Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 01:51
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l

Seeking advice on a laguna 2 diesel.

Warning light about the injectors kept coming on, engine down on power and then the dipstick came out and oil escaped.

Took it to one garage and he said a complete engine rebuild. Got a second opinion and he said he could find nothing serious, he steam cleaned the engine, flushed the engine, drained all the old oil and changed the oil pump.
However the same thing happened again, dipstick has blown out followed by oil.

Any ideas? As car is old, any repairs over a grand won't be worth it.

Thanks

Michael

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 09:20
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Cris_on_the_gas

Sounds like for some reason the sump oil is being pressurised. Could be worn piston rings, so worth doing a compression test on all four cylinders to see which ones low. You can buy a compression tester for about £20 or try to borrow one from a mechanic mate. I would have issue with 2nd Garage as thought they should have done compression check, or maybe 1st one did and are telling you the truth

Sorry but if it is loss of compression then to find the problem would need an engine rebuild.

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 09:32
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Fernando P

What mileage do you think the vehicle has done? How frequently has the oil been changed?

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 10:32
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l
Car has done 100000 miles but with full Renault service history, regular oil changes, cam belt changed, and has used no oil water etc until now so don't think it is worn piston rings? Could it be EGR valve?
Friend says its a common problem with the inlet manifold but couldn't be more specific. Guess I'll end up taking it to main Renault dealer but think that may be the end of my relationship with this car. Gone are the days when diesels ran for 250000 miles.
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Wed 8 Feb 2012 10:42
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l
Should have mentioned that the problem started as intermittent, with just injector warning message and loss of power. Car would return to normal after short stop. Dipstick blowing out came later. Could sticking valve pressurise sump?
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Wed 8 Feb 2012 09:45
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - ChannelZ

Any engine blowing the dipstick out is either needing a rebuild, or only fit to be a boat anchor.

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 11:06
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - unthrottled

If there is low compression in one of the cylinders then there should be some white smoke when it first starts, and one cylinder should have a lot of combustion noise.

Is the breather system working?!

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 13:07
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Peter D

This may not be pressurisation as such. If the Injector light comes some time prior to poping the dipstick I would suspect that an injector is sticking open and overfueling one cylinder and the desiel is being forced past the rings to the point where the sump is over filled and thus causing the stick to be ejected. However I would expect the engine to run rough in this mode and generate black smoke. Regards Peter

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 13:29
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - unthrottled

I bet there's a vacuum leak somewhere. The crankcase ventilation and the turbo N75 valve are vacuum operated. Hence pressurised crankcase and lack of power.

Talk of shot piston rings is alarmist at this stage.

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 14:18
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l
Thanks everyone! Keep the ideas coming!
Must admit I would be sad to part with this vehicle, had it for 6 years and up to now it has been a fast comfortable car, superbly equipped, that's taken me down to SW France and back many times, quite happy at the (so much more sensible) autoroute speed limit on cruise control.
Thanks again
Michael
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Wed 8 Feb 2012 14:24
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l
I haven't been aware of any more smoke than usual, as a Euro 3 engine, these tend to be a bit smokier than the more modern diesels anyway.
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Wed 8 Feb 2012 17:33
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Fernando P

You did not answer my second question "how frequently has the oil been changed"! The reason I asked it is that it is well documented that the oil used (which ideally should be 5W/40 synt for diesel) in the 2.2Dci (G9T turbo) engines needs to be changed more frequently than the specified 18K / 2 year service interval. Failure to do so is more likely than not to result in problems because oil (other than of the specification mentioned) becomes too "thick" and therefore does not flow so well.

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Thu 9 Feb 2012 13:24
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l
No, just changes at service intervals, did use the right oil though. Car has been used mainly for long journeys, but more recently less so.
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Thu 9 Feb 2012 15:07
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Fernando P

If looked after, (as I have described) this engine will run efficiently for a big mileage and much more than you have done so far. My experience is that the EGR valve needs to be removed and the openings cleaned ~ once a year, especially if you are doing shorter runs, or the engine will start to produce more smoke and will not pull away so well - as you have described. But this is a fairly easy DIY job. Sounds like you have problems with the plastic inlet manifold which has lost its seal somehow as happens occasionally and is also mentioned below.

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Fri 10 Feb 2012 12:55
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Michae_l
Ok, thanks. Got some useful pointers, will try them out.
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Wed 8 Feb 2012 20:39
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Big John

Check the oil breather. If blocked even only a slightly worn engine needs to dissipate crankcase pressure somewhere usually by blowing out the dipstick or blowing past an oil seal. Can sometimes increase oil consupmtion by blowing oil past valve seals.

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Wed 8 Feb 2012 21:02
Renault Laguna II 2.2 DCI - Injector Warning Light and Losing Oil - Big John

Ah - just done a it more research, the common fault you mentioned re inlet manifold relates to it warping or gasket failure allowing inlet blowpast (ably assisted by the turbo) presurising the crankcase.

Do a bit more Googling and this fault shows up time after time...

www.renaultforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=39656

Edited by Big John on 08/02/2012 at 21:06

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