Oil low = power loss?

[Ezra-RS]

Can low on oil mean power loss? I experienced this especially in the higher rpm ranges, when giving it some beans. It would kind of judder and sometimes take off but most of the time just not advance. It was the same experience as I once had with a turbo car when I had a loose vacuum hose, it then wouldn't go above a certain rev range where usually the turbo would come in to play.

Anyway, back home I checked everything and saw that the oil was at the low marker. Put in some oil and after 2 runs it didn't hesitate a single time. So my question really is: can this be caused by low oil or is it all a mere coincidence?

 

[Chip-mk1]

No. Being on the minimum marker for oil will not effect performance at all.

 

[Ezra-RS]

Okay, so there's no fail safe kind of function.. Was kind of hoping for that!
Don't have the car since a long time so I'll give it a good servicing soon. Last owner seemed caring enough but you never know..

 

[Laine_16v]

Okay, so there's no fail safe kind of function.. Was kind of hoping for that!
Don't have the car since a long time so I'll give it a good servicing soon. Last owner seemed caring enough but you never know..

No fail safe otherwise every time you take a hard corner the car would cut power for a moment. Only way you'd lose power is through the friction of your bearings grinding against the crankshaft but that wouldn't last long till you at the side of the road with a seized engine!

 

[Ezra-RS]

Hmh yes so it's/was definitely something else then.. For now the problem seems to be gone and I didn't get any faults when reading it with the rs tuner. I guess there's no real use in guessing what it is without stating the obvious to go check plugs, coil pack, ...., etc.. Which I will do soon!

Thanks for your answers gentlemen.

 

[Chip-mk1]

My best guess from the very limited symptoms is oil or water on the plug leads in the head.

 

[Ezra-RS]

You mean oil or water falling down in the holes ?

I can give you some more symptoms if that can help. It first occured on the motorway when wanting to overtake someone. Put my foot down and it went for a moment but then it was like it was pushing against something but it couldn't really go on.
I could replicate this again a few times on full throttle. It never did it when driving "normal" just as soon as I wanted to accelerate hard it happened and the strange thing, a few seconds later when I'd try again it was all okay.

Also made a picture of a plug. They all look like this. The one on the right (so no 1 or 4) was a little wet, but from gas I think because that's what I was smelling.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Yes I mean either oil from a leaking rocker cover seal or water from jet washing etc.

Also its not unheard for the leads to just vibrate loose.

 

[Ezra-RS]

Ah like that! I also heard this, this morning when starting it from cold. After a minute or so the ticking sound was gone. This was after starting it when I put in some new oil.
[video=youtube_share;9NgUsxHOyv8]http://youtu.be/9NgUsxHOyv8[/video]