Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 16:29:36

Title: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 16:29:36
Hi, i have just bought a 2.5v6 omega with an oil leek off a mate of mine. The car runs fine with no problems apart from the 5 ltrs of oil a week it needs. My mate took it to a garage who said it was the head gasket. I'm not totaly convinced that it is that and was wondering if anybody knew of any "common" problems with oil leaks before i strip the head. It appears to be leaking from the left hand side of the engine as there are deposits of oil all over drivers front wheel and none on passengers.  i just dont want to spend the time stripping it down to find out that it could have been fixed easiler and quicker. any help on this matter would be most grateful
Regards
tom
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: serek on 16 May 2008, 16:34:07
put more detalis on your profil is easier for help, and also you sure is not cam covers leak?
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: FRE07962128 on 16 May 2008, 16:38:22
Quote
Hi, i have just bought a 2.5v6 omega with an oil leek off a mate of mine. The car runs fine with no problems apart from the 5 ltrs of oil a week it needs. My mate took it to a garage who said it was the head gasket. I'm not totaly convinced that it is that and was wondering if anybody knew of any "common" problems with oil leaks before i strip the head. It appears to be leaking from the left hand side of the engine as there are deposits of oil all over drivers front wheel and none on passengers.  i just dont want to spend the time stripping it down to find out that it could have been fixed easiler and quicker. any help on this matter would be most grateful
Regards
tom

5 ltrs!...that must be pouring out somewhere and should be quite noticable with the engine running.  I would have the car up on ramps / stands and inspect thoroughly to find leak(s). :y
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 16:44:49
I have had it up on ramps and there is no obvious leak. It is pouring out everywhere and had attacked the alternater aswell. everything is caked in oil and isnt very pleasant when stopped at traffic lights and smoke is pouring out of the bonnet. ive checked the filler cap and no signs of water in oil so could it be head gasket?
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: FRE07962128 on 16 May 2008, 16:52:35
Others on this site more skilled with Omega's will no doubt shortly be giving you quality advice, but one thing's for sure do not use the car with so much oil flowing around.

Risk of fire is very great,especially with the alternator getting covered, let alone massive damage to components and the engine itself.  The plugs to start with must be getting absolutely soaked and are in real danger of failure! In addition the heavy loss of oil could starve vital moving parts i.e. pistons of adequate oil / pressure and cause catostrophic failure.  :'( :'(

If it is the head gasket oil should be visable coming away from that side of the engine.  
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: Mike Collins on 16 May 2008, 16:57:08
Driver's side cam cover? You'll need to clean the engine, but not steam or pressure, it should then be easier to see where it's leaking.
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: mike213735 on 16 May 2008, 16:59:04
Surely, if the plugs / leads are drowning in oil, doesn't that point to the age old Omega fault, Cam Cover Gaskets?

Thanks
Mike
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 16:59:14
There is no visable sign of oil coming from the head gasket. the engine doesnt seem to be burning oil just leaking the stuff
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 May 2008, 17:09:05
Is there any oil in the plug wells? Sure sign of cam cover gaskets if so.

Also, check the pipes that run up to the oil cooler in the valley of the engine, from down by the oil filter.

Kevin
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: mondo76 on 16 May 2008, 17:10:28
oil on rockerbox?
clean engine then look
                                 good luck  ;)  
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: FRE07962128 on 16 May 2008, 17:16:58
Quote
There is no visable sign of oil coming from the head gasket. the engine doesnt seem to be burning oil just leaking the stuff

If this is the case Thomas then it still must be 'flowing' from somewhere...ie as others have suggested cam cover gaskets :-/


To repeat 5 ltrs of oil leaking over just one week must be visable from a particular location on the engine if it is not burning oil as you state. :-?
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: dbug on 16 May 2008, 17:30:46
Cam Cover
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: hotel21 on 16 May 2008, 17:38:30
Clean all the oil deposits from the engine as a first step as only then will you really be able to source down the leak.

If its a true 5 litres per week, it should be easy to spot!

I would strongly suggest the cam cover gasket.  Check the howtoo area and there is a step by step method on how to do it.

Its doubtfull in the extreme if it is the head gasket at fault.  If it were burning 5 litres per week the car would leave a smokescreen behind it of a sufficient size to hide a small destroyer fleet....
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: HGV mechanic on 16 May 2008, 17:40:13
if you can get ur hands on a steam cleaner then do so, or a presure washer is the next best thing, give it a good wash, being careful of the ignition side of things i.e dis pack, then let it tick over and watch for leaks, as others have sugested look around the side and vally of the block - (oil cooler pipes)
pull a HT lead out  and look in wells-(cam cover)
and check around the front and back of block -(crank seals)

best of luck :y

at least you dont have to worry about rust  ;D
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: jules on 16 May 2008, 17:41:04
Quote
Its doubtfull in the extreme if it is the head gasket at fault.  If it were burning 5 litres per week the car would leave a smokescreen behind it of a sufficient size to hide a small destroyer fleet....

Sigged, thanx
 ;)
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: FRE07962128 on 16 May 2008, 17:42:27
Quote
if you can get ur hands on a steam cleaner then do so, or a presure washer is the next best thing, give it a good wash, being careful of the ignition side of things i.e dis pack, then let it tick over and watch for leaks, as others have sugested look around the side and vally of the block - (oil cooler pipes)
pull a HT lead out  and look in wells-(cam cover)
and check around the front and back of block -(crank seals)

best of luck :y

at least you dont have to worry about rust  ;D

No, just fire! :'( :'(
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: HGV mechanic on 16 May 2008, 17:45:12
Quote
Quote
if you can get ur hands on a steam cleaner then do so, or a presure washer is the next best thing, give it a good wash, being careful of the ignition side of things i.e dis pack, then let it tick over and watch for leaks, as others have sugested look around the side and vally of the block - (oil cooler pipes)
pull a HT lead out  and look in wells-(cam cover)
and check around the front and back of block -(crank seals)

best of luck :y

at least you dont have to worry about rust  ;D

No, just fire! :'( :'(

 ::)
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: FRE07962128 on 16 May 2008, 17:47:33
Quote
Quote
Quote
if you can get ur hands on a steam cleaner then do so, or a presure washer is the next best thing, give it a good wash, being careful of the ignition side of things i.e dis pack, then let it tick over and watch for leaks, as others have sugested look around the side and vally of the block - (oil cooler pipes)
pull a HT lead out  and look in wells-(cam cover)
and check around the front and back of block -(crank seals)

best of luck :y

at least you dont have to worry about rust  ;D

No, just fire! :'( :'(

 ::)

The song "Rocket Man" comes to mind with all that combustable oil!
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 18:06:47
thanks for all your help and advice. i had had a quick look at the rocker gaskets but couldnt see any signs but i willhave a closer look.
also some one mention the oil pipes from oil cooler. upon starting the car, the wirling coming from the oil cooler seems to be louder and longer then i have heard on others, any ideas?
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: hotel21 on 16 May 2008, 18:14:17
Quote
the wirling coming from the oil cooler seems to be louder and longer then i have heard on others

?   Really need some more info to expand on this.  Remember the oil cooler on these engines is located deep within the V of the block, not to the front beside the water radiator as most other cars.  The 'wirling' may well be the secondary air injection fan on startup, anothr common fault.  Noise should stop after 30 seconds or so....

Is there oil in the plug lead wells?

Is oil visible running down the side of the engine?
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 18:24:04
no visable oil running down the engine and i havnt het had the ht leads out. the wirl i refered to you say is the air injectors, shows how much my local garage know they told me it was oil cooler. the only sign of oil is at the front of the engine
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: hotel21 on 16 May 2008, 18:26:53
Remove the easy accesable HT leads and check for oil on them.  If they are wet or you can see oil down the plug wells, safe bet thats the culprit....
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: HGV mechanic on 16 May 2008, 18:27:12
Quote
no visable oil running down the engine and i havnt het had the ht leads out. the wirl i refered to you say is the air injectors, shows how much my local garage know they told me it was oil cooler. the only sign of oil is at the front of the engine
crank seal ?? sump gasket??
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 18:33:16
crank seal, where will i find that?
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: bobbertbear on 16 May 2008, 18:35:46
i had the same thing on her indoors elite,it was the head gasket but on the passenger side bank,just leaking a bit but had to put about 2 liters of oil in a week. >:(
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: hotel21 on 16 May 2008, 18:36:34
why not check the easy obvious common failures first, ie rocker gaskets, so they can be eliminated?

Crankshaft pulley is down the bottom of the engine, front, between radiators and the block.  
Title: My oil leak solved thanks to guys!!!!
Post by: thomascdx24v on 16 May 2008, 18:41:00
U have just pulled out the HT leads and the wells were full to the brim with oil, im surprised the car was running!!!!!!
Title: Re: My oil leak!!!! grrrrrrrr
Post by: hotel21 on 16 May 2008, 18:45:32
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152564281

Above shows how to change the gaskets (use gen VX not from a factors or e-bay) whilst the bottom link shows what else to do when you are in there to ensure that the engine is breathing correctly...

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152598350

 :y