bit of a disaster - advice please..

[tim0409]

Hi

Day started off okay, borrowed the OH's 11 plate mini to go to some planning site visits, one of which was up a fairly steep two mile gravel track (plenty of potholes, most of which I avoided) to look at some wind turbines. Travelled another 30-40 miles then had a meeting - when I came out tonight I started my journey home and after 200 yards noticed the oil warning light was on so immediately stopped and checked the oil to find very little (if anything on the dipstick). Went back to where I was parked to find a large pool of oil, so I suspect I have damaged the sump earlier in the day. It's a lease/company car and the insurance has a £500 excess, so am thinking I could get the AA to get the car home and then hopefully fit a new sump myself (or a second hand one).

The engine (diesel) was running okay when I stopped - is there any chance of damage in the short time it was running with very little oil?

The OH is not happy....

[ouch]

You should be okay as long as you weren't ragging it and it wasn't sounding clanky when you shut it down.

Insurance may well not pay out if it transpires you were using the car for work purposes when it possibly isn't insured for such - best check the small-print on the policy before calling them regardless.

Edit: re read OP

Does the O/H's insurance cover you to drive it for your work?

[RWD cossie wil]

If you stopped as soon as the oil light came on you should be fine, not a clue how difficult a sump is to do, but that would be the best way to sort it, and do a quick engine oil flush followed by a filter/oil change while you are at it to get rid of any contaminants that might have entered the sump where it was damaged.

[stuttgartmetal]

Told her already.

tch tch.
Don't you know nuffink?

You should've just had the bulb out of the warning light, and aa'd it home, just round the corner.
Tomorrow a rod wouldve punctured the block at some point.
Perr roblemo solved.


You'll wish you did when she stops you seeing the kids, and ends up with all the money.

[ReaderScars]

stuttgartmetal said:

Told her already.

tch tch.
Don't you know nuffink?

You should've just had the bulb out of the warning light, and aa'd it home, just round the corner.
Tomorrow a rod wouldve punctured the block at some point.
Perr roblemo solved.


You'll wish you did when she stops you seeing the kids, and ends up with all the money.

[tim0409]

ReaderScars said:

stuttgartmetal said:

Told her already.

tch tch.
Don't you know nuffink?

You should've just had the bulb out of the warning light, and aa'd it home, just round the corner.
Tomorrow a rod wouldve punctured the block at some point.
Perr roblemo solved.


You'll wish you did when she stops you seeing the kids, and ends up with all the money.

Thanks My first mistake was telling her this morning (before I knew about the damage) that I had been off-roading it up a hill on the way to see some bl**dy wind turbines which incidentally are the bane of my life...I am blaming Alex Salmond for everything.

I am pretty sure the insurance covers me as the policy is very wide and has few restrictions but in any case I think its best that I sort it out myself as the company she works for is fairly small and has already had quite a few claims this year already. Once I get the car back to the house in daylight I can hopefully confirm its just the sump - can't see anything online so hopefully the main dealer prices are not too ludicrous.

[scorcher]

If it is the sump just patch it up with a bit of chemical metal. My old MK3 Cortina when on for another 16 months after coming down a bit hard over a hump back bridge and scraping a hole in the sump as it landed.

[Wacky Racer]

scorcher said:

If it is the sump just patch it up with a bit of chemical metal. My old MK3 Cortina when on for another 16 months after coming down a bit hard over a hump back bridge and scraping a hole in the sump as it landed.

Remind me never to buy a car off you....