I started having this funny experience last week. A car (belonging to my sister) started giving trouble in the most unusual way. The oil pressure light on the dashboard started to glow while on the road. Naturally, this means that you are dangerously low on oil, (mainly due to a leak). So the best thing to do in such a situation is turn of the engine at once (to prevent damage). Once the engine was off and the car too pulled over to the side of the road - We inspected all the places where oil from the engine could have leaked out. However there was no leak here, and the dipstick too was showing that the oil was at full level. So assuming that it's just a faulty sensor, we drove again normally. On our return, we bought a new oil pressure sensor. So when the engine had cooled, I replaced it. But next day the same thing started to happen again, (with the news sensor in place). So clearly something funny was doing on. My mind started to think that someone somewhere was playing a practical joke on me. But after I was done with my interrogations of the usual suspects, this too wasn't the problem... The car was running just fine, engine temperature too was OK, and neither where there any unusual sound of a worn out bearing (which may have retarded the oil pump inside the engine) - In my absence a mechanic did have a look at the car also. And he said that it's time for a complete engine overhaul. When word reached me, I said that it's impossible, as the car is hardly used to that limit. Besides, it's not giving any white smoke (a symptom of worn out engine that's burning oil with fuel). So I at least correctly assumed that the mechanic was only trying to make some money for himself. However this got me thinking in another direction. So I did some deductive reasoning with myself, and felt that there must be a very high probability that the mechanic must already be fully aware of the real problem. Him trying to swindle some money out of us most definitely means that the problem has to be small and very simple to fix. But the issue still wasn't solved. I however looked for a reset switch too (as some cars often do throw such tantrums after a certain number of 1000 miles or kilometers is clocked up). But this too wasn't the case over here... So I decided to open up the engine myself and see what could be the problem. I had a gut feeling that somewhere there could be a blockage in the oil circulation system (leading to low oil pressure). So I did the easy thing first, and opened the oil sump from the bottom, (after safely draining away the oil safely) - And sure enough, I found the oil sump strainer (a shower head like object, through which the oil pump sucks up oil) was blocked! So for almost free I fixed this problem on my own (without getting swindled by the mechanic)! Just goes to show that if you are not aware of something, if you are not slightly technical minded - Almost everyone in the world (be they mechanics, plumbers, electricians, or whatever) will try to con you into dishing out money... Anyway, I am posting this here in case this sort of thing ever happens to anyone of you - You'll now know exactly what to do about it! Dashboard warning lights ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Oil sump removed ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Choked engine oil sump strainer ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Oil strainer chocked with wax like stuff ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Good grief, S-H.... What on earth is used for engine oil over there. It looks like the creosote that I get out of my chimney. That looks awful. I am glad you found that for her and fixed it... but crimeny! that looks disgusting and nothing we have ever gotten out of any of our engines during maintenance ever. did someone put something in the oil like an additive? how often is the oil changed? does it get done by a mechanic or you? I am just aghast over that picture.
We use the same brands of engine oils that are used in the West. Like Castrol GTX, Mobil 1, Havoline, Shell Helix, and many more. And for additives, I only use Slick 50. http://www.slick50.com/ I (as a rule) always maintain all the cars of my family. By the way, that pinkish orange stuff you see stuck on the oil strainer - That's a partially dissolved rubber band! So how could something like this happen? Well, only a few hours ago did we finally solve the mystery. Few months back my sister lend her car to a friend for a few days, (as her own car was being repaired). So my sister's friend being the nice lady that she is - Decided to have the car serviced at her own cost before she returned it. No doubt a very sweet gesture on her part. And so that's where I am sure some mechanic tried to sabotage the engine, by putting rubber bands inside (through the oil filling cap no doubt). Because this is exactly what will happen to the rubber bands - They will get partially dissolved, and will eventually clog the oil sump strainer. Whereupon the mechanic will tell you that your engine needs a complete overhaul. But in reality, he too (exactly like me) would just open up the bottom sump. And clean out the strainer. By the way, I had to change the oil, but before that, I used a thin oil as a flush (with a new oil filter), and then ran the engine on it for 5 minutes (to wash out any remaining gunk). After which I changed the oil filter again, and poured in fresh oil of the proper grade. Then I ran the engine again for 15 minutes, so that it reaches optimal temperature - At which point I added Slick 50. Anyhow, see this picture now. I had to use a safety pin's sharp needle to open up the strainer. So now the car is running perfectly! But I do now also feel very sorry for the majority of people, who really do end up getting conned by their so-called mechanics... Oil strainer now cleaned ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
I' sitting here, without my glasses and thought this said "Cat Trouble". Through the whole story I kept waiting for a cat to show up...
