NEW MEMBER, NEED HELP PLEASE

[Jodyhoare]

I’m sorry my first post is a cry for help! But if any of you can help or have had similar problems I will be eternally grateful!

So… driving home one eve and the oil pressure light came on and the car started making a horrible noise, the pressure light went off but the noise remains. I limped it home (3mins away) and the pressure light flicked on and off.

I know the pressure light is a big red flag! However the noise sounds top end, there is no rough idle, no missfire or any running issues apart from the horrible noise.

I decided to strip the rocker cover off and found the the gasket had gone solid like hard plastic and there were bits broken off in the head with the cams which is obviously not good at all! (Maybe the noise?) I also stripped off the VVT cover to check the chain, tensioner and guides but to my eye that looks ok (pic and vid supplied) the tensioner feels very weak but I’m led to believe this is pressure driven?

Please if anyone can give me an idea where to look or if you see anything amiss I n the pictures, I will be eternally grateful!

[breeze]

Which bits broke off in the head?

Sounds like blocked oil pickup in the sump leading to oil starvation at the top end. If bits aren’t broken sometimes you can chance it with a new pickup, but your post does sound like you will need some variation of replacement head/cams/cam tray alongside new oil pickup.

[Jodyhoare]

Thanks for the reply.

The cam lobes are perfect and not damaged at all, I tried to post a video but it won’t let me! Lol

[pudding]

The cam lobes might be, but the bearing caps/cam bridge journals and VVT phaser might not be. Neither can tolerate no oil pressure for very long at all.

[Jodyhoare]

Here is the noise

[Jodyhoare]

Here is the exhaust note, with no missfire and the cam chain tensioner

eature=share

[SANDEGTI]

Let's hope everything is ok, I managed to get away with it when I had a similar issue.

Is that a Laser Blue 05 I see? It doesn't happen to have a beige / cream interior does it? Still trying to find one like mine 

[Jodyhoare]

It is. Black leather in this one though! Lol

What was your issue? Oil pickup?

[breeze]

I’ve just re-read your post and it looks like the pieces you were talking about were from the rocker cover gasket.

You could consider doing just the oil pickup, putting back together with new gasket and seeing what it sounds like. That would enable you to check the timing adjustment with VCDS too.

Replacing head is a bigger job and even replacing the chain carries some risk (rounded bolt). Chain will also require you to buy tools.

[SANDEGTI]

It is. Black leather in this one though! Lol

What was your issue? Oil pickup?

That's close enough, my favourite colour MK5 I must say 

No, chain tensioner failed. Got away with it somehow, no bent valves and nothing out of the ordinary after inspection. I won't say what the speed was when it failed but it was a considerable amount and a lot of diesel noises! 

[LC5F]

The spring in the chain tensioner spring isn't particularly strong, but to me, yours looks a bit easy to push - unless you are he-man?
For peace of mind would be to replace the tensioner & chain, ERA are the OEM supplier, their kit has the VW PN ground off.

[blingsta]

did you check the balance shaft sprocket?  if not already done, i would change it to the free spinning vis wheel