weird noise and oil light

[hwyaden]

my oil light came on the other day and i heard a weird noise coming from the drivers side of the engine. the only way i can describe the noise is it's like one of those 'groan tubes' the kids play with. i found the oil level was non-existant (whoops!) and filled it up. now the oil light goes on intermittently and is accompanied by the groan/whistle noise on accelerating then it just disappears of its own accord.
does anyone have any ideas on what's up with my car? tia,
hwyaden 

[Kernowman]

The weird noise would be.. if you have it fitted .. the oil level top up tank... just in front of the battery.
This .. providing it has oil in will top up the engine oil level as and when needed.. but manual checking via dipstick is best was to check the level.

The flashing oil light is to show you've over filled the engine... check the dipstick level and if needed drain off engine oil a bit at a time using the drain bung on the sump..

I tend to only 3/4 fill engine oil during oil changes.. that way when I start the engine the top up tank will empty til either empty itself or level is reached.. I know then that it's working.. then refill  tank and check oil using dipstick..and top as needed.

[Swanny]

If it's doing it under acceleration, and it's coming rom the drivers side of the engine, it may not be the top up pump, which is in front and to the left of the driver.............speaking from a "where's that noise coming from" perspective. If it's making that noise under acceleration and your oil was very low, you may have damaged your turbo, or engine somehow.

[hwyaden]

i'd filled up the tank under the bonnet but not the main oil tank. i checked that yesterday and the dipstick was still low so i've put more oil in and so far the light and the noise haven't returned. i'll know better when i've driven it round a bit more. thanks for the info peeps 

[bionic belcher]

is it smoking more than normal? especially under acceleration... does sound like the turbo isnt very well.

[hwyaden]

not that i've noticed. i'm going on a long run tomorrow so should have more idea.

[Kernowman]

Do you have the green & orange turbo lights on you bus ?

When you take it for a run watch and see if only the green comes on. = turbo ok... or orange = turbo fault
Could be the actuator if the orange light comes on.. 

[hwyaden]

what's an actuator? the orange light has come on now and then since i bought it. it sounds like it is the turbo. i was overtaking a lorry on the m4 yesterday when there was a loud pop, then tons of white smoke starting pouring out the exhaust. i called the breakdown people but they didn't look at it, just towed me home  i'm waiting for the garage i bought it from to get back to me about repairing it now. 

[hwyaden]

meant to say, there's also a constant rattle from the engine that takes a split second to die down when you turn the car off, as if something is broken and is being spun round 

[pooch]

hi mate,
           The actuator is basically what stops your turbo from over pressuring,the orange light means it HAS been over pressuring,which unfortunately isnt great news for your turbo,
           I would probably think that the turbos failed and thats whats given the symptoms youve had,large amounts smoke probably bluey white? and the rattle noise would be the turbine off axis brushing the side of the housing.
           A recon turbo shouldnt cost the earth and a second hand one may do you but that would be a last resort to be honest,its not a particularly hard job DIY if your pretty up to speed with a spanner!! but it is quite involved with coolant drain/refill,oil change/refill and of course the unit remove/refit itself.
           Being a bit of a newbie here im not sure if theres anyone near to you who could offer you a hand with it but there maybe!
             good luck with it.
           

[ADarbon]

I have a second hand one i striped off a bus if needed and your interested let me know and we can work out a price

[Kernowman]

I have a second hand one i striped off a bus if needed and your interested let me know and we can work out a price

$1,000,000

[ghaniee]

hello.. just read on this thread.. since i bought the lucida.. the green light for the turbo came out when i push down more than 2.5krpm and after that if the turbo still run the orange light came out... does it means my turbo is faulty? i thought that this is normal... any comment on this?

[Kernowman]

If the orange light comes on then YES.. unfortunately you have a turbo fault.
If you have oily grey smoke from the exhaust it means the turbo seals have gone and so a replacement is needed.
If there's no smoke, but lack of power is noticed then it could be the more common fault of the actuator on the waste gate being faulty... normally the diaphram inside splits.. this cannot be fixed, but can be replaced.
If you don't have excesive smoke from exhaust.. the actuator can be easily changed without removing the turbo.
a couple of bolts and a wiggle to remove old actuator.. reverse it to fit new one.  
If you do have smoke.. then the turbo has to come off.. a bit more time intensive and messier than the actuator.

[ghaniee]

when is necessary to look at the smoke.. when i start the engine.. there is no smoke.. but i dont know when the turbo started there is smoke or not since i'm driving.. how to measure lack of power? since this is my first time of driving lucida and i dont know how powerful it is..