Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Andy A on 18 April 2014, 13:44:06

Title: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Andy A on 18 April 2014, 13:44:06
A friend looked at the oil cap on my Omega when I was checking the oil level this morning and he said I might have a head gasket problem because my oil filler cap was bone dry. The oil level was fine.

Is this true about a dry oil cap and could I have a head gasket blown or is this normal?
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: tigers_gonads on 18 April 2014, 13:56:56
Sounds like 'dangle berries' to me  ;D
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: 05omegav6 on 18 April 2014, 14:00:26
New one on me...

What oil do you use? The amount of condensation formed varies from oil to oil and also with type and amount of use the car gets. ie Castrol magnatec produces alot of cap mayo, whereas GM oil doesn't, lots of short journeys from cold will produce alot of mayo, long runs less so.

I would have thought head gasket failure would cause the oil level to rise, and also produce alot more condensation and therefore mayo, not to mention coolant loss :-\
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: The Red Baron on 18 April 2014, 14:04:33
Sounds like 'dangle berries' to me  ;D
Agree ^^ Dangley doo dars. lol.  ;)
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: dbug on 18 April 2014, 19:23:29
Thats complete bollux mate - suggest you find some new "friends" ???
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Andy B on 18 April 2014, 19:30:17
... - suggest you find some new "friends" ???

or at least more knowledgeable friends  :y :y
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Andy A on 18 April 2014, 19:49:14
I know what you mean. I had to ask because he was so serious about it. Don't know where he got it from. I will make a point to ask him next time.

I don't know wkat oil is in the car. I only bought it 2-3 weeks ago.

Thanks all.  :y
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: ffcgary1 on 18 April 2014, 21:00:47
Do an oil change and filer then put in gm oil, that way you will know for topping up every now and then.
No need to use expensive other brands, gm is a very decent quality and cheap compared to others.
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: chrisgixer on 19 April 2014, 03:26:24
The oil filler cap should have oil on the inner face though, no? Splashed up by the cams or at leat some oil vapour.

Unless it's driven everywhere at tick over rpm....? Or there's an oil flow issue in the head. Or there's a guard to keep the oil off. (I've never had a four pot :-\ )
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Andy A on 19 April 2014, 09:00:00
OK on the GM oil. Got some the other day and a new filter and oil change is on the list.  :y

If I look down in, there is no guard, I can see the cams. The car has been off the road for the past 2-3 weeks until I complete the work. So I have not driven it since I bought it.

Prior to that the man who had it before me used it every day to and from work mainly on the motorway He's not a slow driver for what I've been told.

I must admit when I test drove it a week before buying it I noticed the cap being bone dry and mentioned it to the other half that I've never seen an oil cap that dry before. not a single drop of oil on it. I checked the oil and it was up to the max level. I thought at the time at least there isn't any sludge on it.

Hope it's not an oil flow issue in the head.  :(
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: martin42 on 19 April 2014, 09:07:44
It might be worth removing the sump and cleaning the oil strainer before doing an oil change,even for a peace of mind,as you might see by some recent threads some engines have blown up due to it being blocked  :y
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Andy A on 19 April 2014, 15:03:01
How hard is it to take the sump off a 2.2 petrol, manual, 2003 Z22XE?

Will I need a new gasket?

Will I need to use some instant gasket sealer?
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Grrrrrr on 22 April 2014, 22:04:03
If he's just bought it and the car hasn't been used maybe the previous owner removed the crud from the cap so he didn't think the gasket had blown?
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Grrrrrr on 22 April 2014, 22:05:13
And yes, new gasket good idea if you're taking the sump off.
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: Andy A on 08 May 2014, 20:19:20
Just an update.

Looked at the oil cap today and it is wet with oil as it should be. The previous owner must have wiped it dry. Time will tell if why he wiped it off is anything to worry about.

Thanks all for your advice and help.  :y
Title: Re: Dry oil cap question
Post by: tunnie on 09 May 2014, 09:10:38
As above, a dry oil cap and link to HG is a load of crap, at least with the Omega it is.

Sign it's had a good run and there is little moisture crank case  :)