Oil Sump In Optra Magnum-Design Flaw

andrewdsouza72 · 9th April 2008, 13:02

Hi

Yesterday while driving from Hassan enroute to Bangalore, my brand new magnum went over a uneven speed breaker. The front being low scrapped lightly but after a milisecond or so, there was a large thud. Was very surprised and shocked. Got down and noticed that there was a chunk of metal gone from the oil sump. Also noticed that the negine guard does not cover the engine. It is also an inch higher than the oil sump which happens to be the lowest portion in the car.
When written to GM about this design fault, they callously ignored the letter and told me to pay for it-10000K.
The best part was on the same day there were 2 more magnums in Vijai Motors with the same issue.
Dont know what to do, this looks like a recurring problem and GM is least bothered. Had a harrowing time, used chewing gum for lack of materials to plug the hole till I reached Bangalore.
I have attached pictures of my car and the other white car which had the same problem.

condor · 9th April 2008, 13:31

Scary. How high was the speed breaker ? Or - what's the GC at the oil-sump ?

Would have been good if the 3rd pic above was clearer. Would be able to get one ?

Looks like it would be good if you can get a custom made skid-plate, a-la Samurai.

dadu · 9th April 2008, 14:14

They have their Corporate office in Gurgaon write to them.

Quote:

General Motors India Sixth Floor, Tower-'A' Global Business Park Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road Gurgaon-122 002 Haryana

If its a design flaw which it seems, they should correct it. If gurgaon ppl dont listen, write to their US HQ.

shuvd · 9th April 2008, 14:18

Holy c*&%! Just how high was the obstacle? Was something protruding from the speed breaker? This is a SERIOUS design flaw! I'll have to be extra careful from now on. Am going to the A.S.S sometime this week. Will put the car on a lift and have a look-see and think about a solution.

madan80 · 9th April 2008, 15:08

maybe we can redesign it- like how samurai did a custom plate for the GV. something for the magnum. I suspect its the same design for the optra petrol - however, diesel needing a larger sump would have protruded withouth their knowledge.

they might be trying to wash their hands off - so that it then does not get covered under warranty.

kewlferrari · 9th April 2008, 15:26

Hell ya!! This is serious. I have driven over pretty bad roads in Delhi & Gurgaon and the magnum ate all the bumps with aplomb. This is surprising.

Well too late in the day for me - have booked the LS in Blazing Red. Will cross my fingers & toes going over bumps from now on

GTO · 9th April 2008, 17:13

If the oil sump is the lowest exposed part of a car, that is bad news. I am glad you noticed the leak and prevented a potential engine seize!

Quote:

The best part was on the same day there were 2 more magnums in Vijai Motors with the same issue.

If this is true, GM India better pull their socks up and make good to existing owners.

rider60 · 9th April 2008, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

If the oil sump is the lowest exposed part of a car, that is bad news. I am glad you noticed the leak and prevented a potential engine seize!

If this is true, GM India better pull their socks up and make good to existing owners.

well i do agree with this, i have had quite a few scrapes to the metal sheet that guards my oil sump in my accent viva crdi, this sheet actually saved my sump being scraped, just makes me wonder how GM can do this to its premium sedan they offer, even my viva a small notch back gets a metal sheet protecting the engine sump, and this is not provided on a magnum? i have heard similar story on a fiesta where in the oil filter is located too low and the metal sheet if bought from ford does not cover it! i am sorry for you buddy, just drive carefully here on. Imo the GM might just not accept their design flaw for now!

deepakhon · 9th April 2008, 18:00

My colleague had a Dsl Octavia which had exactly the same problem. He hit a pothole on Mangalore-Bangalore road and the oil sump took the hit. Looks like these problems are not taken care of by the manufacturers.

I think you should take this issue up with GM directly and see if they can help you here.

jkdas · 9th April 2008, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by madan80

maybe we can redesign it- like how samurai did a custom plate for the GV. something for the magnum. I suspect its the same design for the optra petrol - however, diesel needing a larger sump would have protruded withouth their knowledge.

they might be trying to wash their hands off - so that it then does not get covered under warranty.

Dont think that logic will work as this will further lower its GC.

vasudeva · 10th April 2008, 09:34

GM is constantly advertising its 3 yr/100000 km warranty or recently `3 year service holiday'. The tag line is `only fuel costs, no other expenses'. Take up GM strongly on this commitment. A brand new Magnum should not have this problem. However, manufacturers (not only GM) can say that driver was at fault, and this is not premature defect, and hence not covered under warranty.

condor · 10th April 2008, 10:21

Quote:

jkdas

: Dont think that logic will work as this will further lower its GC.

Rather have a GC reduced by the thickness of a plate/shield than a sump that's devoid of oil. A plate like what Samurai used is about 6mm thick. Even if the GC is reduced by the thickness of the plate/shield, it's better that this shield take the brunt of any scrapes, than the oil-sump itself.

Sankar · 10th April 2008, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor

Rather have a GC reduced by the thickness of a plate/shield than a sump that's devoid of oil. A plate like what Samurai used is about 6mm thick. Even if the GC is reduced by the thickness of the plate/shield, it's better that this shield take the brunt of any scrapes, than the oil-sump itself.

Yes precisely. Even though the GC is reduced the sump would be safe.

pawan_pullarwar · 10th April 2008, 11:03

Team-bhp is great. My close friend was supposed to go for Magnum. I forwarded this thread to him. Now he scared

andrewdsouza72 · 15th April 2008, 12:53

Hi Guys

Thanks for the wonderful feedback and empathy. Currently as usual GM is out of spare Oil sump and have used m seal to bandage it. After writing to them on their published email id, I got a dim wit answer saying that it has been caused by 'extraneous circumstances'. They have skirted the issue about the GC and why the engine guard does not cover the engine. Its a 10k fatka.

Pavan, please dont dissuade your friend from buying the vehicle, its still the best and still is a blast to drive. Its just that you have to be very very careful on potholes and on un even speedbreakers.

9th April 2008, 13:02	#1
andrewdsouza72 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 13 Thanked: Once	Oil Sump In Optra Magnum-Design Flaw Hi Yesterday while driving from Hassan enroute to Bangalore, my brand new magnum went over a uneven speed breaker. The front being low scrapped lightly but after a milisecond or so, there was a large thud. Was very surprised and shocked. Got down and noticed that there was a chunk of metal gone from the oil sump. Also noticed that the negine guard does not cover the engine. It is also an inch higher than the oil sump which happens to be the lowest portion in the car. When written to GM about this design fault, they callously ignored the letter and told me to pay for it-10000K. The best part was on the same day there were 2 more magnums in Vijai Motors with the same issue. Dont know what to do, this looks like a recurring problem and GM is least bothered. Had a harrowing time, used chewing gum for lack of materials to plug the hole till I reached Bangalore. I have attached pictures of my car and the other white car which had the same problem. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

9th April 2008, 13:31	#2
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,866 Thanked: 16,020 Times View My Garage	Scary. How high was the speed breaker ? Or - what's the GC at the oil-sump ? Would have been good if the 3rd pic above was clearer. Would be able to get one ? Looks like it would be good if you can get a custom made skid-plate, a-la Samurai.
	() Thanks

9th April 2008, 14:18	#4
shuvd Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 1,081 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	Holy c*&%! Just how high was the obstacle? Was something protruding from the speed breaker? This is a SERIOUS design flaw! I'll have to be extra careful from now on. Am going to the A.S.S sometime this week. Will put the car on a lift and have a look-see and think about a solution.
	() Thanks

9th April 2008, 15:08	#5
madan80 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,360 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	maybe we can redesign it- like how samurai did a custom plate for the GV. something for the magnum. I suspect its the same design for the optra petrol - however, diesel needing a larger sump would have protruded withouth their knowledge. they might be trying to wash their hands off - so that it then does not get covered under warranty.
	() Thanks

9th April 2008, 15:26	#6
kewlferrari BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 175 Thanked: 16 Times	Hell ya!! This is serious. I have driven over pretty bad roads in Delhi & Gurgaon and the magnum ate all the bumps with aplomb. This is surprising. Well too late in the day for me - have booked the LS in Blazing Red. Will cross my fingers & toes going over bumps from now on
	() Thanks

9th April 2008, 18:00	#9
deepakhon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,441 Thanked: 65 Times	My colleague had a Dsl Octavia which had exactly the same problem. He hit a pothole on Mangalore-Bangalore road and the oil sump took the hit. Looks like these problems are not taken care of by the manufacturers. I think you should take this issue up with GM directly and see if they can help you here.
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 09:34	#11
vasudeva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,221 Thanked: 212 Times	GM is constantly advertising its 3 yr/100000 km warranty or recently `3 year service holiday'. The tag line is `only fuel costs, no other expenses'. Take up GM strongly on this commitment. A brand new Magnum should not have this problem. However, manufacturers (not only GM) can say that driver was at fault, and this is not premature defect, and hence not covered under warranty.
	() Thanks

10th April 2008, 11:03	#14
pawan_pullarwar BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pune - Now in Munich, Germany Posts: 778 Thanked: 129 Times	Team-bhp is great. My close friend was supposed to go for Magnum. I forwarded this thread to him. Now he scared
	() Thanks

15th April 2008, 12:53	#15
andrewdsouza72 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 13 Thanked: Once	Hi Guys Thanks for the wonderful feedback and empathy. Currently as usual GM is out of spare Oil sump and have used m seal to bandage it. After writing to them on their published email id, I got a dim wit answer saying that it has been caused by 'extraneous circumstances'. They have skirted the issue about the GC and why the engine guard does not cover the engine. Its a 10k fatka. Pavan, please dont dissuade your friend from buying the vehicle, its still the best and still is a blast to drive. Its just that you have to be very very careful on potholes and on un even speedbreakers.
	() Thanks