Chaps

Just after some advice/re-assurance.

My daughter recently got a replacement car, 2002 Corsa 1.2 Ecotec and Dad (me) was enlisted to do the obligatory new car oil change. No the car is very 'tappy' and has what I would imagine is a worn cam chain, followers, tensioner etc. I figured a good flush through with new oil and filter may quieten it down a bit. So, dropped the oild from the sump, unscrewed the canister holding the filter and oil flew all over the drive. Basically the oil had not drained from the filter as the filter had completely disintegrated

Never seen this before!

I cleaned as much out as I could and prodded and pried around to remove the debris. I'm pretty confident that I got most of it. So new filter, fresh oil, removed spark and turned over the engine to build some pressure then started and all seems OK but the car is still very 'chainy' an noisy.

What do you think, is it usual to have issues with filters breaking down? Do you think that any residue will be broken down and not block oilways and galleries etc?

I plan another oil change in a week to try to empty the debris further any other suggestions?

Finally, I understand these engines are know to be quite tappy sounding, is it usually the chain and is it a big job (number of hours) to do?

Thanks

Harvey

I have heard of this happening with bike filters a long while back. There was a batch of generic (Mr Wong) oil filters that more or less dissolved due to inferior materials. It caused all sorts of problems with blocked oil ways as the sludge was very .... erm sludgey. Hopefully a flush will sort it out for you - although I don't know anything about the noisy Ecotec engines.

If the oil's not been getting round it sounds like you'll have some repairs to do. Does it have a chain, most of the Corsas have belts don't they?

I would say careful keeping of the debris plus a careful word with the filter manufacturer would be in order..............no idea what their guarantees are but I would think that trading standards would take a keen interest, as long as you have "installed correctly" which is difficult to get wrong on a spin on one.

yeh recently changed my oil on a 52 plate corsa sxi filter was in sh1t nick and the filter tore with little force.

I think its just a case of taking a look at it periodically. The plastic unscrewable filter casing is a good idea but i dont think it does too many favours for the actual gauze.

Tappets are noisey but thats standard with them, same as its statute that old fiestas sound like lawn mowers.

Hope it gets sorted.

n

i have a 02 1.2 as well, and last 2 times ive changed the filter (and on my aunties 1L) the filter has come apart.

they are quite noisy engines and do make a loud tapping / clicking noise, pretty normal.