engine loosing oil

[honda90]

Have taken my Morris out for a drive today, to find suddenly the oil light came on, and no oil on the dipstick. filled it up with oil to find a serious leak when the engine running, from the back of the engine somewhere, it was dripping from the joint between the engine and gearbox anyone know what could be causing this, I have booked tickets for the iow ferry for iow rally so I need to find whats wrong and get the car fixed by Thursday! it lost about a pint in about 15 Min's from this point.

[rayofleamington]

How much have you used the car? If this is a first run out, then it could have a number of root causes depending on what has been done to the car previously. If the car ha been in regular use and just started to leak there are less things to consider, but not really easier to fix.

Unless it is leaking out of the back of the rocker cover - then I can think of 3 possibilities and 2 are unikely to be a quick fix (engine out etc...)

1) leaking from the back of the sump gasket (oil will be on the front face of the engine backplate). The sump gasket can be done with the engine in the car but I would be very surprised if this would give such a high leak rate.
2) leaking from the engine backplate gasket (low probablility to leak 'all of a sudden').
3) leaking from the rear of the crank (this leakage implies a major engine problem)

[bigginger]

Where are you Honda? - just in case you need to borrow an engine...

[bmcecosse]

If the oil pressure went so low the light came on - then the bearings are now damaged ! Presumably it's the rear seal on the sump - pull the sump off to see ! But we really need to know the case history on this - was it ok last week - and now pouring out this week ?

[honda90]

The mog has been fine before all this, been to MOT in France, just suddenly appeared have contacted the YorVik MMOC group and advised me to check the breather, the guy was very helpful and told me if this wasn't the problem to give him another call. Will keep you up to date on the outcome might be going to iow in my Toyota! Or my 2CV!!

[bmcecosse]

The breathers would need to be well blocked to cause anything like this. Drop the sump for a look see.

[honda90]

Faulty oil pressure switch was causing the loss of oil, it was leaking at the joint between the metal and plastic, the leak only appeared to start when the engine was speeded up so now thankfully all sorted and back on the road.

[bmcecosse]

Well done - must have been fairly obvious though, or was it just a trickle - and the failed switch brought on the light ?

[Kevin]

Well thats an unusual one that i have not come across before but glad you found it.

[Chris Morley]

Yes, a new one to me as well. Any ideas how old the oil pressure switch was (thinking of poor quality new parts around these days) ?

[picky]

When I removed the oil pressure switch on mine to fit a 'T' piece for an oil pressure gauge, I found it leaked alot when I put it back on, and bought a new one from ESM. The new one was slightly different in design, being made more out of metal than plastic. the old one was sort of white(ish) plastic, whereas the new one is black. I'm afraid I dont know if the white one was original or not. Hope this gives an insight!!

[honda90]

Yes the oil pressure switch was a new one last year. Bought the new one from a local factors it was only 88p! So I hope this one lasts a bit longer and the cheap price is not reflected in the quality.

[KirstMin]

pay peanuts get .....? Good luck ;)