Lafesta low oil pressure warning

I hate to say it, but your symptoms sound awfully familiar. I had a similar issue with my Lafesta a while back. Low oil pressure warning and accompanying engine noise? Did you happen to check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge to confirm the low pressure, or are you just going off the warning light? What weight oil are you running?

Thanks for the reply. I haven't hooked up a mechanical gauge yet, just relying on the warning light for now. Figured that was enough of a red flag. As for oil, I'm using the standard 5W-30 stuff. Could the oil type really be the culprit here?

While the oil could contribute if it's severely degraded or the wrong viscosity, a 5W-30 is generally acceptable. The warning light combined with mechanical noises strongly suggests a genuine pressure issue, and prolonged running like that can destroy your engine bearings. Given the symptoms and your mileage, it's highly probable the oil pump is failing. I'd strongly advise against running the engine until you get it properly diagnosed. In my case, it was the oil pump, and catching it early saved me from catastrophic engine damage. Get it to a workshop, they can confirm with a gauge and check the pump.

Appreciate the advice! Took your suggestion and had it towed to my local workshop. Turns out you were spot on – the oil pump was indeed the culprit. Ended up costing me 755€ for the repair. Thankfully, caught it before any serious engine damage occurred. Thanks again for the help!