Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[dippydave]

indeed that's what i had after coming home from wrk today.

only a three mile trip as well!

thought the smell in the cabin was like burning oil. odd as timbuk did the cam gaskets a wee while ago and everything seemd tight and tickety boo!

howver, got home, popped the bonnet and found the smell to be more like burning rubber. only there was smoke coming from the o/s part of the engine. looked like from under/around the exhaust heat shield (well below the bottom cam cover for certain anyway).

any bright ideas?
/

[FRE07962128]

indeed that's what i had after coming home from wrk today.

only a three mile trip as well!

thought the smell in the cabin was like burning oil. odd as timbuk did the cam gaskets a wee while ago and everything seemd tight and tickety boo!

howver, got home, popped the bonnet and found the smell to be more like burning rubber. only there was smoke coming from the o/s part of the engine. looked like from under/around the exhaust heat shield (well below the bottom cam cover for certain anyway).

any bright ideas?
/

Two possibilities that I can readily think of :-/:

1)  Loose exhaust down pipe joint with manifold

2)  Oil dripping down from o/s cam covers due to leaking gasket; check if plug holes have oil in them, if so this, according to many Omega experts on this site is typical of a leaking cam cover gasket due to oil breathers being blocked, a weakness of the miggy. Oil could then drip down onto the hot exhaust.

When other Omega experts come on line later no doubt they will give you much further advice Dave.

Just another thought; has a piece of rubber blown up off the road / fallen off car and stuck to the red hot exhaust pipe?  Worth a check.  

[JasonH]

Sounds like leaky cam covers to me, although as lizzy said you may have picked up a plastic bag or similar which stuck to your exhaust.

[Elite Pete]

I would suspect cam cover gasket. Where the breathers cleaned at the same time as the gasket replacement?

[dippydave]

yeah. timbuk and his boy did a thorough clean of the breathers when all the cam gaskets were replaced back in march. now it's light i'm gonna check under for random plastic!

thing is it didn't really smell like the burning oil i had in february!

thanks for the other pointers tho... time to get inspecting...

[Elite Pete]

Whip a plug out and see if theres any oil in the well.

[dippydave]

the o/s is never easy to 'whip a plug out' but i'll do it

just had a butchers underneath. .. no plastic bags. just more oil than should be

can see freshish wet stuff on the funny bent pipes near the oil filter housing, and looks like its higher too. run fingers round the cam cover and seems dry.... just my luck if it's a leak right at the back!

this isn't normal only 10weeks and 2400 miles since replacement/cleaning tho is it?

[Elite Pete]

Passenger side is Near Side

[fredthedog]

I had a similar problem with my 2.5, spoke to pox hall, apparently the later models have thicker seals to cure this known problem. However my leak from the cam covers seems to have been caused by the pattern part set supplying the thinner earlier type!!!

Easier way to see if the covers are leaking (if pulling a plug lead is difficult is to wipe around the heads at the join with the cam covers and see what oil there is (I cleaned mine then had a test run....)  
Then re wipe later, if you can feel the oil, you almost certainly have leaky cam cover gaskets!!!

Ooodles of smoke is scary, I was stopping at traffic lights etc and loads of smelly smoke emitted from the engine bay!!!

BTW if you change the cam cover gaskets remember to use some sealant at the front and back!!!

good luck

N

[VXL V6]

I had a similar problem with my 2.5, spoke to pox hall, apparently the later models have thicker seals to cure this known problem. However my leak from the cam covers seems to have been caused by the pattern part set supplying the thinner earlier type!!!

Easier way to see if the covers are leaking (if pulling a plug lead is difficult is to wipe around the heads at the join with the cam covers and see what oil there is (I cleaned mine then had a test run....)  
Then re wipe later, if you can feel the oil, you almost certainly have leaky cam cover gaskets!!!

Ooodles of smoke is scary, I was stopping at traffic lights etc and loads of smelly smoke emitted from the engine bay!!!

BTW if you change the cam cover gaskets remember to use some sealant at the front and back!!!

good luck

N

Another example of stealers making up a pack of lies!
Different seals only exist on the Vectra and Saturn versions (ie those with metal cam covers) of the V6

[dippydave]

Passenger side is Near Side

woops.  my bad. it's definitely the passenger  side. lol.

and the worrying thing is we did use plenty of the right sealant in the right places with a proper Vx set of o rings and gaskets  :-/

got to get to work now, but will get hands dirty tomorrow! gonna try that wipe thing at least!

[Pete Elite]

  Hi Dave,
             If it's not the oil that's burning and you say it smells more like rubber, have you checked to see if any pipes have fell onto something hot .

[amba]

Hi Dave..your possible problem would also now seem to be mine.
Last week I replaced the cam cover gaskets /o rings and sealant after my camshaft upgrade.I used genuine GM parts and was almost clinical in how the work was done,all sealed corrcetly,all breathers cleaned and thoroughly checked.
I have since driven over 800 miles and have today had the nasty smell of burning oil.Upon checking I have the telltale traces of oil laying on the top ridge of the sump and on closer inspection seem to have a minute leak on drivers side at the back left corner which is dripping onto the manifold.
It seems almost pot luck if these really ever seal after a replacement,so like you I will be pulling them all apart again,trouble is I dont think I could have done a better job than I did last time so does anybody think GM have changed the gasket pattern slightly or is it just wishfull thinking.
Would it be of any benefit if I aplied the black sealant all along the gaskets as then the compression of the cover would surely seal properly and just cut away the excess.
Best of luck with yours,Dave,trouble is it starts getting expensive and  very time consuming.

[dippydave]

 

i got me an you guys an update and it's a case of a little good, some not-so-bad and lots of bad news really.

Good news is, no pipes are burning or split or anything. Not-so-bad news is there's precious little oil in the plug wells.  

bad news is, the beast has been drinking coolant and dripping some oil. The oil's coming out from the right side camcover gasket and both burning off by the exhaust and dripping down the engine

Went to a mechanic today and within seconds said " that smell is burning oil........it's coming from the rocker gasket.....there might be steam coming from the front of the engine.......might be water pump, maybe head gasket."

took off filler cap, oodles of mayo. and with engine running, steam too!

visual and verbal verdict.
head gasket gone on right hand side. maybe not on other. waaaah!
excess pressure from water in the cylinders causing oil to force out through newish rocker gasket and bad running (ie not all cylinders starting up straightaway.) i confirmed that it has been a bit lumpy sometimes!

havent had time to price up/investigate head gasket costs but is it even worth it on an 85k 9 year old motor?!

ho hum. best not drive it any more eh?!

[psychnurse]

? oil cooler... there is a flow chart here somewhere to do a selfdiagnostic orry Im not much help.

[HerefordElite]

? oil cooler... there is a flow chart here somewhere to do a selfdiagnostic orry Im not much help.

here http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1209123016/0#0
best of luck

[psychnurse]

? oil cooler... there is a flow chart here somewhere to do a selfdiagnostic orry Im not much help.

here http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1209123016/0#0
best of luck

  Thats the one! Thanks Hereford.

[Darth Loo-knee]

i got me an you guys an update and it's a case of a little good, some not-so-bad and lots of bad news really.

Good news is, no pipes are burning or split or anything. Not-so-bad news is there's precious little oil in the plug wells.  

bad news is, the beast has been drinking coolant and dripping some oil. The oil's coming out from the right side camcover gasket and both burning off by the exhaust and dripping down the engine

Went to a mechanic today and within seconds said " that smell is burning oil........it's coming from the rocker gasket.....there might be steam coming from the front of the engine.......might be water pump, maybe head gasket."

took off filler cap, oodles of mayo. and with engine running, steam too!

visual and verbal verdict.
head gasket gone on right hand side. maybe not on other. waaaah!
excess pressure from water in the cylinders causing oil to force out through newish rocker gasket and bad running (ie not all cylinders starting up straightaway.) i confirmed that it has been a bit lumpy sometimes!

havent had time to price up/investigate head gasket costs but is it even worth it on an 85k 9 year old motor?!

ho hum. best not drive it any more eh?!

Hold on before thinking the head gasket has gone........
So you have a coolant leak... Is the HBV leaking? Is the reservoir cap leaking? Do you have oil in the water reservoir, looks like brown sludge?
Is there steam coming from the front of then engine?  

Is there water in the oil when you pull the dipstick?
Mayo is normal on the Oil Filler cap when the car is doing short journeys.

[dippydave]

? oil cooler... there is a flow chart here somewhere to do a selfdiagnostic orry Im not much help.

i'd like to try the selfdiagnostic.. but the oil cooler and hbv were done only last year....

[psychnurse]

? oil cooler... there is a flow chart here somewhere to do a selfdiagnostic orry Im not much help.

i'd like to try the selfdiagnostic.. but the oil cooler and hbv were done only last year....

Try the flow chart in the link above a few posts back. Just see what it reckons. Then let u know how you got on with it.

[dippydave]

i got me an you guys an update and it's a case of a little good, some not-so-bad and lots of bad news really.

Good news is, no pipes are burning or split or anything. Not-so-bad news is there's precious little oil in the plug wells.  

bad news is, the beast has been drinking coolant and dripping some oil. The oil's coming out from the right side camcover gasket and both burning off by the exhaust and dripping down the engine

Went to a mechanic today and within seconds said " that smell is burning oil........it's coming from the rocker gasket.....there might be steam coming from the front of the engine.......might be water pump, maybe head gasket."

took off filler cap, oodles of mayo. and with engine running, steam too!

visual and verbal verdict.
head gasket gone on right hand side. maybe not on other. waaaah!
excess pressure from water in the cylinders causing oil to force out through newish rocker gasket and bad running (ie not all cylinders starting up straightaway.) i confirmed that it has been a bit lumpy sometimes!

havent had time to price up/investigate head gasket costs but is it even worth it on an 85k 9 year old motor?!

ho hum. best not drive it any more eh?!

Hold on before thinking the head gasket has gone........
So you have a coolant leak... Is the HBV leaking? Is the reservoir cap leaking? Do you have oil in the water reservoir, looks like brown sludge?
Is there steam coming from the front of then engine?  

Is there water in the oil when you pull the dipstick?
Mayo is normal on the Oil Filler cap when the car is doing short journeys.

thanks for the link, i'll try reading it in a min. but yeah fyi the hbv was replaced and doesnt look damp again, the cap's sound, there's no oil in the water (like before the oil cooler was done), there is steam coming from the oil cap when it's opened but not sure about any from the front - would that be the water pump? the oil looks maybe ok, maybe slightly thin on the dipstick - its hard to tell as i've had to top it up recently!
i know mayo is normal on short journeys, and i do alot of them! but i got lots of the stuff now and everything else points to the HG.. i think

[dippydave]

gonna get me snifter round the header tank tomorrow and let you know if i smell fumes !!

anyone know how long or how much a HG fix is anyway?!

[SmiffyMan]

I have excactly this problem But lets not forget taht even after repalcing the gaskets and O rings, the chances are that previous owners may have over-tightened the rocker cover bolts and caused them to distort - especially under extreme heat. No matter how methodical you are with torque settings, using genuine gaskets etc.... if the cover is warped you stand no chance. Bloody stupid making them out of plastic anyway!!

[dippydave]

any idea how to check if they're warped?? an how much did it  cost you to sort the hg prob?

[trebor]

Doing the job myself cost me £200 inc new water pump and top radiator hose and a few extra tools.

[ianboyo]

i would check the can covers again might not of seated properly when assembled back together

[dippydave]

ho hum.

well i don't really know what exhaust fumes should smell like in a header tank but both when cold and warm the tank smelled of petrol i think. the mayo on the filler cap and all in the filler pipe is tan coloured. the flow chart isn't working at the moment thanks to ROlex invasion of the site!

i've been suggested best part of a grand for replacing both head gaskets as "it's silly to only do one, and of course the heads need skimming"

hmmm.....  

so..... how do you check that the cam covers are straight.
anybody fancy lending me the tools to butcher fix the problem

or any other advice?

like sell it?!!

[Budgie]

I have excactly this problem But lets not forget taht even after repalcing the gaskets and O rings, the chances are that previous owners may have over-tightened the rocker cover bolts and caused them to distort - especially under extreme heat. No matter how methodical you are with torque settings, using genuine gaskets etc.... if the cover is warped you stand no chance. Bloody stupid making them out of plastic anyway!!

I'm no expert but the warped cam cover theory concurs with what my local VX dealer has told me.
My cam cover gaskets were changed  a couple of months ago by the previous owner of my car and the O/S cover still leaks.
I have been quoted circa £330 to replace both covers and gaskets.  
However in the meantime I continue to enjoy the smell of burnt oil for a short time after completing my journey.

[shyboy]

I would be very sceptical about reports that the cam covers are warped. Surely metal is more likely to suffer the permanent stretching that would be necessary to cause this.
Much more likely that torque values of cam cover bolts, (8nm), has not been meticulously or consistently observed.

[Budgie]

I would be very sceptical about reports that the cam covers are warped. Surely metal is more likely to suffer the permanent stretching that would be necessary to cause this.
Much more likely that torque values of cam cover bolts, (8nm), has not been meticulously or consistently observed.

Good point - however the cam covers in question I believe are manufactured from a composite material rather like modern car radiators and other heat resistant parts. The warping ability would be based on the material's threshold of elasticty - i.e. the point from which there is no return. :-/
Anyhoo I agree - they should have used a more suitable material in the first place.  

[jonathanh]

ho hum.

well i don't really know what exhaust fumes should smell like in a header tank but both when cold and warm the tank smelled of petrol i think. the mayo on the filler cap and all in the filler pipe is tan coloured. the flow chart isn't working at the moment thanks to ROlex invasion of the site!

i've been suggested best part of a grand for replacing both head gaskets as "it's silly to only do one, and of course the heads need skimming"

hmmm.....  

so..... how do you check that the cam covers are straight.
anybody fancy lending me the tools to butcher fix the problem

or any other advice?

like sell it?!!

I'm far from an expert here but if you want me to have a nosey - let me know.

It seems like you have two problems: oil leak and potential HG failure althought this could be a water pump issue as per earlier post.

I've got a cam locking kit knocking around if you intend to have a go yourself.  If not and you are thinking of selling/scapping, let me know via pm

[dippydave]

any offers to do the job? i'd love to say help me, but i can't. it'd be more like i help you!!

indeed it's looking at hg, water pump and other possibles to be fixed!

i'm done driving round in a Corsa.....