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[Popoff]

Hi All,

I have not long bought a 2000 X reg facelift model 2.5v6 cdx. I have had it about 8 weeks now and when I bought it I was told it had a slight leak from the rocker gasket. I accepted this and planned to get it sorted once I had a few spare pennies as it really wasnt serious however I had noticed small spots of oil on my drive and assumed it was from this. Saturday i noticed it seemed a bit worse so calledthe AA out. Thats another story but lets say that I have just taken it to 2 garages who have said it seems to be the camshaft/crankshaft seal leaking.

My question is now how serious is this and what cost am I looking at etc?

I know pretty much sod all about cars hence I took out the AA parts and labour cover only to find that as the car is still drivable ( the aa patrol man didnt say it was crankshaft seal) they wont pay the claim.

[amba]

The camshaft seals are at the front top end of the camcovers and would be very accessable when you remove the camcovers assuming they are also leaking.

The crankshaft oil seal is at the bottom of the engine behind the larger of the several pulleys.

Would be quite surprised if they were both leaking,but not unheard of though.

Reason I make comment is they are at different positions on the engine and seems strange why both garages have said they both are faulty.My advise would be to get somebody with knowledge of Omegas to have a closer look before you start replacing bits at the advise of "Garages"

[Popoff]

Ahhh thats my mistake. Its the crankshaft seal that I have been told is leaking at the bottom behind pully. I couldnt recall which is was hence me putting both on title ( now edited).

So now its the crankshaft seal and bear in mind I know nowt about cars can anyone advise me on the  seriousness of this issue and the likelly costs involved in fixing?

I am due to drive to devon in 3 weeks in this car for my family holiday. Is this in need of repair NOW or could it wait?

If I dont fix asap what could be the problems etc?

[Kevin Wood]

Sounds to me like they are guessing.

At the end of the day, to identify the leak positively would require the engine to be degreased and then checked again before oil has gone all over the place.

By far the most common leak from an Omega is from the cam cover gaskets, and normally because the breathers have blocked.

Cranks and cam oil seal leaks are not unknown, but far less common.

I would change the cam cover gaskets, clean out the breathers and see how it goes.

When it's time for a cam belt change, the other seals can be seen relatively easily and checked for leaks.

[Kevin Wood]

I am due to drive to devon in 3 weeks in this car for my family holiday. Is this in need of repair NOW or could it wait?

If I dont fix asap what could be the problems etc?

If the cam cover gaskets are leaking and filling the plug wells with oil this could cause you a problem as eventually you will get a misfire.

Crank seal, other than the mess and the need to keep the oil topped up, wouldn't concern me. They rarely get bad enough to render you immobile.

At the minimum, I would suggest cleaning the breathers and checking the spark plug wells for oil before departing.

[Darth Loo-knee]

I would assume your garage is guessing such seal as they won't be able to see with the cambelt cover on. Although sometimes Its difficult to see which when the cover is off.
Make sure they use a crank lock if they go ahead with that job though.

[Popoff]

I am due to drive to devon in 3 weeks in this car for my family holiday. Is this in need of repair NOW or could it wait?

If I dont fix asap what could be the problems etc?

If the cam cover gaskets are leaking and filling the plug wells with oil this could cause you a problem as eventually you will get a misfire.

Crank seal, other than the mess and the need to keep the oil topped up, wouldn't concern me. They rarely get bad enough to render you immobile.

At the minimum, I would suggest cleaning the breathers and checking the spark plug wells for oil before departing.

Now that is what I call a ruddy good reply, Thankyou!!

So bear in mind I am a n00b with cars altogether would you say if I remove a spak plug and see if the well is fillled with oil this will tell me anything and assist in solving the issue?


Just for info what would you say were the "going rates" for fixing of both?

i.e cam seal or crank seal?

I assume the timing belt is a huge chunk being a v6? well so  everyone seems to suggest as they shake their head and suck in air lol.

Also any recommended garages/mechanics in the B64 area of the midlands you know of or use the forum? Rather have someone who knows about the cars etc.

[Popoff]

oops sorry didnt see you had said check the ruddy plug wells lol sorry

[Darth Loo-knee]

No need to remove the spark plugs, just pull off a lead and look down into the hole 

Cost depends where you go really. If your Cambelt is due a change that would be the ideal time to change which ever seal needs replacing, as cambelt needs removing to do them.
Hope that makes sense
Daz 

[Popoff]

No need to remove the spark plugs, just pull off a lead and look down into the hole 

Cost depends where you go really. If your Cambelt is due a change that would be the ideal time to change which ever seal needs replacing, as cambelt needs removing to do them.
Hope that makes sense
Daz 

Ok I have just pulled off the three leads on the left side ( number 5, 3, 1 i think it was?)

number 1, and 3 filled with oil but 5 (the back one) dry.

Couldnt get to other side 

so diagnosis? money pit?

ar drives ok at moment, starts first time every time and is pretty quick but for how long??? 

[Kevin Wood]

Ok I have just pulled off the three leads on the left side ( number 5, 3, 1 i think it was?)

number 1, and 3 filled with oil but 5 (the back one) dry.

Couldnt get to other side 

so diagnosis? money pit?

ar drives ok at moment, starts first time every time and is pretty quick but for how long??? 

Not a disaster, just needs the cam cover gaskets doing (and before you embark on a long trip, I'm afraid. Eventually the oil seeps through the spark plug leads and you're in trouble.).

Genuine GM cam cover gaskets only (we've never found a pattern part that works). Complete set is about £50 on trade club.

Make sure the breathers are cleaned and the plug wells drained, leads cleaned up, etc at the same time.

[joff]

Do you know when the cam belt was done last is it close to 4 years or 40K which ever comes first. Daz who you have had reply's from on here is a very good engineer and not to far from you, he is 100% top chap for the omega and does not rip you off, from what you have said you are going to need the cam covers seals doing with a breathers clean out and you may just find you do not have any other seal that needs doing ask daz for a price it will be a lot less than any garage.

[Popoff]

and would these cause oil to run down to the bottom of the car as well as fill the plug wells?

Ok £50 for parts aint too bad but is this a big job as the garages I have called have said. A few wont even take it on lol but no prices as yet.

any idea of rough guide price for the midlands area for this and ideally a recomendation of someone who could do it?

[TheBoy]

I'd be inclined to get the cam covers done ASAP.

If you don't feel up to it yourself, PM Darth Loo-knee who replied above for a quote - he does a lot of work on Omegas, and isn't too far from you (if my geography is OK )

[TheBoy]

Its not a job I would entrust to a garage who had never done them before.  Their incompitence will show