Help My Oil Light Has Just Come On!!!

[lexus7]

Hi, this is my 1st question ever so please excuse me if it has been covered previously.
I've got a 1965 1098cc Morris Minor which has done 47,000 miles. Genuine. Today the oil light came on and stayed on. When i drove it the engine was noisy when i revved it or revved it high in gear, so i changed into 4th as quick as i could driving at or just below 30mph not causing the engine to make a noise.
Looking at the oil pressure gauge the needle is on zero.

I don't no anything about Morris Minors and this is the 1st problem this car has presented me ever.
Has anybody got any suggestions/cures/ideas as to what i have to do/buy etc.
Thank you in advance...

[SR]

the engine may be damaged, whenever the oil light comes on u should puulover quickly and switch off engine without delay ,then check oil; level,steve

[bmcecosse]

Sounds very very bad. You should have stopped immediately. First check is oil level ! Is there any in the sump ? then look for serious leak at oil filter or anywhere else. With both light AND gauge showing zero - and engine noise - it sounds like major overhaul ahead. It may be oil pressure relief valve stuck open - it's the biggish nut just under where the gauge connects. Unscrew this - watch out for spring inside - and there is a 'bucket' shaped plunger in there - usually get it out with a piece of dowling rod - but if it's really stuck it can be a major job to extract it. Some have had to tap a thread in it - and then screw in a bolt and pull it out that way. If you have driven the car with zero pressure - the crank will be damaged. It's almost never heard of - but it's just possible the oil pump drive or the pump itself has failed - very very unusual.

[lexus7]

The engine is (was) in tip top condition. There is NO leaks anywhere. Certainly not any oil leaks.
The sump is full of oil and dip stick also reads full. As stated prior i haven't a clue. Light came on i had to get home (5 mins away) that's pretty much it.
A friend suggested oil pump??? Is this possible???
Thanks for the advice received so far. I live literally around the corner from the main centre here in Derby would it be worth me telephoning them for advice? I would like it repaired as it was my grandmas car and it has sentimental values.
Thank you again to everyone and please excuse my ignorance.

[SR]

no,problem mate , hope its not too bad,steve

[Tris]

OK this may seem simple but I'm sure a while ago someone had a problem with the oil light and it was because the engine was very hot? cant really remember but more engine noise wasnt involved

[Willie]

I would imagine that you would still get a reading of some sort on the oil
pressure gauge and probably the oil light would also extinguish as it goes out
when the pressure is below 8lbs psi even if the oil pressure relief valve ceased to function. It looks as though your oil pump has stopped working and, since you continued to drive, the engine will need some serious attention.

[bmcecosse]

But oil pumps are very very reliable - in all my years with A series engines i have never heard of a sudden complete failure - yes they wear out over time - but that's a steady fall off. I have heard of some of the later pumps in Mini engines - where the relief valve has been packed up to raise pressure, and heavy 'racing oil (Castrol R)' has been used - if the engine is not carefully warmed up the shaft has been known to come loose inside the rotor - but the early pumps in Minors should have a key - later pumps are just a very tight press-fit. If the relief valve looks ok - then indeed it points to the pump - or just possibly the pick-up pipe in the sump has fallen off ! Very unlikely - but relatively easy to check by popping the sump off. Unfortunately the driving home with no pressure will have done serious damage to the crank bearings and probably the crank too. You should have walked - and arranged a tow !

[lexus7]

I have done the obvious and checked the oil, as suspected it is full. There are no leaks and the ground id bone dry. The vehicle has only done 47,000 miles as stated prior.
I checked all the fuses and wires/relays and they also appear fine. I started the vehicle very briefly and it sounds ok until you rev it. It then ticks over normally. There is a zero reading on the oil pressure gauge and the yellow oil light is constantly on.
Someone suggested the oil pump.
Does anybody know of anywhere in Derby that specialises in morris minors? I have never had a problem with this car prior to this.
Thanks to everyone for your help so far it is VERY much appreciated.

[bmcecosse]

DO NOT run it with zero pressure - although the damage is done now anyway - but it could sieze completely and throw a rod out the block. Relief valve is the first thing to check - if it's ok then sump off to inspect pick-up pipe. If nothing shows up there then you are looking at engine out, crank regrind, new oil pump and new relief valve - and when it's all back together - it should be checked to make sure it's making oil pressure BEFORE it's put back in the car. To do this - fill with oil, fit starter and oil pressure gauge - remove spark plugs - and with jump leads crank it till the gauge shows 50 psi or more. Only then can you be confident enough to put it back in the car. Alternativel - pick up another engine and just swap over.

[iandromiskin]

I had the same problem with a new reconditoned engine (948cc). Oil light came on and in my ignorance I kept driving home. End result is a now dead useless engine. Bearing or shaft worn so have no choice now but to find another engine. Hard lesson to learn. She too was not leaking or buring the oil. Even it I filled it to the brim, about 5 minutes later the light would come on. So don't know where the oil went.

[bmcecosse]

Have you checked the relief valve yet ? If you want to test if the problem has been 'cured' - take the spark plugs out and spin the engine up on the starter. Even this is not good if there is no pressure - but it should develop pressure on the gauge in 20 seconds or so. If not - it's dead.

[lexus7]

Thank you VERY much for ALL replies to my problem. I have booked it in to a garage. They are coming to pick it up this Monday (10/7/06) It is a family owned garage that has been there for many years. They told me that they knew alot about Morris Minors, so i'll know more on Monday.

I will comment on what they say as it will make sense to you all. Again ANY advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks again...

[lexus7]

As stated prior they came to pick my Minor up yesterday morning (Monday) It was put on the back of a pick up. Engine was NOT started. I went to the garage in the afternoon to check progress and all they said is 'Yes your right there is no oil pressure' Of course i knew this. I asked if they had a busy work load on and they replied No!
I asked if they had checked the oil relief valve or taken the plugs out to do a pressure test and they also replied No!

No news today (Tuesday) and i didn't visit the garage either. I think i am just going to wait for a telephone call from them.
Does anybody know what they might suggest/say? I don't think they will make up problems but the garage isn't cheap to say the least. If anyone could suggest worst case senario i would be grateful.

I have read suggestions of a replacement engine but isn't this extreme? Original mileage is 47,000. Forgot to mention that garage said oil was full and of a good grade/condition. They also mentioned that they disassembled an A46 engine last week. They said this is the same as a Minor engine. (I wouldn't know?)
Again any help of any kind is REALLY appreciated as my knowledge of Morris Minors is limited.
I will of course post any further information i receive from the garage for those of you who are interested that is!!!
Sorry if i'm boring anybody too!!!

[Onne]

We are very rarely bored. Worst case scenario would be dead engine, but I think you might have got that far. Planty of engines around though.

Do the numbers in your car match up? In othr words, is it the original engine?

[Stig]

A replacement engine might be cheaper than paying the garage to replace the damaged parts if their labour cost is high. About £600 for a recon engine I think, much less for a second-hand one. You'll have to pay them to remove and replace the engine either way.

[lexus7]

In reply to previous comments, Yes the numbers match up. Original engine with 47,000 miles. 1st problem i have EVER had.
The engine is NOT dead. As stated prior i ran it and started it after the zero pressure. It sounds completely normal until you rev it then you get a noise.
£600? Wow!!!! Have seen a few on EBay but collection only. There is a reconditioned one for £300+ at the moment i may follow its progress.
THANKS again for any advice/help&glad to hear that your 'Rarely Bored'!!!

[Packedup]

The engine is NOT dead.

It's merely pining...

Seriously, no oil pressure is not going to make for a well engine, and the noise you heard was metal bashing on things it would normally never bash on. You may well get away with a crank regrind and oversized bearings, but the cam could be poorly too, bores might have scored/ worn excessively, etc.

Could be a very expensive rebuild at garage rates to make it good again

[Welung666]

The engine is NOT dead.

It's merely pining...

For the fjord's by any chance?

As for the noise when you rev it.... big ends at a guess... either drop in another engine or a major rebuild for yours.

[bmcecosse]

You've obviously taken it to the wrong garage! You need a small one man operation - a Mini specialist would be best if one near you. The negine will certainly need a crank re-grind (or exchange) at ~ £75 plus labour and a new oil pump at £15. This is the LEAST that needs doing. You only ran for v short time - so cam and bores/pistons should survive ok. Try Bull Motif for exchange crank/engine - or get an engine from ebay - obviously an unknown quantity. Or advertise on here in the WANTED section !