Clio 182 issues

[MauriceM27]

Hi folks, first time poster. Have just bought a full fat 182 and am delighted with it, just have a couple of small things that are bugging me. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Slight whirring noise at low revs, accompanied by a very faint tapping
-Oil level occasionally flashes on start up, maybe once every 4 or 5 times. Dipstick is wet above bottom mark every time I've checked. It has 10W 60 in it from previous owner, intend to change to 5W 40 next weekend when I service it. Has the 10W 60 potentially done damage? Been in last 5700 miles.
-Strange sweet sort of smell from engine area after a long-ish drive

These may be silly points but would love to hear from anyone who's had the same! Other than that I love the car!

 

[MauriceM27]

Anyone have any input?

 

[barker22]

I would get the oil changes asap to the correct grade.
The oil level flashing is when the oil is low on the dipstick as you have found, and also comes on when parked with the car on a slope, usually leaning down on the right i've discovered. Top the level up will sort it.

Sweet smell, is the coolant expansion tank clear, nothing floating on top?

 

[Gus]

Get the oil changed as soon as you can and deffo top it up if you cant change it. Just thinking why its got 10w 60 and im wondering if it has an oil leak as 10w 60 is much thicker than 5w40 and much less prone to leak. Check around the back of the engine where you see the 4 exhaust manifolds coming out of the engine - is any oil leaking on to it that is causing the sweet smell.

 

[MauriceM27]

Thanks folks. Have topped it up just until next weekend, had quite a long drive today and no smell or whine. Does the oil level somehow affect the dephaser? Starting to think that could have been it, or perhaps the alternator, it seemed to be more pronounced at night with lights etc on putting load on the alternator.

The guy I bought it off put 10W 60 in as he intended to do a couple of trackdays but didn't bother in the end. Elf SXR 5W 40 going in next weekend. Definitely the most fun car I've ever had!