[Filters & Oil] Engine oil sprayed out everywhere

[Vivian]

Hi folks, advice please.

1.6 HDi XTR using 0W-30 oil.

My mate and I were checking oil level the other day, and it needed just a little top up.

Now, after a recent 400 mile return trip, I noticed oil dripping from under the vehicle. Opened the bonnet, and there's oil sprayed absolutely everywhere. And no filler cap present!  I can only assume one of us didn't replace the  cap tightly.

Strange thing is I didn't notice any oil dripping until I got home.  No oil pressure warning light came on.  Perhaps I've been really lucky and the cap came off just in the last few miles?

Checked dipstick which shows completely empty!

I will obviously purchase a new cap, and refill with ( expensive!) oil.

But my question please - how best to clean the engine? The bonnet soundproof membrane is soaked with oil too.

Many thanks.

[brodfather11]

there are engine degreasers which are quite effective , spray on and wash off.
The soundproofing will be hard to get the oil out off.
Removing it and washing it on the ground with a brush and detergent or pressure washer ?

[notsofast]

If the dipstick showed completely empty, I'd look into why the oil pressure warning light didn't come on.

[Buki]

An oil pump takes oil from the bottom of the sump. The capacity of the sump is about 4 liters.
The dipstick shows olly the "top" 1.5 liters. If there are 2 liters left in the sump, the dipstick will show empty, but the oil pump will still be able to pump oil and the oil pressure light will not light up.

[Vivian]

An oil pump takes oil from the bottom of the sump.  The capacity of the sump is about 4 liters.
The dipstick shows olly  the "top" 1.5 liters.  If there are 2 liters left in the sump, the dipstick will show empty, but the oil pump will still be able to pump oil  and the oil pressure light will not light up.

Thanks @Buki.  That's useful information.

It certainly explains why, when I filled it with 3.5 litres this morning, the dipstick now shows there's too much in there.  I'll now have to drain some out - about half a litre I reckon.

I'm kinda relieved to know there was probably a couple of litres left in the sump so assuming the cap came off within the last few miles, the engine was still being lubricated inside ... (and out!).

[Vivian]

there are engine degreasers which are quite effective , spray on and wash off.
The soundproofing will be hard to get the oil out off.
Removing it and washing it on the ground with a brush and detergent or pressure washer  ?

Thanks @brodfather11.  Good idea to remove the soundproofing. I'll give it a scrub with plenty of detergent, then rinse with the pressure washer.  I have an old Autoglym engine cleaner spray in my garage somewhere, and I'll try that and wash it off by hand.  I'm wary of using a hose or pressure washer on the engine for fear of water getting into the electrics.  Thanks for your advice.

[Vivian]

If the dipstick showed completely empty, I'd look into why the oil pressure warning light didn't come on.

Thanks.  Yes, I thought that really odd why it didn't come on, but I think @Buki may have come up with the reason.

[evdama]

Last year I enjoyed a bit of schadenfreude when one of the  neighbours cars started dripping lots of oil in various locations up and down our street.
I hate that t**t two doors down so I really hoped it was his.

It wasn't until the oil light eventually came on I realised it was mine and I too had left off the filler cap a few weeks earlier after an oil change.
Trying to get a correct grade variant oil locally was a nightmare and in the end it was a 2l bottle from Tescos.
Lucky I change twice yearly and it wasn't in there for long

I hadn't noticed the engine had a throatier sound and I had to drop the under tray to retrieve the filler cap.
I mopped most of it up with rags,and soaked the camshaft cover insulation in hot soapy water.
I didn't go any further and it has almost dried up itself now.
I left the underside of the bonnet as they are prone to rusting through.

[Vivian]

@evdama - that's exactly how I first noticed mine! I was taking some stuff to the tip for my friend and neighbour which took about 10 minutes to load. When I arrived back I noticed a puddle of black oil and I though it was from her car. Until I got back to my own driveway and there were puddles everywhere!

It really is a nightmare! Lesson well and truly learnt!

Thanks for your tips for cleaning up.

[Vivian]

Expensive mistake too - I always use the manufacturer's recommended oil which in this case is Total Quartz Ineo First 0W-30.  £49.29 for 5 litres from Halfords.