Why didn't it blow up?
Discussion
Hi, hoping to get a couple of answers from the assembled knowledge..
It's not about my motor ,a trusty 95,T4 , but a diesel Citroen 03 c3.
We were camping in Wales last weekend, my daugher and her fella joined us in his c3.Did about 150miles to get there.
Next morning they went shopping 4 miles away , phoned me to say the car had stalled and wouldn't restart, the starter was spinning but it wasn't firing.
The left it ten minutes tried again,it started and got them to the campsite.
I had a look over, nothing to see, but checked the oil and there was NOTHING on the dipstick.
Next morning still nothing, I get 5ltrs of oil,put a ltr in, it doesn't show up on the dipstick,put another ltr in, still doesn't show up.
Wait a bit, nothing.
End up putting 3.5ltrs in.
Still nothing.
Go for a coffee, come back 1/2hour later.
It's overfilled now by I reckon at least 1/2ltr, I'm popular.
He's now worried about blowing seals on the way home,so I pulled the dipstick out so it's loose and no pressure can build.
They get home fine, some oil sprayed about but okay.
He has had a bit drained out now.
The car was a right smoker before and still is.
My questions are why did it take so long to register on the dipstick?
Are the oil channels narrow on these cars?
Would a flush be worth it,if so what products and process is best.
Forgot to mention that the oil capacity is 3.8 on the car.
Cheers 😙
It's not about my motor ,a trusty 95,T4 , but a diesel Citroen 03 c3.
We were camping in Wales last weekend, my daugher and her fella joined us in his c3.Did about 150miles to get there.
Next morning they went shopping 4 miles away , phoned me to say the car had stalled and wouldn't restart, the starter was spinning but it wasn't firing.
The left it ten minutes tried again,it started and got them to the campsite.
I had a look over, nothing to see, but checked the oil and there was NOTHING on the dipstick.
Next morning still nothing, I get 5ltrs of oil,put a ltr in, it doesn't show up on the dipstick,put another ltr in, still doesn't show up.
Wait a bit, nothing.
End up putting 3.5ltrs in.
Still nothing.
Go for a coffee, come back 1/2hour later.
It's overfilled now by I reckon at least 1/2ltr, I'm popular.
He's now worried about blowing seals on the way home,so I pulled the dipstick out so it's loose and no pressure can build.
They get home fine, some oil sprayed about but okay.
He has had a bit drained out now.
The car was a right smoker before and still is.
My questions are why did it take so long to register on the dipstick?
Are the oil channels narrow on these cars?
Would a flush be worth it,if so what products and process is best.
Forgot to mention that the oil capacity is 3.8 on the car.
Cheers 😙
Brywilliams said:
He's now worried about blowing seals on the way home
By the sounds of it, that should be the least of his worries. Half a litre overfill isn't going to cause problems imho; some modern diesels can manage more than that by adding fuel to the oil when overfuelling for DPF regeneration.That sounds like one very neglected and poorly engine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the internals are caked in sludge, which might explain why it took a long time for the fresh oil to reach the sump.
Of course, when it does die (sooner rather than later) that extra half a litre you added will be the cause and absolutely nothing to do with him running it with just half a litre in the sump
I remain mystified at how people can neglect their cars in this way. Ignorance or laziness? I don't know.
Surely the crankcase ventilation system would not allow pressure build-up without the dipstick loosening? On most cars it is a negative pressure system where the inlet manifold is sucking the gases out of the crankcase replaced by air drawn in through the filler cap vent isn't it? Every company car I've had has come back from main dealer servicing far more over-full than i/2 litre anyway. None of them blew anything connected with that despite blowing other things: exhaust valve, torque converter mounting plate, fuel pump, water pump...
If it's been really neglected the oil residue can turn into a gel and block all the oil ways , even saw one with the sump full of a black gel that always registered full on the dipstick as it had created a pocket where the bottom of the stick sat in what was probably the only fluid bit of oil in the engine .
jagnet said:
By the sounds of it, that should be the least of his worries. Half a litre overfill isn't going to cause problems imho; some modern diesels can manage more than that by adding fuel to the oil when overfuelling for DPF regeneration.
That sounds like one very neglected and poorly engine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the internals are caked in sludge, which might explain why it took a long time for the fresh oil to reach the sump.
Of course, when it does die (sooner rather than later) that extra half a litre you added will be the cause and absolutely nothing to do with him running it with just half a litre in the sump
I remain mystified at how people can neglect their cars in this way. Ignorance or laziness? I don't know.
Yeah, got to say I was quite impressed really,it does smoke like the Batmobile, passed MOT couple of months ago tho.That sounds like one very neglected and poorly engine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the internals are caked in sludge, which might explain why it took a long time for the fresh oil to reach the sump.
Of course, when it does die (sooner rather than later) that extra half a litre you added will be the cause and absolutely nothing to do with him running it with just half a litre in the sump
I remain mystified at how people can neglect their cars in this way. Ignorance or laziness? I don't know.
jagnet said:
By the sounds of it, that should be the least of his worries. Half a litre overfill isn't going to cause problems imho; some modern diesels can manage more than that by adding fuel to the oil when overfuelling for DPF regeneration.
That sounds like one very neglected and poorly engine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the internals are caked in sludge, which might explain why it took a long time for the fresh oil to reach the sump.
Of course, when it does die (sooner rather than later) that extra half a litre you added will be the cause and absolutely nothing to do with him running it with just half a litre in the sump
I remain mystified at how people can neglect their cars in this way. Ignorance or laziness? I don't know.
Ha ha, all the above is true,he got it last year for£400,more than had his monies worth.That sounds like one very neglected and poorly engine, and I wouldn't be surprised if the internals are caked in sludge, which might explain why it took a long time for the fresh oil to reach the sump.
Of course, when it does die (sooner rather than later) that extra half a litre you added will be the cause and absolutely nothing to do with him running it with just half a litre in the sump
I remain mystified at how people can neglect their cars in this way. Ignorance or laziness? I don't know.
We are on a site called Piston heads..a lot of people are not though and while I agree that it seems crazy to neglect motors there are loads of bright, intelligent people who just jump in and drive..
I have given the talk and I think they are a bit more aware of how lucky they were and how a bit of basic knowledge can benefit them.
Lot of embarrassed faces..
motco said:
Surely the crankcase ventilation system would not allow pressure build-up without the dipstick loosening? On most cars it is a negative pressure system where the inlet manifold is sucking the gases out of the crankcase replaced by air drawn in through the filler cap vent isn't it? Every company car I've had has come back from main dealer servicing far more over-full than i/2 litre anyway. None of them blew anything connected with that despite blowing other things: exhaust valve, torque converter mounting plate, fuel pump, water pump...
Well I phoned my pal who is a qualified MOT examiner,was of the same opinion that it was probably ok to be a bit overfull, but to put his mind at rest popping the dipstick wouldn't do any harm and would vent it.Reckoned that it got hot,got tight.
Recommended back flush, never done one tho ,was hoping to get some tips.
PositronicRay said:
He doesn't say that, he started with a 5l can added 1l then added more up to 3.5l
Yep that's right, went really slow as well, there really wasn't anything on the dp to start with , kept checking, (even looked underneath for a puddle and asked if anyone had replaced the dipstick) After eventually putting in total 3.5ltrs and waiting ten minutes there was a speck about 2 mill showing.we went for a brew for a good 1)2 hour came back to Texas tea over the last line on the dp. I have a Fiesta ST Duratec amongst other play things that you need to pull the dipstick out to let the oil level settle. It has a point st the end that plugs a hole at the bottom of the dipstick tube.
Pull the dipstick, wait, dip the stick, check level, pull the stick, wait dip again, that’s the level. Pull stick, put oil in, wait, dip, pull, dip add more oil or not repeat.
My old Pinto’s are more simple
Pull the dipstick, wait, dip the stick, check level, pull the stick, wait dip again, that’s the level. Pull stick, put oil in, wait, dip, pull, dip add more oil or not repeat.
My old Pinto’s are more simple
Its not the oil on the dip stick it's if the oil pick up is submerged in oil. If it is then the oil pump will keep up enough pressure, You had enough oil in to cover the oil pick up but not enough to reach the bottom of the dip stick. Ok at low speed and no oil surge in the sump.
I've blown track car engines that are full of oil because of oil starvation due to surge. If he had driven hard then with surge he would have had oil starvation and the engine would die in seconds. My experience, based on distance from a high G corner to where a car stops, is that if you get oil starvation a engine will fail within 1/2 a mile at most.
Whey oil didn't drain to the sump quickly is another issue.
I've blown track car engines that are full of oil because of oil starvation due to surge. If he had driven hard then with surge he would have had oil starvation and the engine would die in seconds. My experience, based on distance from a high G corner to where a car stops, is that if you get oil starvation a engine will fail within 1/2 a mile at most.
Whey oil didn't drain to the sump quickly is another issue.
Berw said:
Its not the oil on the dip stick it's if the oil pick up is submerged in oil. If it is then the oil pump will keep up enough pressure, You had enough oil in to cover the oil pick up but not enough to reach the bottom of the dip stick. Ok at low speed and no oil surge in the sump.
I've blown track car engines that are full of oil because of oil starvation due to surge. If he had driven hard then with surge he would have had oil starvation and the engine would die in seconds. My experience, based on distance from a high G corner to where a car stops, is that if you get oil starvation a engine will fail within 1/2 a mile at most.
Whey oil didn't drain to the sump quickly is another issue.
Quite right! I had a company Austin Maxi that drank oil at the rate of a sumpful per return trip from London to Manchester and as I turned into my road the oil light flicked on and off due to the pick-up being dry because of swilling of the remaining oil. Would have done a few more miles on a straight road I suspect. A gallon of el cheapo for the next day's journey and Bob's your uncle!I've blown track car engines that are full of oil because of oil starvation due to surge. If he had driven hard then with surge he would have had oil starvation and the engine would die in seconds. My experience, based on distance from a high G corner to where a car stops, is that if you get oil starvation a engine will fail within 1/2 a mile at most.
Whey oil didn't drain to the sump quickly is another issue.
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