level the valve operates to give just the right pressure, this valve usually employs a spring and ball bearing, the spring can get weakened over time or the ball can become irregularly shaped, both result in lower oil pressure.
Worn main engine bearings (as terminal as it sounds... when the crankshaft bearings have too much clearance the oil just pours out of them and no pressure can build up anymore)
Worn valve gear, cam followers, tappets... (not as bad as bearings but still a big job - £600... ish)
Sorry for such late reply, not been in best of health last few weeks.
