Important! : wtf!!!???

1. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

   #1 18th April 2010, 18:18

   hey people!!
   
   I keep noticing that the dipstick is getting pushed up out of its holder about 20mm, also think that a little oil is spitting out, its realy doing my head in now and im getting parnoid about it!
   is this anything to be worried about? sure there must be something wrong??
   
   thanks in advance people
2. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

   #2 18th April 2010, 18:26

   PCV is possibly blocked/restricted, so therefore the engine is venting through the dipstick. Its best to get it looked at because if it is the case it will start pushing seals out.
3. grumpypants Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan Posts: 429 Vauxhall Corsa 1.0

   #3 18th April 2010, 18:28

   First check to make sure that the oil level hasn't been overfilled. If the oil level is fine, then it sounds as though your piston rings may well be worn thus allowing for pressure to build up in the sump. Possibly a new engine time!!!!
4. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

   #4 18th April 2010, 18:29

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by grumpypants First check to make sure that the oil level hasn't been overfilled. If the oil level is fine, then it sounds as though your piston rings may well be worn thus allowing for pressure to build up in the sump. Possibly a new engine time!!!!

   So explain why worn piston rings would cause excess pressure in the engine?
5. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

   #5 18th April 2010, 18:29

   mine does this mate, piston rings are worn on mine and i've got a new engine coming next week!
   
   how many miles has the car done?
   
   Tom
6. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

   #6 18th April 2010, 18:31

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by holdawayt mine does this mate, piston rings are worn on mine and i've got a new engine coming next week! how many miles has the car done? Tom

   oh so it dont sound good then! its done 96k
7. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

   #7 18th April 2010, 18:36

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by shaney_b oh so it dont sound good then! its done 96k

   Just get your breathers clean out first, highly unlikey that your engine is knackered.
8. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

   #8 18th April 2010, 18:37

   mine's on 103K so it would seem reasonable. when you start the car up in the morning do you get quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust that quickly clears? and does the car need oil top ups regularly?
   
   not sure if these are related to p-rings or not but all the problems my car has haha!
9. VTRelite Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Gloucester Posts: 3000 Citroen Saxo VTR Renault 5

   #9 18th April 2010, 18:43

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Saaamon So explain why worn piston rings would cause excess pressure in the engine?

   It would cause something called called crankcase compression. Not producing extra pressure but on the compression stroke you will be getting blow by on the worn piston rings and the only way for it to go is into the sump and forcing oil out of the sump and out the weakest spot which is usually the dipstick tube.
   
   Sorted
10. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #10 18th April 2010, 18:45

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt mine's on 103K so it would seem reasonable. when you start the car up in the morning do you get quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust that quickly clears? and does the car need oil top ups regularly? not sure if these are related to p-rings or not but all the problems my car has haha!

    Those symptoms sound more like valve stem seals, but certainly in your case the problems you have could of been a result of a blocked PCV. Have you had a compression test/leak down?
    
    To the OP look at your breather pipes and if you've got oil residue around them you know your in the right ball park.
11. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #11 18th April 2010, 18:47

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by VTRelite which is usually the dipstick tube. Sorted

    Only if the the breathers are blocked.
12. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #12 18th April 2010, 18:48

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt mine's on 103K so it would seem reasonable. when you start the car up in the morning do you get quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust that quickly clears? and does the car need oil top ups regularly? not sure if these are related to p-rings or not but all the problems my car has haha!

    yep it should burn oil if the piston rings are gone but ive just checked oil and its the same as when i serviced it about 1k miles ago.
    my grandad had just had a quick look and said it could be because the dipstick doesnt plug into the holder, dont know if they are supposed to like?
13. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #13 18th April 2010, 18:49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Saaamon Just get your breathers clean out first, highly unlikey that your engine is knackered.

    ive just had a blow through breather and it seemed ok, got oil in my mouth now though haha
14. grumpypants Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan Posts: 429 Vauxhall Corsa 1.0

    #14 18th April 2010, 18:50

    Hi Saaamon,
    If your piston rings are worn, then the pressure built up in the compression stroke of the engine instead of building up in the combustion chamber passes around the piston rings and through to the sump causing over pressurises of the sump. This can lead to the dip stick bowing out and causing all sorts of other problems.
15. user_39430 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2009 Northern Monkey Posts: 17064 Work van che.

    #15 18th April 2010, 18:53

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt mine's on 103K so it would seem reasonable. when you start the car up in the morning do you get quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust that quickly clears? and does the car need oil top ups regularly? not sure if these are related to p-rings or not but all the problems my car has haha!

    Mines like that.. Does it mean my engine is on its way out?
16. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

    #16 18th April 2010, 18:54

    sorry for the hijack but what's the PCV?
    
    something control valve i'm guessing?
17. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

    #17 18th April 2010, 18:55

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KinetikVTR Mines like that.. Does it mean my engine is on its way out?

    i'm just replacing my engine to be sure. It's an old, tired engine that's no doubt been ragged. This was the final straw that made me think blow it i'll just do an engine swap lol.
    
    rebuild time on the old engine
18. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #18 18th April 2010, 18:56

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt sorry for the hijack but what's the PCV? something control valve i'm guessing?

    maybe pressure control valve??
19. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #19 18th April 2010, 19:00

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt i'm just replacing my engine to be sure. It's an old, tired engine that's no doubt been ragged. This was the final straw that made me think blow it i'll just do an engine swap lol. rebuild time on the old engine

    ive been thinking vts conversion me mate, might be cheaper to just get a vts though???
20. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #20 18th April 2010, 19:02

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shaney_b ive just had a blow through breather and it seemed ok, got oil in my mouth now though haha

    Ideally you need to take all the pipes off and put an airline to them or wash them out. Better still see if you can get citreon to sort you out a kit with all new pipes in (of course this depends on how much you want to spend).
    
    Grumpypants, the reason i feel that the rings aren't worn in this case is that, there's been no talk of any unusally high oil usage or smoke etc. On an engine of this milage i'd say its unlikely to rings and more likely to be a blocked breather because this is something that is rarely checked or cleaned.
    No doubt after further investigation sods law it will be rings , but we'll have to wait.
21. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #21 18th April 2010, 19:04

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by holdawayt sorry for the hijack but what's the PCV? something control valve i'm guessing?

    Positive crankcase ventilation.
22. grumpypants Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan Posts: 429 Vauxhall Corsa 1.0

    #22 18th April 2010, 19:10

    Yeah, generally with worn piston rings you do get an unusual amount of smoke. Best to get a compression test carried out as well.
23. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #23 18th April 2010, 19:10

    so could my problem be that the dipstick isnt plugging into its holder and its supposed to be???
24. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #24 18th April 2010, 19:24

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shaney_b so could my problem be that the dipstick isnt plugging into its holder and its supposed to be???

    The dipstick doesn't really need to plug/seal into the holder as the tube is curved and that in it self will hold it in (not the best way to explain it but you should be able to understand, just lol). Try and find a diagram of the PCV system and where all of its components are and give that a good clean. Theres more to cleaning breathers than you mite first think, the holes in the block etc get crusty and filled up so all of these need checking to.
25. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #25 18th April 2010, 19:46

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Saaamon The dipstick doesn't really need to plug/seal into the holder as the tube is curved and that in it self will hold it in (not the best way to explain it but you should be able to understand, just lol). Try and find a diagram of the PCV system and where all of its components are and give that a good clean. Theres more to cleaning breathers than you mite first think, the holes in the block etc get crusty and filled up so all of these need checking to.

    ahh right i get ya! lol! ok will do that, where do you think i could get a diagram of a pvc though mate??
26. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #26 18th April 2010, 22:35

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shaney_b ahh right i get ya! lol! ok will do that, where do you think i could get a diagram of a pvc though mate??

    Citreon maybe able to give you an exploded diagram or look it up in a hynes manual etc. You'd be better off doing it yourself as opposed to taking it to a garage because it can take a while and they never clean them out properly.
27. user_36675 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2009 wigan Posts: 314 saxo vtr Mk2

    #27 18th April 2010, 22:44

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Saaamon Citreon maybe able to give you an exploded diagram or look it up in a hynes manual etc. You'd be better off doing it yourself as opposed to taking it to a garage because it can take a while and they never clean them out properly.

    ok thanks for youre help mate, il try it out and see if things improve, cheers