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  #1  
Old 06-06-2013, 05:03 PM
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HELP - Low oil pressure, swarf in filter, loud ticking noise

After finding out that my misfire on 2002 X5 4.6is was down to a leaking head gasket, and getting that fixed and having the car run perfect for 500 miles or so, a new (or seemingly new) problem has occured;

Today when driving I started hearing a clicking sound coming from the car and started to look for a place to pull over, as I made my way off the dual carriageway the low pressure warning came on. I stopped and the oil was low, towards the bottom of the dip stick. I topped it up - took 2 litres to get to the top of the dip stick - and started it and the sound went away. Drove off and within seconds the sound and the oil pressure warning returned.

Had it towed to my mechanic who checked the oil filter and it has alot of swarf in it. He flushed the oil system and changed the oil and put in new filter (as the filter was clearly blocking the flow of oil due to the swarf). It sounded fine once running again but as soon as I drove up the road the sound came back and the oil pressure warning came back.

It appears that whenever its topped up, all sounds normal and oil pressure seems fine but as soon as the car is driven just a few meters, the pressure cannot be maintained and the oil does not circulate. The noise seems to occur when the pressure drops and oil is not reaching all parts of the engine.

The mechanic is going to strip down the car - sump, oil pump, timing case, rocker covers etc - everything off for full inspection. However I am interested to hear what you guys think may be the problem. And where the swarf has come from...
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Old 06-06-2013, 05:40 PM
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How many miles on it? Is it similar to a rattle can sound when you are referring to the ticking? Were the shavings you found metal or plastic? Almost sounds to me like it is Timing Chain guides.
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Old 06-06-2013, 05:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR View Post
How many miles on it? Is it similar to a rattle can sound when you are referring to the ticking? Were the shavings you found metal or plastic? Almost sounds to me like it is Timing Chain guides.
108k, yes its a rattle can sound - definately like timing chain slap. Some of the bits were plastic shavings actually, some definitely metal.

Last edited by mobilejo; 06-06-2013 at 06:00 PM.
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Old 06-06-2013, 06:05 PM
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Yeah, do not run that car until its pulled apart. You were getting low pressure because the oil sump screen is also clogged with junk. Hopefully the only extent of the damage is the chain guides and hopefully no damage to the valves or anything else. Be prepared to spend some coin on this job. It is labor intensive.
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Old 06-06-2013, 06:29 PM
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Timing chain guides. In retrospect, you should have replaced those with the head gaskets, "while you were in there".

It sounds like your mechanic will do a proper diag...
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Old 06-06-2013, 06:32 PM
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Timing chain guides. In retrospect, you should have replaced those with the head gaskets, "while you were in there".
Definately. I had the option and I chose to just install a new tensioner instead as PM on the grounds that I had zero timing chain noise prior.

KICKING MYSELF is an understatement.
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Old 06-06-2013, 06:35 PM
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My theory is that the new tensioner might have put increased pressure on the guides and caused the failure.

I don't have any timing chain noise either, 146k miles... and this kind of thing haunts me every day
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Old 06-06-2013, 06:38 PM
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Originally Posted by epdarks View Post

I don't have any timing chain noise either, 146k miles... and this kind of thing haunts me every day
Its like living with a ticking time bomb but then when you look at it in perspective, many many cars go to the end of their life without needing timing chain work...

If your engine has never been opened up there's probably a better chance that your chain and guides will continue to function normally until the car dies of 'natural causes'.
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Old 06-06-2013, 06:48 PM
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It would be fun to know what percentage of BMW V8s need timing chain guide replacements. When you look on the forums, it seems like EVERYONE has problems. Meanwhile there are soccer Moms with 200k miles on their 4.4 and have no clue that their motor is about to grenade! The irony...

My motor has been opened up to do the valley pan gasket, and the previous owner (BMW tech) gave the guides the "A-Ok". That was 20k miles ago...
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Old 06-08-2013, 10:10 AM
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Will the oil sump screen need to be replaced or can it be cleaned out?

The mechanic is going to remove the engine from the car to work on it so access won't be a problem.

Should I be replacing the oil pump? Is there any way to tell if it is fubared whilst the engine is out?
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