Hi so after a hour of driving I have a oil light flicker on my dash advising low oil pressure. Car still drives fine and if the cars turned on and off you wouldn't know the light existed. 

The cars engine is as sweet as they come to the visible eye doesn't miss or go into limp. I have serviced it and found metal filings in the sump I have cleaned the sump and put it back together and have had the light again but the amount of metal found I would have thought the car would be toast but continues to drive well can anyone please advise. 

 

Mileage 80k

Timing belt not wet belt

Automatic 

Year 2018

Fuel diesel

Engine size 1.5 ztda

That's not good.

Expect imminent failure, sorry 

Were they magnetic steel filings or brass/ally filings?

@team focus they were brass but due to the amount I'd have thought the engine would be toast

On 2/22/2024 at 10:19 AM, TomsFocus said:

Were they magnetic steel filings or brass/ally filings?

Hi tom I've attached a picture of the filings in the tread

3 hours ago, Fornut said:

Hi tom I've attached a picture of the filings in the tread

Thanks.  That is very interesting. 

I don't think crank or cam bearings are made of brass on these.  Both oil pump & vacuum pump are made of ally.

Those shavings look too big to be from the turbo shaft bearing, which is what I was initially expecting them to be.

I'm struggling to think where there would be that much brass available inside this engine.

 

I'm wondering if they were definitely brass when removed from the pan?  The small cam-chain tensioner is made of plastic and that's a creamy/yellow colour, which could be further discoloured and given a metallic shine by the engine oil.

 

Perhaps @iantt might be of more help here?

Honestly if I was to get a video of the engine running you'd be as baffled as I am I am. No mechanic but this is strange that much metal shavings in the pan surely the engine is caput. But it motors on and sounds and drives awesome. I've only just bought it and it looks as though the top end has been off at some point as someone has done the cam carriers I've called the garage that did it and they said they've done nothing else but the cam carriers which wouldn't have brass shavings. But really appreciate your reply

what is the backing of the shell bearings on the crank (big ends and mains)

many were composed of a steel back, copper-lead intermediate layer, nickel diffusion layer and a soft overlay forming the bearing top surface made from a lead-tin-copper alloy

the Oil light on all cars is a no oil pressure warning - not low level, as many think (of course no oil will also equal no pressure - in the old days that was game over, but synthetic oils can mean you sometimes get away with it)

no pressure light often means its struggling to find 5psi, whereas you need 20psi min, and 35psi under load to try and survive - but bits in the sump should always be investigated - main bearing gone = no pressure - and sadly usually means it needs a whole engine