Mk2 Cavalier SRi 130 SEH OIL pressure issues

[jacko lah]

So I've only done 90 miles in my new 1988 calibrE (a mk2 cavalier SRI 130 8V with Imscher kit) and had to call out the RAC.


Changed Oil and fitted astra diesel oil filter as Helfrauds had not the correct one.

Note Oil was helfrauds semi synthetic 15w40.

NOW this is the urgent Problem (Note Temp gauge dead so just adds to the confusion)

On the way to work - had done about 12 miles and coming up to traffic lights - as the revs dropped below 2000 rpm, flash flash - the oil warning light comes on. But Goes off above 2000 rpm - sounds like a bag of nails like the worst deisel !! . Pulled over - Phoned RAC.

RAC man comes and Oil warning light stays off and engine sounds almost fine. But Thinks it seems very hot (can't tell cause of gauge)

Anyway I was recovered to work (where my old C reg SRi awaits more abuse having not sold it to last week to a nice chap - something about a mortgage)

RAC man suggests oil pump or pressure relief valve ?

Mate at work suggests "It's Fecked and Mr XXXXXX has sold you a dead dog with no bollox"

Any suggestions ?

OIL was BLACK to say the least that I took out .

Went out at lunch time and it seems okay now. Which is really encouraging ? Not

I'm thinking - wrong filter not helping, blocked strainer, but more likely oil pump knackered and when my nice new oil gets hot it decides it's not happy ?

[Deltafox]

Guy i knew had this very same problem with the same car type and model as yours.

I'd check the pressure relief valve, replace the oil filter and oil and see how it goes from there.

The guy i knew; He kept on running it until it took out all the shells, replaced them rather than do the oil pump and a week later it threw a rod, lifting the head by a quarter inch at number 1 cylinder and removing a sizeable chunk of the block.....not good.

[jacko lah]

Immediately the light came on I stopped !!!

Only issue I have is that I need to drive it 3 miles to a garage that seems friendly and sensible (I had a reckomendation which went like - they do a good job)

[jacko lah]

Deltafox said:

Guy i knew had this very same problem with the same car type and model as yours. I'd check the pressure relief valve, replace the oil filter and oil and see how it goes from there. The guy i knew; He kept on running it until it took out all the shells, replaced them rather than do the oil pump and a week later it threw a rod, lifting the head by a quarter inch at number 1 cylinder and removing a sizeable chunk of the block.....not good.

Changed oil and put CORRECT (but not on stock and NO LONGER STOCKED as a vauxhall / GM part) Filter in, sound better but not right and I'm a bit scared to drive it, plus there's loads of other silly sounds that make paranoia high. I've been offered a good second hand engine and am inclined to bung that in.