Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tOnYoYo on 13 March 2013, 20:55:06

Title: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 13 March 2013, 20:55:06
My V6 3.2 doesn't get much general use but the weekend before last I got back from Northampton and could smell burning oil.

Over the last two weeks I've kept an eye on it and there is oil leaking from around some of the rocker cover bolts on the driver side of the engine. Am I correct in assuming this is caused by pressure build-up because of blocked breather pipes?

It's one of the things on my list that needs sorting but I've hit a snag...

This weekend I need my car to get to my Auntie's funeral but the leak happens all the time now, not just when I rev it hard. I'm worried about the consequences of driving it to Northampton. Could it turn into a fireball?

I don't own much in the way of tools so if someone could help me fix this by the weekend I'd be very, very grateful!
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: RobseyMV6 on 13 March 2013, 21:07:33
For sure rocker covers need sorting but you could just clean pipes and breathers out for now will help....
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: woolley11 on 13 March 2013, 21:07:56
hi

I had this years ago. It was just a rocker cover gasket - few quid and easy fix. ;)

as for your concerns on fireballing - i wouldnt want to pass comment, although you should sort it asap  :y.

cheers   
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 13 March 2013, 21:15:22
Thanks for the input, guys.

I'm 99% sure that the rocker gaskets are ok. It's just leaking past three(?) of the bolts - one is particularly bad. If I don't clean it off every time I drive (even if it's just a short-ish trip) then it drips onto the heat shield and burns away.
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: RobseyMV6 on 13 March 2013, 21:19:04
Say you haven't the tools but, Just try a 8mm spanner all over the rocker cover bolts might just help and clean the breathers
8 NM on bolts...
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: Andy H on 13 March 2013, 22:31:54
Say you haven't the tools but, Just try a 8mm spanner all over the rocker cover bolts might just help and clean the breathers
8 NM on bolts...
Finger tight. No more.

The bolts clamp the plastic cam covers in place.

Did I mention that 8Nm is barely finger tight.......................
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 14 March 2013, 12:31:50
Can I just use some gasket sealant under the bolts? I think I still have some from when I fixed the clutch on my dirt bike - used it to seal the crankcase.

Would that just push the problem somewhere else?
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: Elite Pete on 14 March 2013, 12:43:34
Personally, if your going to do a job it's worth doing properly. I would replace the cam cover gaskets, O rings and clean the breathers at the same time. As said earlier, the bolts should only be tightened to 8nm so don't be tempted to over tighten them or you could be replacing the whole cam covers due to them warping. Your local dealer should be able to get the gaskets in for you by tomorrow morning if they haven't got them in stock now and it shuld only take a few hours to do the job ;)
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 14 March 2013, 13:25:09
Unfortunately my local dealer has closed down and I have no idea where to get all this stuff. I've looked online but the earliest delivery I can get is five days!  ???
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: Elite Pete on 14 March 2013, 13:36:25
Unfortunately my local dealer has closed down and I have no idea where to get all this stuff. I've looked online but the earliest delivery I can get is five days!  ???

You need to get it from a main dealer and not online, the none genuine stuff is terrible and won't last 5 minutes :(
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: omega3000 on 14 March 2013, 13:37:42
Finger tighten the bolts they easily come loose , but pull the breathers off and clean them all out with carb cleaner then put them back on . Quick fix till you get the O rings and rocker cover gaskets  :) Make sure you clean the pin hole breather box to the offside coolant pipe  :y

Use black goo from stealer .
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: cnj on 14 March 2013, 18:32:05
Where are you in the andover area, as you say that approach has closed, but if you can get to Basingstoke AJ Davy are Vauxhall agents on the A3400 !
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: feeutfo on 14 March 2013, 19:24:39
I'm free tomorrow if that helps?
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 14 March 2013, 19:56:47
Well that went well.  :D

I pulled the leaky bolts and put a little gasket sealant around the lip. Did them back up, nice and gentle. Fixed the oil leaking past the bolts problem...

...now it just pisses out the gasket instead!  ::)

Guess I'm just going to have to leave it to people that have a clue, and hire a car for Monday. Not sure how I'm going to go house viewing tomorrow. Sigh.
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 14 March 2013, 20:07:44
I'm free tomorrow if that helps?

It might, but I'm at work all day. Except for theoretically viewing two houses in my lunch break.
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: omega3000 on 14 March 2013, 21:10:53
If breather's are blocked it will wee out no matter how much sealant you sling on it  :P
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 15 March 2013, 08:50:35
So I noticed!  ;D
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 16 March 2013, 14:04:33
Four painful hours later and my nails are ruined.  :-\
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: henryd on 16 March 2013, 17:23:27
Four painful hours later and my nails are ruined.  :-\

Nails will grow back  :D,but have you stopped the leak?
Title: Re: Urgent help - Andover area
Post by: tOnYoYo on 16 March 2013, 18:10:55
Only time will tell. Still a bit smelly but that could be old oil burning off; I don't think there's any new oil leaking out.

We shall see... ::)