Metal in Oil: Corsa Engine Making Alarming Noises

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and had a very similar issue with my '03 Vauxhall Astra 1.4 last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, the oil warning light, valve noise, and those metal shavings in the oil were red flags. Turned out to be a failing oil pump in my case. Had to get it replaced at my local mechanic, set me back about 755 Euro including parts and labor. It's not something you want to wait on, I took mine in right away to prevent engine damage. What's your current mileage and when was your last oil change? This info would help me give you more specific advice. Also, are you losing any oil or noticing any leaks? I'd really recommend getting it checked ASAP since these symptoms can lead to serious engine damage if left unchecked.

Thanks for your detailed reply! Mine's at 177756 KM and I just had it serviced a few months back. No noticeable oil leaks so far, but those metal shavings really got me worried. Good to know about the oil pump, that definitely sounds like it could be the culprit. I'll get it to the shop first thing tomorrow morning. Better safe than sorry, especially with these symptoms!

Hey again! I totally get your concern about those metal shavings, that's exactly what freaked me out with my Astra too. Just wanted to follow up since we're dealing with such similar issues. After I got my oil pump replaced, my mechanic actually found that some of those metal shavings had come from slight wear on the camshaft bearings, it was basically a chain reaction from the oil pressure problems. The good news is that catching it early like I did (and like you're doing) prevented any major engine damage. With your mileage being pretty close to what mine was (I was at about 165000 KM when it happened), it's definitely the right call to get it checked out tomorrow. You know what's funny? My Astra hasn't made a single weird noise since the repair, and the oil light issue never came back. Keep us posted on what your mechanic finds! Really interested to see if it turns out to be the same issue. These 1.4 engines are pretty similar between the Corsa and Astra, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's the oil pump in your case too.

Thanks so much for sharing those extra details about your experience! It's really helpful to know about the camshaft bearings too, I'll definitely mention that to my mechanic tomorrow. It's actually quite reassuring to hear that your Astra's been running smoothly since the repair. I'll definitely keep the thread updated once I find out what's wrong with mine. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your insights, this has made me feel a lot better about getting it sorted tomorrow!