Vauxhall VX ( and 1.6 and 1.8) Engines - Sump Baffles

[TANGO7]

Hi All,

Can anyone confirm the above engines are fitted with a sump baffle in the form of a "foam pad". (The Workshop Manual I have refers to a sump baffle but is not specific on its type).

Also, if a foam baffle is fitted are there any opinions out there whether it is actually needed. If such a baffle is present, I am wary of it deteriorating and sections becoming detached causing oil way blockages and other mayhem. (The car use is mainly for touring and blats, rather than any racing or trackdays).

I understand some K Series engines may be fitted with foam sump baffles,so I guess any thoughts on their need/suitability would be relevant. 

Thanks,

Ian 

[Wrightpayne]

looks like caterham sell them.....

 

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/oil-system/2418-foam-baffle-insert-wet-sump-vauxhall.html?search_query=foam&results=7

[Paul Deslandes]

Assuming it's the same as the 2.0 litre the baffle is essential, otherwise you'll have oil surge and oil starvation when cornering.

You're right to be concerned about the foam deteriorating as they either fall to pieces or clog into a gooey mess which stops the oil passing quickly through the foam and being picked up by the pump pipe.  Modern synthetic oils are far worse for this that older traditional oils.

The only answer, unless you want to go dry-sump, is to replace them frequently.  If I still had one in my engine (dry sumped it many years ago) I wouldn't leave it any longer than yearly or even more frequently.  Watch out for momentary drop in oil pressure when cornering even when you know that oil level is correct as this is a sure sign.

Paul

[Nigel B]

I’ve owned a 2002 1.8VX from new & only discovered I needed to regularly change the sump foam last year! 

I removed the sump with some trepidation, but the 16 year old foam was still in one piece. My car is regularly rolling roaded & the engine seems to be in fine fettle after 45,000 miles. 

That said, I suspect an element of luck is involved, as the quality of the foam is variable. I’ll be changing mine regularly in the future.

[Johnh]

I had an annoying oil leak around the sump on my 8 valve 1.8 VX.. and read loads of horror stories about not keeping up with baffle changes.. to my surprise the baffle was spot on after 15 years or so..was almost tempted to refit.. but for £40 or 50 quid from redline at the time decided to change it as the sump was off anyway.. I do believe some people mess around changing grades of oil which could affect the  life of the foam?..I run my engine on a semi synthetic 10/40 grade and change every 2500 mls. and am more than happy to continue.. I did read one owner recommended changing baffles every 6 months.. totally bonkers!!.

a good tip is keeping any eye on your oil pressure as well as the speedo..if the pressure has unexpectedly dropped then investigate.

[Paul Deslandes]

Not bonkers if you'd seen the one I pulled from an engine 2 years after replacement; I wish I'd taken a photo of it.  Admittedly the car had done a lot of competition, so may have got particularly hot, and used fully synthetic oil which does seem to be the main culprit.  As you say John, watch the oil pressure.

Paul

[TANGO7]

Probably a dumb question, but why are the Vauxhall SOHC engines fitted with the sump foam baffle when engines such as Ford Crossflows are not?

[Johnh]

Who says these engines should run on on fully synthetic oil?? Thus my comment about owners changing grades ..as an ex motor engineer I can never remember putting fully synth in what is basically a cavalier motor..the build manual calls for comma urolite.which is a part synthetic oil.. stick with the expert advice on oil and I’m sure the baffle might last longer.. obviously competition driving will take its toll on most engines and its parts..but I’m interested in why some owners drastically change grades when the cars are NOT used for track.

probably the shape of the sump ..vx sump is quite shallow in comparison so on tight corners at speed the oil pick up pipe isn’t in the oil like ford xflows .. baffle stops it sloshing about a bit.