DP.

Edited by edlithgow on 07/05/2025 at 03:35

This seems more a topic for Technical rather than Discussion. You cant argue with a conrod.

Would expect any warning noise to be more of a knocking sound than a "whine", though if it was out of oil it might screech a bit.

You might be able to get some clues as to cause by a post mortem examination - are the other big end bearings worn or loose, or any signs of valve impact with the pistons, for example, but the only obvious point of that would be to attempt to assign blame to the servicing dealer (not checking the oil being the most likely blameworthy cause) which is unlikely to happen, especially if you get them to do the PM.

IIRC some Corsa engines have a problem, sometimes oil related causing cam chain wear/skipping so they go out of phase, sometimes snapping the camshaft. IF this involved valve-piston intimacy the transmitted force from that impact might also bust a conrod.

The OP states it's been regularly serviced, but did they change the oil and filter each time? e &a/c says it's usually associated with piston damage - has the oil been regularly checked?

Are we sure it's the 1.0? I thought that engine had been replaced by the 1.2 by '69 reg. Unless this pre-reg was getting rid of some old stock.

How many miles had it done and if the servicing was not main dealer, can we be sure the correct oil had been used?

"The 1.2 4 cylinder engine is generally a very robust motor"

If the OP's Corsa is the current shape, I think the 1.2 would be a Puretech.