[Fred Bassett]

Thanks for the replies.
It is an amber warning light. I had checked it a few minutes after switching the engine off, and it was the same oil level as when I checked it cold. The oil warning light and the ticking noise are both random, sometimes they come on, sometimes not, and they don't necessarily come on together.
I have had this light before, but it was because I hadn't service the car for a while so oil was low and/or lumpy. This shouldn't be the case now

I’m concerned about the oil being lumpy , it suggests the engines oil ways could be full of sludge which could explain the low oil light your getting at random & the ticking noise .

 

[Fred Bassett]

lumpy oil was a reason for me to get this low oil light in the past as I hadn't changed the oil for a year, but I have recently changed the oil, and used the official GM Dexos 2 oil so it shouldn't be lumpy, hence I'm confused at this low oil level light

But the chances are that lumpy oil as left sludgy deposits behind in the oil ways etc .

 

[Fred Bassett]

I haven't had the red warning light so I assume oil pressure is good.
As the light stopped coming on for a few weeks after I topped up oil, I'm guessing no issues with the sensor.
I agree it is probably deposits left behind by bad oil and/or oil not changed in time. When I serviced it last year, the oil that came out was really thick and black. I wasn't around when the oil was removed this year so can't comment on how it looked but I had used cheap asda oil (first car/service, didn't know importance of good oil). So I'm guessing it is due to cheap oil and/or long service duration. The problem has now come about 2000 miles after a new oil change with Dexos 2 oil but the deposits must be the problem.

Can't comment on oil filter fitting as I didn't do it myself.


I've just ordered a new filter, dexos 2 oil, and LM flushing liquid so planning on taking it to the garage to get it flushed and get an oil change. Hoping this would sort it out

Your learning about how crucial regular servicing is to the well being of the engine.
I’d be very reluctant to use a engine oil flush as you could dislodge an oil deposit & block an oil way up which on a turbocharged engine could lead to oil starvation taking the turbocharger out .

 

[Fred Bassett]

Just change the oil & filter & see how it goes.
There’s a video on YouTube of an engine being taken apart that is caked full of oil sludge , take a look .