Oil Pressure & Catalytic Converter message...

[Lisa6297]

206cc 2l

Not had the car long and loving it so far. Oil pressure light came on so I stupidly chucked lots in - okay too much. The low pressure light still came on so popped to peugeot dealer and bought a new cap and he said the old one was broken so that should fix it.

Now and again the oil pressure light came on, and I ignored it, thinking I've overfilled it so that'll be the problem.

This weekend I hadn't driven the car for four days, was sitting in wet weather. Today I get the engine warning light come on, intermittently, then permanently with the catalytic converter error on screen. Drove fine for the 40 mile round trip to/from work today, but the oil pressure light came back on again with the STOP message.

Have been reading a multitude of threads on this topic with a variety of responses that it's made my head hurt so thought I'd start a new one. Some of the remedies have been a) reduce oil in engine b) spray engine with WD40, c) coil pack d) use better petrol e) let engine warm up before setting off f) there was another one about tips when starting and stopping the car..

Thoughts to a non-mechanic please?

[Capncol]

Firstly don't drive it until it is sorted (thats what the big stop light means)

You don't tell us the mileage to guess at whether it is a genuine fault or not.
It could be something simple such as the sender unit. they aren't expensive so may pay to chage it to prove/disprove if it is the culprit

Point 2. Overfilling is as bad as underfilling. It may be that you have put so much oil in, it is getting past the pistons and contaninating the cat converter. How far over the max on the dipstick is it?

[Lisa6297]

02 Plate, 96k on the clock, I'll re-check the dipstick in the morning.

Stop light is intermittent, only comes on with the oil pressure message.

So... and don't shoot me down in flames, but how much damage will I do if I still drive to work (have to get to work in the morning!).

Thanks Col.

Lisa

[ribs99]

You haven't said if your car is a petrol or diesel but overfilling a diesel with oil can result in engine runaway. This is where the oil gets into the piston and the car will over run at max revs until the all the engine oil is consumed and your left with a seized engine.

As said above, overfilling an engine with oil is as bad as under filling it so get the level down as soon as possible otherwise you could end up with no car at all.

[Lisa6297]

Sorry guys, petrol.

Will go and check the dipstick now

[gazza82]

If it is low pressure, you run the risk of damaging the bearings in the engine every time you turn it over ...

[GrandadMonkey]

You haven't said if your car is a petrol or diesel but overfilling a diesel with oil can result in engine runaway. This is where the oil gets into the piston and the car will over run at max revs until the all the engine oil is consumed and your left with a seized engine.

As said above, overfilling an engine with oil is as bad as under filling it so get the level down as soon as possible otherwise you could end up with no car at all.

All 2 litre 206cc's are petrol.

[GrandadMonkey]

When was it last serviced? Could be due for fresh oil and a new filter. If it is due, or overdue, then I would drain all of the old oil out of it, replace with new oil of the correct grade, and renew the oil filter with a genuine new one.

Listen to what Col has said - he's talking sense.

[Lisa6297]

Thank you all most humbly for taking the time to respond to this definite 'non-mechanic'.

So this morning I removed some of the oil, didn't need to take out too much as it happens.

I then did one of the tips regarding driving at speed, and slowing down rapidly (to clear clogging of converter I believer), did this a few times on the way to work. However...the warning message changed from Cat Converter error to Anti Pollution error (and I'd seen this a few times on the boards).

Anyhow, went the 20 miles to work, oil light didn't come on (so the reducing of oil in engine may have solved this) and having done the speed up slow down thing, I parked up outside the office with a bit of stress given the new 'antipollution message'.

Left work, no oil light no stop lights on dash. But engine warning light still on, with no other message.
Six miles in, needed fuel. (before you ask, I never if can be helped get to having the 'need petrol light' coming on - used to have a classic car so well aware of how this is not good).... So at petrol station decided to fill up to half tank with the 'posher' fuel.

Pulled out of station to head home.... NO LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL.

We shall see what the morning brings...but right now am a rather happy smug bunnie, thanks to these boards.

(I know that last one is a monkey but a bunnie wasn't available!)

[GrandadMonkey]

Hoorah - sorted then! Well done

I always use the "posher" fuel. The higher octane rating helps maximise performance and the detergent additives help keep your engine clean inside. Annual oil and filter changes too - none of this every 2 years or 20,000 miles malarkey for my car.

[Lisa6297]

...so does this go for the type of oil used too?

The oil pressure light came on intermittently but no other warnings. The quick flash of oil light is accompanied with the stop light sign too - but it's so on and off quick am not sure I should be so worried.

Lisa

[gazza82]

You should be using a good quality 5W40 fully synthetic oil.
Peugeot recommend Total Quartz.


If the oil is relatively new then I'd change the pressure switch.

With a new switch, new oil and filter if the light comes on then you could have a mechanical problem .. Running it with low oil didn't help.