Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 12:35:05

Title: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 12:35:05
Took her to the city centre this morning, and on the way back started to smell a oily burning smell.
When I pulled up at the lights smoke is coming from under the bonnet, and the burning smell aint getting any better! :o
Pulled over on the nearest verge, popped the bonnet, and unmistakeable smell of burning oil. Limped her home hazzards on to be on the safe side.  Popped the bonnet and let her cool.

The pics were taken about half hour after I parked her up seems there oils running onto that
hot pipe, you can see the flow of oil on the

Rocker cover gasket? :question :-/

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/trooper30/11.jpg)

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/trooper30/10.jpg)
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: VXL V6 on 03 July 2007, 12:37:54
Can't see where else that would be from except the camcover gasket.
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Bo Bo on 03 July 2007, 12:41:19
Yep camcover, at least it's the drivers side  :-?
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 12:49:39
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Yep camcover, at least it's the drivers side  :-?


Is the drivers side a good thing?
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: VXL V6 on 03 July 2007, 12:52:25
Not so much to remove before you can get at it. There's the cable tray on the passenger side bank.
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Markie on 03 July 2007, 12:57:17
Quote
Quote
Yep camcover, at least it's the drivers side  :-?


Is the drivers side a good thing?

Passenger side is a barsteward, but sods low indicates if you dont to that at the same time it will go weeks later... :(
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 13:05:43
So you recon I should do both sides?
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Markie on 03 July 2007, 13:17:14
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So you recon I should do both sides?


Personally I would, its like any pair of parts as far as i am concerned, no point doing individually... :y
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 13:22:31
Yup makes sense to me! ;)
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: tunnie on 03 July 2007, 14:23:53
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So you recon I should do both sides?


Personally I would, its like any pair of parts as far as i am concerned, no point doing individually... :y

I would too, I don't have V6, but if i had one and it was leaking on one side, i would replace both. Also, please, please use genuine GM gaskets. Far better than pattern and will last much longer.

I rather nice new saying i picked up here 'Buy Cheap, buy twice'
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 14:37:25
Yup will be getting the proper GM bits I need
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: veralum on 03 July 2007, 20:00:00
I changed to metal covers, as used in vectras and saab 900 and 9000's no more leaks, seems to be apopular thing to do as you only do it once
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Owen on 03 July 2007, 20:07:25
Metal covers?? :-?
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: Markie on 03 July 2007, 20:12:49
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Metal covers?? :-?


yep v6 covers on vectras are metal and therefore are more reliable but i personally would replace like for like. Ie Genuine vx camcovers for an omega.

No offence to anyone that has changed them to vectra covers though.
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: TheBoy on 03 July 2007, 20:14:35
Yes, use GM gaskets, and change the O rings as well. Don't forget to clean the breathers.

Don't worry about changing the actual cam covers, despite popular rumours from garages who do not know how to change gaskets, they rarely warp.
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: veralum on 04 July 2007, 11:41:51
vectras and saab 900 and 9000 v6's (the same engine) use metal covers and I they generally don't leak, I was chairman of the saab enthusiast club for 3 yrs and leaking cam covers never came up, everyone I know who has owned a v6 omega has either had them done or knows some one that has. the nice thing about omegas is that all the faults are known and easy to fix but frankly I only like to fix things once. my covers were warped which I was told by a vauxhall technicain is common in older cars particularly when people have aslight leak and think if they tighten down the covers the leak goes away. the gasket design is much better on the metal ones, they don't have the rubber half moons and the gaskets are cheaper
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: TheBoy on 04 July 2007, 12:17:33
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vectras and saab 900 and 9000 v6's (the same engine) use metal covers and I they generally don't leak, I was chairman of the saab enthusiast club for 3 yrs and leaking cam covers never came up, everyone I know who has owned a v6 omega has either had them done or knows some one that has. the nice thing about omegas is that all the faults are known and easy to fix but frankly I only like to fix things once. my covers were warped which I was told by a vauxhall technicain is common in older cars particularly when people have aslight leak and think if they tighten down the covers the leak goes away. the gasket design is much better on the metal ones, they don't have the rubber half moons and the gaskets are cheaper
If the car is properly maintained, I would never expect to change them more than once.

But, should there be a pressure build up (such as blocked breathers), I would rather it blow the cam gaskets rather than, for example, crank seal....

Additionally, they are plastic covers. The plastic type is not prone to warping. I have never, ever seen a warped one, including ones which dealers claim are warped (so easy to test with a flat surface). Remember, most dealers are pretty useless.

Where the plastic ones do have an issue is the torque settings. Seeing as most garages - dealers and indies - prefer to keep their torque wrench in toolbox, most are overtightened, which will cause leaks.


But its good to have a choice, so that those who wish to fit Veccy ones can do so relatively easily :) - just keep the breather system in perfect condition.
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: VXL V6 on 04 July 2007, 12:24:11
One slight problem with fitting the Vec covers is that your oil filler neck is in less accesable place.... not a major prob though.
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: veralum on 04 July 2007, 12:29:06
yep, on the drivers side at the back, I use along neck bottle or afunnel but the car doesn't use oil between services so its not a problem
Title: Re: Oh No, Oil leak!
Post by: VXL V6 on 04 July 2007, 12:36:30
Regardless of what covers or gaskets are used (and yes it's good to have a choice), the most important thing to do (as everyone on here will agree) is to keep the breather system clean.  :)

Fix the cause of the problem not the result of the problem I was always taught.  :y