squidgy brakes and excessive oil consumption

[tom o]

i purchased a M400 just over a month ago and have been loving it so far, but have a couple of queries / concerns.

in the last few weeks though the brake pedal has gone very squishy. if i take my foot off and reapply then it seems to firm up the majority of the time (although sometimes remains mushy). any suggestions on what to look for that would be causing this? does the car just need a brake fluid change as there may be water or air in the system?

i also seem to be going through lots of oil. the previous owner said it would use around a litre every 300-500 miles and not to worry. although i seem to be going through more like a litre every 150-200 miles. this seems excessive to me. is this something i should get checked out or is this normal? any likely culprits to cause this?

thanks

[Ash M400]

tom o said:

i purchased a M400 just over a month ago and have been loving it so far, but have a couple of queries / concerns.

in the last few weeks though the brake pedal has gone very squishy. if i take my foot off and reapply then it seems to firm up the majority of the time (although sometimes remains mushy). any suggestions on what to look for that would be causing this? does the car just need a brake fluid change as there may be water or air in the system?

i also seem to be going through lots of oil. the previous owner said it would use around a litre every 300-500 miles and not to worry. although i seem to be going through more like a litre every 150-200 miles. this seems excessive to me. is this something i should get checked out or is this normal? any likely culprits to cause this?

thanks

The brake problem is easy, new brake fluid, and possibly pads.

Oil, that sounds a problem.

I have had a similar problem, and you won't like this, cost me a new engine.

You need to get it into service ASAP, do not over rev, certainly do not let the turbos come in till checked.

It might be caused by the engine running lean, on mine it caused the top piston ring to seize. You may be able to catch it on time.

Look at this:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I do not want to scare you, this is the worst possible scenario, it may be as simple as a blocked breather.

[m12_nathan]

check hub nuts for the brake thing.

Oil seems very excessive! Anything coming out the exhaust? Get a piece of kitchen roll and hold it in front of the exhaust and get someone to rev the car - see if any oil ends up on the kitchen roll.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Yup, it'll be hub nuts that's the brake problem as Nathan says. Check out the FAQ http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... for which ones to use.

Soemthing badly wrong using that amount of oil though. If there's no obvious signs of it on the undertray it's all manner of engine / turbo issues. Get someone to try to follow you and watch for blue / white smoke....

[obes]

yep, sounds like a turbo issue losing that much oil. The duratec's are extremely sensitive to high/low oil levels and I cant stress enough the same as the others have said. Drive it VERY easy and get it checked ASAP. It cost me an engine too.

[ajg31]

TBH if the owner was honest enough to have said it uses 1l per 500 miles i would have walked there and then. You should see it going somewhere, thats alot of oil. Hope you have smoke from the exhaust cos then thats only a refurb turbo and not all doom and gloom.

[C&C]

obes said:

yep, sounds like a turbo issue losing that much oil. The duratec's are extremely sensitive to high/low oil levels and I cant stress enough the same as the others have said. Drive it VERY easy and get it checked ASAP. It cost me an engine too.

Hope this isn't the case, but I also had concerns over using 1 litre every 3-400 miles. Took it in for checking. Compression and leakdown tests indicated a problem, and ended up needing a new engine too - 3 melted pistons....

Hope it's just a turbo problem.

Apart from checking the exhaust for oily residue on a paper towel, may be worth checking if any oil is accumulating in the intercooler - apparently another indication of turbo problems. Take off the tube leading to it and have a good look with a torch and mirror on a stick.

Conrad.

[Adrian W]

[quote=C&C]

obes said:

yep, sounds like a turbo issue losing that much oil. The duratec's are extremely sensitive to high/low oil levels and I cant stress enough the same as the others have said. Drive it VERY easy and get it checked ASAP. It cost me an engine too.

Hope this isn't the case, but I also had concerns over using 1 litre every 3-400 miles. Took it in for checking. Compression and leakdown tests indicated a problem, and ended up needing a new engine too - 3 melted pistons....

Hope it's just a turbo problem.

Apart from checking the exhaust for oily residue on a paper towel, may be worth checking if any oil is accumulating in the intercooler - apparently another indication of turbo problems. Take off the tube leading to it and have a good look with a torch and mirror on a stick.

Conrad.

I thought oil in the I/C was as a rusult of crank case compression, causing oil to be blown back into the inlet via the dodgy Noble catchtank/seperator. This would normally be caused by high boost pressures, dodgy rings or bores. The best way to check this would be to take the pipe off, block up the hole and put a catchtank on the pipe and see if it fills up. Oil in the inlet will end up on the compressor wheel's but would be nothing to do with the turbo.

[C&C]

Adrian W said:

I thought oil in the I/C was as a rusult of crank case compression, causing oil to be blown back into the inlet via the dodgy Noble catchtank/seperator. This would normally be caused by high boost pressures, dodgy rings or bores. The best way to check this would be to take the pipe off, block up the hole and put a catchtank on the pipe and see if it fills up. Oil in the inlet will end up on the compressor wheel's but would be nothing to do with the turbo.

Adrian,
Yes you are right - apologies for the mis-information, and thanks for the correction. Note to self - do not post rubbish after long evening at the pub.
Conrad.

Edited by C&C on Friday 29th June 10:55

[tom o]

thanks for all the replies. getting the hub nuts checked on monday and hopefully that will sort the brakes.


will book the car in for a service as its due in about 2k anyway and get them to diagnose the problem with the excessive oil consumption and i hope its not too expensive!

Roush in Essex is closed to me. anyone have experience with them?

[sjc]

tom o said:

thanks for all the replies. getting the hub nuts checked on monday and hopefully that will sort the brakes.


will book the car in for a service as its due in about 2k anyway and get them to diagnose the problem with the excessive oil consumption and i hope its not too expensive!

Roush in Essex is closed to me. anyone have experience with them?

Roush have a good reputation, and been very helpful reecntly, and I have 15 years experience of Kerridges in Needham Market who I can't praise high enough.It's actually a pleasure being a customer of theirs again after a 6 year gap. Martin,Phil and Skippy at Noble london are another set I've only got praise for.
In the Essex area fortunately we're spoilt for choice!
Hope it all gets sorted.