Technical Serious problem after sump and oil change

[miksfiatpanda]

This is on a 2008 Fiat Panda Dynamic 1.2 petrol

Problems:
Oil Pressure Light on (red)
Ticking/Knocking sound when engine running
Blow by out of the oil filler cap
Smoke out of the engine

Story:
I had a rusty sump and decided to change it at the same time I did my oil change. It wasn't easy but I got it done, no leaks or anything. I was careful not to damage the engine block or the oil pick up. Put a new filter in, put it all back together, filled it up with fresh oil and problems began. Oil Pressure light is on and red. Oil level on dip stick is about 3/4 on the scale between the min and max. I put 10w-40 as recommended in the owner's manual. The engine screeches really loudly on startup then there's a slight ticking/knocking sound that I didn't hear before. There's a significant amount of pulsating air coming out of the oil filler cap when engine is running. Lastly there's some smoke coming out of the engine but I suspect that might be a leak at the exhaust manifold as I took it off and fitted it again using the old gasket. I didn't touch any of the other components, I don't see how I could have damaged anything. It really went like any other oil changes I done before so I'm really lost. Any ideas of what's wrong? What to check? How to fix it?

 

[DaveMcT]

White smoke, serious rattles, oil light on.

Your description sounds like oil starvation. Very not good so -

DO NOT RUN THE ENGINE AGAIN

It might just be a faulty oil light switch so don't panic (yet). You need to get a code reader on the car and see what's showing before trying to start it again.

 

[Jabe]

A code reader might simply tell you there is insufficient oil pressure, which you already know if the warning light is on.

I have had similar experiences many years ago with other engines, on which oil pumps were slow to prime. Old-timers used to advise removing the spark plugs and spinning the engine on the starter (therefore not putting any significant load on the crank bearings) until the oil pressure light goes out. That way you can reduce the risk of damage.

 

[A3jeroen]

Not a blocked filter?

 

[miksfiatpanda]

I fitted a new Mann filter that was the same size and specification as the one that was previously there, don't think it would be blocked but I guess it's possible.

I had a look with the code reader and it didn't detect any faults.

Smoke has disappeared, it was only there the first time I started the car after the repair and is no longer present. I assumed it would be wd40 burning off that I sprayed on some of the tougher to undo bolts.

I had my brother look at the car and he says it sounds normal, I may have been little paranoid about the sound.

Quickly tested the oil pressure switch. To my understanding the light should turn off when it's unplugged, right? It stayed on regardless of the switch being plugged in or not, does that show a wiring issue?

 

[koalar]

Bent pickup pipe while changing if the sump. Now sucking up air


Loose oil filter

 

[miksfiatpanda]

Filter is not loose. It was hand tightened firmly.

As for the pickup pipe. I made sure to be careful around it. I inspected it carefully and it looked straight to me unless a very slight bent in it would cause these problems. If nothing else helps, I will have to take it all apart again to have a look.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Take the cam cover off, and carefully turn the engine by hand looking for the oil to bubble up for the pump into the cam area.

This will tell you at least if the pump is picking up oil.

I wouldn’t run it again for the time being to be on the safe side.

 

[koalar]

Take the cam cover off, and carefully turn the engine by hand looking for the oil to bubble up for the pump into the cam area.

This will tell you at least if the pump is picking up oil.

I wouldn’t run it again for the time being to be on the safe side.

Good idea


You could just drop the oil filter and see if the oil is reaching this far.