Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Big_Al on 07 July 2012, 18:55:12
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hi guys,
this saga continues but now on a new thread because it is not the oil cooler or pipes. ::) ::) ::)
So after weeks of trying to sort out what was first thought to be a passenger side cam cover leak , then oil cooler pipes after assembling the top of the engine for a fourth time I still have the leak .
I won't go into the full story as that is available on my previous "oil cooler leak" thread.
But have stripped the plenum, injector bridge & inlet bridge off & a lot oil is showing around the oil cooler plate on the drivers side .
The oil pipes & unions not leaking as the circular casting hollows in the cooler plate are oil free.
I was certain that the leak was on the passenger side of the engine but now it seems it may be on the other bank .
I changed the passenger side cam cover as the grooves that hold the gasket were very "wavy " and not holding the gasket at all well.
I was certain that the cam cover on the drivers was oil tight so did not change that one :-[ :-[ :-[ oops ! but did change the gaskets when this problem was first addressed. for some reason I did not check the V side of the cam cover in as much detail as the ends & the exhaust side . oops again :-[ :-[
Now the engine top is off again I have had a good look around that one & it looks like the long edge next to the V it is warped not sitting flat on about an inch of it's length.
I have some photos but still can't load them on this forum (PC Muppet :-[ :-[ :-[) but have e mailed a few to Amba & am waiting for his opinion.
But one photo clearly shows an area about an inch long were oil is running down the cam carrier to the v of the engine .
This has to be the leak . . . previously I had convinced myself that the drivers side cam cover was ok but obviously it's not .
So I have another cam cover & will fit that as I brought a pair but only changed the passenger side as that was where I thought the leak was .
I had lots of advice that suggested that it must be a cam cover leak & I did do the gaskets first off.
Bottom line is if it cures my problem I will be very happy , all be it I have been around the houses several times chasing this leak .
Cannot get on the car for a few days though , so will post up soon what happens ::) ::) ::)
regards, Al :y :y
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Al.
From the 1 picture you sent over it does appear to be running down the inside of the O/S Head and collecting in the V by the oil cooler plate.
As I have only 1 picture it is difficult to make an informative conclusion however I think you may have answered your own question ,as if the O/S cam cover is not making a seal with the head in a area of 1 inch or more that would seem to be pretty conclusive that that area is atleast leaking,albeit it cannot be confirmed if that is the only place however it does seemed to be looking favourite.
I can only see oil coming from 1 place and leaving evidence in that area so that would be my next point of attack.Remove the cam cover complete from the O/S and check the plastic cover with a straight edge across several faces.Good clean up ..new gasket / "0" rings and seal up the half moons and fingers crossed thats the end of the oil leak.
PM also sent . :y
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Hope you've eventually found it Al - what perseverence :o :y
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I suspect many of you may have seen this before and may well not be relevant to the wretched oil leak described in this and the previous threads but just something I experienced today. I have an oil leak, not too concerning, but enough to want it fixed because of the dripping on the drive (drive mess doesn't go down too well at home). I've replaced the cam cover seals today which I believe to be the culprit. Quite a surprise to me but 2 of the spark plug ports were full of oil (one on each bank). I replaced the plugs circa 300 miles ago and everything was dry, no oil anywhere. I'll leave it until tomorrow before starting to allow the sealant a bit of curing time. Not sure how much curing time may be required? Hope you fix your leak.
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I suspect many of you may have seen this before and may well not be relevant to the wretched oil leak described in this and the previous threads but just something I experienced today. I have an oil leak, not too concerning, but enough to want it fixed because of the dripping on the drive (drive mess doesn't go down too well at home). I've replaced the cam cover seals today which I believe to be the culprit. Quite a surprise to me but 2 of the spark plug ports were full of oil (one on each bank). I replaced the plugs circa 300 miles ago and everything was dry, no oil anywhere. I'll leave it until tomorrow before starting to allow the sealant a bit of curing time. Not sure how much curing time may be required? Hope you fix your leak.
Have you also cleaned engine breather pipes so it doesn't happen again?
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Not wishing to mess up the thread, not intended I promise, but if it was a response to my oil leak, no, I haven't but did a lot of work after changing the oil cooler. If I've missed something or you could point me in the right direction, great, I don't want it to happen again!
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Not wishing to mess up the thread, not intended I promise, but if it was a response to my oil leak, no, I haven't but did a lot of work after changing the oil cooler. If I've missed something or you could point me in the right direction, great, I don't want it to happen again!
Clean your breathers mate or it will happen again including oil in plug wells - hijacked ok ???
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i've had this before, still leaking after cam cover change , turned out the damn garage had cracked the cam cover..... tunnie came to the rescue fetching me a set from the scrappers ....
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i've had this before, still leaking after cam cover change , turned out the damn garage had cracked the cam cover..... tunnie came to the rescue fetching me a set from the scrappers ....
Think it is a warped one in this case
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Presumably someone has seriously overtightened the covers at some point Al ?
Its so easy to do as 8nm just doesnt seem tight enough to the uninitiated.
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Presumably someone has seriously overtightened the covers at some point Al ?
Its so easy to do as 8nm just doesnt seem tight enough to the uninitiated.
Guess so Albs . . . should have just changed them both instead of 1 . . 2 strip downs ago :'( :'( :'(
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Look on the bright side. You can now strip and rebuild the top of a V6 with your eyes closed. :y ;D
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Look on the bright side. You can now strip and rebuild the top of a V6 with your eyes closed. :y ;D
Oh yes . . . easy peasy now ! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I can't find anything on the site to help me re clear the breather pipes, but I don't want it to happen again. Sorry, not my thread I know but help is appreciated.
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I can't find anything on the site to help me re clear the breather pipes, but I don't want it to happen again. Sorry, not my thread I know but help is appreciated.
Here you go V6 Cleaning Crankcase Breathers (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90653.0) :y
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thanks, will look it up now, much appreciated. Cheers, again sorry to mess up the thread.
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Looks like fun!
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thanks, will look it up now, much appreciated. Cheers, again sorry to mess up the thread.
You should really start your own post mate, not keep hijacking someone elses post!! ;)
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hi guys,
please excuse my exuberence but after weeks of trying to get to the bottom of this leak it seems it is now FIXED :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
All along I was convinced that the leak was somewhere on the N/S of the engine & those of you who have followed this & the previous thread will know I have tried all the usual oil leak remedys including new GM gaskets on both covers as the first option .
I took some more pictures a few days ago of the engine in partial strip down & noticed that there seemed to be a 25mm section of the o/s cam cover that was lifted & warped & the gasket did not seem to as tight there as elsewhere along that side. :( :( :( :
That side is directly above the v of the engine & where oil was accumulating around the oil cooler plate & then making it's way down to the ground via various routes. :( :( :(
Today I changed the o/s cam cover for a known good one & it seems that was the problem all along . cannot believe I have got this far & missed that :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
After top end rebuild,firstly ran the car ,still on front ramps for 25mins & no sign of any leak or any oil showing where previously it was :y .
Dropped the car off of the ramps & before there would be a flood of oil on top of the front of the sump below the pulleys in a matter of 2/3 minutes. . . . but all clear . . no oil showing after 10 mins . :y :y
Then I switched car off & left it for half hour . . . .still nothing showing. :y :y :y
Took car for a 20 mile drive . . . on returning & checking . . all clear . . no oil . :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Car has been left standing on drive with a "Cardboard Sheet Oil Catcher" underneath . . . & still no oil :y :y :y :y :y :y
So after all this time & effort it seems like I have finally cured it . ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks goes out to all the (and it is quite a few ) Oof members who have contributed in one way or another in trying to sort this problem , but looks like with all your help I have finally got there . :y :y :y :y
Thanks, guys,
Regards, Al :y :y :y
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Nice one Al.Glad you got it sorted in the end. :y
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will we see it at next meet then..??.. :y
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Nice one Al.Glad you got it sorted in the end. :y
+ 1 :y
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will we see it at next meet then..??.. :y
Of course . . . got one coming up have you ?
Mark, if we have a bit of exchange posting tonight I may end up with a post count knighthood 8) 8) 8) 8)
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Well done.
Thank gawd for that. ;D ;D
sorry, got to laugh though. :y
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Well done mate - replied to your PM :y
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Well done.
Thank gawd for that. ;D ;D
sorry, got to laugh though. :y
Even I'm laughing tonight Jon . . . ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Think I might write a book on this little escapade, maybe it could be titled "It Came From The Outer Cam Cover " ::) ::) ::) ::)
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Good result,Al.
Perserverance was the order of the day :y :y :y