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Low Oil Pressure Warning - Engine Replacement.

57K views 46 replies 13 participants last post by  Boroboy  
#1 ·
Hi,

I have a 2011 Insignia 2.0 CDTi SRi, just hit 62k miles on the clock.
Typically I was just about to finish the finance payments on it, on a trip to Manchester this weekend the oil pressure low warning light came on, then flashed off again.

I quickly pulled into the service station and re-started the car, the car wasn't cold as I was already an hour into my journey. I've also had the car serviced every year for the last two year's I've had it, I travel about 12,000 miles per annum.

On restart the warning came back and then a really loud knocking sound, then the car just shut down.

Has anyone else had this issue? While I know I'm facing a new engine is there anything else worth replacing at the same time, gearbox?
I find it very surprising that a diesel engine goes pop after just 62k, does this sound like a freak failure or is this a common problem with these engines? Really in two minds once I've had the engine changed to just get rid of the car.

If anyone has had a similar problem or can offer advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Also if anyone is selling an engine then let me know as I now need to start the search for one.

Regards,
Chris.
 
#4 ·
Ours initially had a succession of wrong diagnosis , first off the knocking noise was thought to be the cam belt & tensioner then after that didn't cure it the DMF & clutch was renewed , noise got louder followed by the oil light coming on , must be oil pump said garage . A week later oil light came on when engine was given some revs , driver tried to get car back to garage by keeping the revs down but sadly one loud bang followed by dash lit up like a Xmas tree & deathly silence . Crankshaft , con rods , cylinder head etc etc . New engine fitted with original gearbox & recently fitted DMF & clutch put back on . Total cost was ÂŁ2500 on original engine & ÂŁ3500 on a replacement engine fitted , never again we said until 3 weeks later & our other Insignia went bang .
 
#6 ·
On my cdti Sri insignia low oil pressure only used to flash up in the winter on cold start up only never when driving. I managed to get 200k out of the engine with help from people on here.
Mine still drives but lack of power bit of smoke gonna look into head gasket. Still a lovely car I drove it first time again yestoday after it being at diesel specialist for few weeks.
My advice to anyone with engine knocking or excess smoke with no warning light get rid or its gonna be ÂŁÂŁÂŁ from here onwards.
 
#9 ·
Hi guys,

I bought Opel Insignia 2009 2.0CDTi, and i have now same problem. The "Low oil pressure - Stop engine" light comes every start when it is cold, but if i stop the engine right away and start again this doesn't come anymore.
This car has 313 000km in it's meter. Could this be just an cold starting problem that car isn't fast enough to check the pressure before giving me a warning? Or should i be worried now?

Car sounds normal and it can be normally driven?

BR,
Vezor
 
#13 ·
Hi guys,

I bought Opel Insignia 2009 2.0CDTi, and i have now same problem. The "Low oil pressure - Stop engine" light comes every start when it is cold, but if i stop the engine right away and start again this doesn't come anymore.
This car has 313 000km in it's meter. Could this be just an cold starting problem that car isn't fast enough to check the pressure before giving me a warning? Or should i be worried now?

Car sounds normal and it can be normally driven?

BR,
Vezor
I realise that this is a long while ago now, but did you sort the problem and if so what was it??
My 2012 Insignia does this and only on cold mornings!
 
#12 ·
Hi guys,

I bought Opel Insignia 2009 2.0CDTi, and i have now same problem. The "Low oil pressure - Stop engine" light comes every start when it is cold, but if i stop the engine right away and start again this doesn't come anymore.
This car has 313 000km in it's meter. Could this be just an cold starting problem that car isn't fast enough to check the pressure before giving me a warning? Or should i be worried now?

Car sounds normal and it can be normally driven?

BR,
Vezor

I wasn't getting the warning on cold mornings, just got it once and then the engine went bang so I can't really offer any advice on the cold starts :(

Decided to take the plunge and get my engine replaced, now the gearbox is playing up!!!!
 
#15 ·
It's common, but unusual at 60k. Most seem to do over 100k without the seal going. There was a theory too that the seal may harden due to diesel ingress too. Caused by previous failed regens. Whether this is true or not, I'm unsure.
I'm on 43k with my 2.0cdti auto. It's 6 years old in Jan too. The pick up seal is a good but cheaper to change on the auto too, so I'm thinking about changing it whilst I have the timing belt/water pump done too.
You could go on forever though with preventative maintenance.
 
#25 ·
Yeah, oil treatments. Have being toying with the idea of using it but I'm always scared. Heard different stories about it from people. Some good, some not so good. But adding oil treatment in a 20w50. Hmmm. Even though we have very high temperatures here, but still... Might give it a try.
 
#26 ·
The old Minis used to use 20W50 and I used STP oil treatment on more than one of them with no issues.
 
#27 ·
As it sounds like your engine is on it's last legs, I'd give the STP or similar a try. 20w 50 is thick oil. Although the wife's Abarth 500 uses 10W50 (not cheap oil), surprisingly. Sips a little too, around 1/4 of a litre every month, has done so from a year old, when we bought it. Fortunately it's not increased, but it costs around ÂŁ30 for 2 litres. Mine with the same engine as yours, uses no oil between changes.
 
#31 ·
Right according to the owners manual from the factory you should only use Dexos 2 oil of either 5W30 or 5W40 ( down to minus 25 ) or 0W30 or 0W40 ( below minus 25 ) no mention of using an oil of the thickness of 20W50 on the common rail turbocharged Diesel engines.
As you know the first figure followed by the W tells you the low temperature viscosity & the 2nd figure tells you it’s high temperature viscosity.
Within those figure of each oils viscosity the quality of oil is more important than the viscosity , so either of the stated oil grades above would be safe to use without causing long term engine damage.
One time use of ACEA C3 is allowed between oil changes.
Only oil meeting Dexos 2 is recommended or use of the long life GM oil GM-LL-B-025.
No mention whatsoever of ever using a 20W50 in this engine no matter how high the temperature the engine operates in.
 
#33 ·
I understand that, thank you. You said something important, which is the most important thing about the oil is its quality not viscosity. I would switch to a 5w40 or 10w40 fully synthetic when I eventually replace the engine. I think it would be a waste start using that oil on this worn out engine. Let me kill it first [emoji4]

BTW, it's a petrol engine, not diesel engine. Most cars here are petrol engines. You hardly, if ever, come across a diesel engine car.. only heavy duty vehicles and some few specialized vehicles are diesel.
 
#41 ·
Usually the knocking noise is the crankshaft banging around. Low oil pressure means the crankshaft suffers from excessive wear from the long time of oil pressure being low. When the oil pressure warning light comes on it’s usually too late as we found out to our cost on the gaffers taxi fleet. Don’t spend any money replacing parts until you know what the damage is your dealing with , for instance ours had the oil pump replaced , the cam belt & tensioner replaced , the clutch & DMF replaced , yet in the end it was the crank knocking. £2750 for used replacement engine.
 
#45 ·
Nobody on here wants your eyes, you will just get good, honest, impartial advice.