[Nicksyb]

I have just gone and checked on my oil and water levels on my lil car and when I pulled out the dipstick there wasn't much oil on the end. In fact when I normally check there is a big blob at the end of the stick (Technical terms Ahoy) so this would mean I have no oil in the car

I have got to go get oil tommorrow morning and won't drive it to work until then, but would this account for the unhappy noises it has been making? And will I have to take Ruby to the car hospital do you think?

I am having a very very bad day and really want to know that when I feed her with oil tommorrow she will be ok. :sad1:

[Alvin]

What is the car and what sort of noises.?

Alvin

[pvcprinting]

Nicksyb,

It may not be all bad news the dipstick do not show the complete oil contents although it is certainly bad practise to run it so low

[Nicksyb]

It is a saxo, the noises are sort of clunking, tho I think that may be something to do with the clutch as I had a new clutch fitted a month ago and had to go back once as the gearstick wasn't straight.

Checking the gearstick and clutch tonight it needs to go back again to get it re-aligned.

Pete - I don't think it has been more than 3 weeks since I last checked all her levels, so wouldn't have been low for that long

[pvcprinting]

If your clutch has not been fitted properly you want to ensure that your flywheel gets a good looking at.

It might be the thrust bearing and arm have scored or damaged the flywheel....this will wear out a new clutch very quickly

You should also check that your oil isnt leaking into the water system or vice versa.....easily done by taking off the oil filler cap and seeing it there are any white deposits inside and around the neck of the filler

Water.....simply take off the expansion tank filler....best done when cold and see if you can see a sort of oil slick lying on the water.

I would also park the car up level somewhere over night and then in the morning reverse a few feet and see if there is any oil lying on the ground

[Jeewhizz]

was the car on a level surface when you checked the oil? And did you check it when the car was cold? I.e. not started recently?

You say it was low - was it still within the range indicator?

[Nicksyb]

I shall take the car back to the garage tommorrow morning and they can fix the clutch for free, should have done it properly in the first place.

I have a small oil leak which is only tiny, I keep an eye on it but it seems to be ok.

Water wise - when I take the water lid off there is a load of brown gunk in it, Martin has told me this is just rust and crap from the radiator and I need to get it flushed out when it is serviced. Its an "R" reg car so I expect some odd things.

[Nicksyb]

Originally Posted by Jeewhizz

was the car on a level surface when you checked the oil? And did you check it when the car was cold? I.e. not started recently?

You say it was low - was it still within the range indicator?

It was on a level surface and I had turned off the engine about 2 hours previous, it was still a lil bit warm but not majors.

Range indicator - there was just a slight coating on the dipstick, normally when I check the oil I can easily tell the level as there is a blob on the end, this time there wasn't and t took me ages to put the dipstick back as it wouldn't slide back down. :sad1:

[pvcprinting]

Dont worry about brown gunk

White in your oil and slicks in your water is a worry if only a mild one

Ask about your flywheel though at clutch centre...tell them you would like it documenting that it has been back twice for correct clutch fitting......some mechanics short cut the centreing tool when clutch fitting....not wise

At least if you have it documented then you have some come back if the clutch fails early

[Nicksyb]

The garage will ahte me tommorrow when I drive up and demand they look at it and start saying things about a flywheel.
I shall practice in front of the mirror tonight so that I look convincingly like I know what I am talkinng about

Thanks Pete and Alvin & Khalid