Oil pump kaput?

[CornishPete]

Hi everyone, 'er indoors' meriva 1.4 ecotec is running very rough at idle. She nursed it home and reported it making a noise at low RPMS/idle, sounding normal at higher revs. Had a look this morning and it indeed sounds like a tractor and the oil pressure light stays on. I've checked the filter straight after switching the engine off and it's practically dry which leads me to suspect the oil pomp is knackered!? Just wondering if anyone with a bit more experience/knowledge can offer a second opinion?

 

[Seadog]

Is there any oil in the engine?

 

[Bullet2012]

looks like tar as opposed to oil, has it been having regular services with the correct oil in line with manufacturers recommendations ?

 

[qwakers]

Either way, looking at the shinyness, time for a new engine.

 

[CornishPete]

Definitely oil in it! It was about 10.5k miles since last oil change, maybe 18 months ago. I was surprised how bad the filter was! Wondered if it's a symptom of the problem. I have no idea how long the problem has been going, I never drive the car! She hasn't mentioned the oil light or any noise before though so hopefully it's just happened and is not too late to sort and won't need a new engine! An
y ideas on the oil pump theory? Thanks!

 

[jmp49]

Is it a camera thing, or is that filter partially collapsed? in which case I wonder if its sludged up as others have mentioned and sucked collapsed and is in bypass at higher revs...

 

[dobbslc]

Oil pick up could be blocked or the pump is knackered, if it's rattling it's probably ********.
Looks like a bit of a job to get to the pump.

OE Engine Oil Pump Repair Kit Vauxhall A14XER A14XEL 1.2 1.4 Petrol 25199823 | eBay

Vauxhall Adam - 2012-2019 - 1.2 & 1.4 (A12XEL, B12XEL, A14XER, A14XEL, B14XEL). Vauxhall Astra Mk VI (J) - 2009-2020 - 1.4 (A14XEL, A14XER, B14XER, A14NEL, B14NEL, A14NET, B14NET, D14NET,). Vauxhall Corsa Mk III (D) - 2007-2014 - 1.2 & 1.4 (A14NEL, Z14XEP, A14XEL, A14XER, Z12XEP, A12XEL, A12XER).

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Turbo]

Try an oil change but it was me I'd drop the sump and check for silvery gunge & check the big ends.

 

[CornishPete]

Yeah the filter is definitely deformed!
Couple of Questions!;
The oil pressure sensor is near the filter housing does it measure pressure before or after the filter? After would seem most logical? If it's after then presumably up until now, as gunked up as the filter is, oil has been getting through? If it's before the filter could it still read ok pressure but blocked filter has not been letting oil through for some time and it's finally damaged the engine making the knocking noise? The Mrs says it's been perfectly fine then just started being noisy yesterday, like it's a definite "event" rather than gradually getting worse? And if it's the filter that's blocked but pump still working would there still be oil inside the filter for me to see? Whole thing looks dry!

The symptoms in this video look exactly like ours and the guy seems quite relaxed about it, suggesting a new pump will fix it?
Really can't afford a new car or engine right now!!

Cheers for the responses!

 

[m_c]

The oil filter will have a bypass valve which opens at a couple psi pressure differential across the filter, so if the filter does get blocked, unfiltered oil will still be pumped around the engine.

I only ever had limited dealings with that era of ecotec engine, but the biggest issue I remember was the pressure relief valve used to stick shut, and blow the oil pressure switch apart, as it used to wear in the bore and jam. A new complete oil pump assembly used to solve the problem. There's every chance the same wear could cause the valve to stick open.