Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Skanky on 29 June 2007, 18:06:48

Title: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!!
Post by: Skanky on 29 June 2007, 18:06:48
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Martin_1962 on 29 June 2007, 18:48:22
crank seals - both, sump gasket,
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Dazzler on 29 June 2007, 21:05:01
Camshaft front seals, Gearbox..
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Matchless on 29 June 2007, 21:29:22
Get some gunk or jizer or traffic film remover(used strong), jack the car up then spray all around under engine etc etc, work it in with a washing-up brush then hose off using a strong jet. Once it is dry you should be able to localise the leak.
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 02 July 2007, 12:24:25
just had a good look with a flashlight, seems to be alot of oil on top of the oil sump.( the lip part where you can see the end of the bolts  that hold on the sump)
 
any idea's?

Tim
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markjay on 02 July 2007, 12:47:39
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markjay on 02 July 2007, 12:48:51
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....

...and obviously the infamous oil cooler (leaking into the coolant)....

Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markie on 02 July 2007, 13:06:41
Quote
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....

...and obviously the infamous oil cooler (leaking into the coolant)....


Is this an issue with V6 vauxhalls  :o  ;)
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 02 July 2007, 13:06:49
Quote
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....

...and obviously the infamous oil cooler (leaking into the coolant)....




Na its not the cooler , just done the cam covers had had a good look then  ;)
and there no oil in the coolant
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 02 July 2007, 13:11:42
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....


Hmmmmmm :-? oil pressure switch ?? where abouts is that ?
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markjay on 02 July 2007, 13:20:04
Quote
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....


Hmmmmmm :-? oil pressure switch ?? where abouts is that ?

(http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4613/5e1bes0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)


Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markjay on 02 July 2007, 13:22:24
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....

...and obviously the infamous oil cooler (leaking into the coolant)....


Is this an issue with V6 vauxhalls  :o  ;)

Naaah....  ;D
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 02 July 2007, 16:06:35
Cheers Markie  8-) !
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: The Cambelt Kid on 02 July 2007, 16:11:10
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....


Hmmmmmm :-? oil pressure switch ?? where abouts is that ?

(http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4613/5e1bes0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)



MarkJay - That's a good picture... any chance we (me) could see the bigger one??? Plllllllllllease?  :-*
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 02 July 2007, 20:18:43
right !

cleaned all the sh1t from the bottom of the engine, left it running for 15 mins, will check tomorrow for any evidence !
Did notice the that there was an oval hole that looks like it should have a plug, looks like part of the transmission.
the hole is approx 2 inch wide by 3 inch high. its near the x member at the rear middle of the engine.

Though the hole you can see what looks like a metal disc. I'll see it i can get a pic

Tim
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 03 July 2007, 20:53:46
just spent another 2 hrs under it, this is doing my sweede in  >:(

time to take it to a garage ? :-[
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markjay on 03 July 2007, 23:36:56
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
My way of trying to find the leak on my 2.5 v6 ! ;D

I'll start !!

Cam covers ( changed and checked)
Oil filter ( changed and checked)
Drain plug ( checked )


Ive spilt a large box and put it under the engine, so fingers crossed it will give some clue.

tim


...oil pressure switch washer....


Hmmmmmm :-? oil pressure switch ?? where abouts is that ?

(http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4613/5e1bes0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)



MarkJay - That's a good picture... any chance we (me) could see the bigger one??? Plllllllllllease?  :-*


Not sure what you are after exactly, I have a collection of pictures stolen downloaded from the Internet, if you are looking for anything in particular let me know....

Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Markjay on 03 July 2007, 23:40:00
Quote
just spent another 2 hrs under it, this is doing my sweede in  >:(

time to take it to a garage ? :-[

Keep looking.... the garage will not find what you didn't find.... the advantage a garage might have is that they know where to look, but the info on this site far accedes the knowledge your local Vx garage posses...

Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 04 July 2007, 12:21:40
Mark,

if you could post some pictures of some of the places where leaks are known to come from that would be great. Think the biggest problem is that its been leaking for some time, whay before i have had the car , so the engine is covered in it.

Thanks again

Tim
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: TheBoy on 04 July 2007, 12:28:13
Quote
Mark,

if you could post some pictures of some of the places where leaks are known to come from that would be great. Think the biggest problem is that its been leaking for some time, whay before i have had the car , so the engine is covered in it.

Thanks again

Tim
Clean the engine up, makes finding the leak easier ;)
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 04 July 2007, 20:46:02
some pics i have taken, any help really appreciated!!

These were taken after cleaning off all oil from the engine area's that I suspected. I then run the engine for about 20 mins, without moving the car. Left it and returned a few hours later.

This is the engine/gearbox area.

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x257/t1mjohnson/?action=view&current=gearbox.jpg

And this is the sump/ aircon where I first noticed the leak. The top lip is coated in oil.

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x257/t1mjohnson/?action=view&current=sumparea.jpg


Could the leak be from the back of the engine and move forward ?
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: TheBoy on 04 July 2007, 20:49:31
First pic makes me suspicious of oil filter or the oil pipes nearby, though it could be coming from higher, ie cam gaskets...
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 July 2007, 01:36:45
oil on sump lip?

1) pressure switch
2) Crank seal
3) Oil pump gasket.

Speaking from experience  ::)
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 12:07:44
well heres hoping its the pressure switch washer !!
if its the oil pump or crank seal  then she's being sold !
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 July 2007, 12:16:49
Quote
well heres hoping its the pressure switch washer !!
if its the oil pump or crank seal  then she's being sold !

Crank seal is easy peasy, with the right crankshaft locking tool  ::)  ;D
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 05 July 2007, 12:20:04
Upper sump pan to block seal comes before oil pump gasket.

Has it had an oil cooler change because the oil around the back looks like it could be coming from the oil cooler to block joints.....which is not un-heard off if the cooler change is botched by bending the pipes....trying tightening them up.

I assume the half moons on the cam cover seals are in place at the back of the passenger side bank.
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 12:20:14
take it you have to remove the cam belt, cam sprocket etc?
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 July 2007, 12:22:55
Quote
take it you have to remove the cam belt, cam sprocket etc?

Oh yes !

I agree with Mark about the upper sump gasket - I missed that one off...

Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 12:25:54
Quote
Upper sump pan to block seal comes before oil pump gasket.

Has it had an oil cooler change because the oil around the back looks like it could be coming from the oil cooler to block joints.....which is not un-heard off if the cooler change is botched by bending the pipes....trying tightening them up.

I assume the half moons on the cam cover seals are in place at the back of the passenger side bank.


Yeah a mate and I did the cam seals 2 weeks back and made sure it was nice and sealed correctly. Not sure if the oil cooler has been changed, but im getting no symtoms of a oil cooler leak, And when we changed the cam cover seals we had a good look around the oil cooler.
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 12:31:08
LOL flicking though my haynes manual, all these possible leaks are getting very daunting !!!
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: TheBoy on 05 July 2007, 12:33:21
As I said earlier, and M_DTM has mentioned, the oil cooler pipes where they attach to block near oil filter can leak if oil cooler has been changed incorrectly.  You won't get oil cooler symptoms, its just an incorrect repair can leave the pipe to block connection loose.  Simply retighten where they join near oil filter.

Does that make sense?

Did the leak occur before or after you did cam gaskets?
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 12:43:38
It was leaking before the cam gaskets, but not this much, I just assumed it was the cam covers that were leaking, with new oil, the leak seems to be worse that before!

If it is the oil sump or cam seal would some "stop leak" be worth a go ??

Thank for advise guys !!

back to work foe me !!
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: TheBoy on 05 July 2007, 12:54:21
Quote
If it is the oil sump or cam seal would some "stop leak" be worth a go ??
Unlikely. Tend to cause more issues than they cure :(
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 19:09:59
looks like it could be leaking down from above the oil filter, thought it could be the 2 metal pipes.
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: TheBoy on 05 July 2007, 19:14:03
Quote
looks like it could be leaking down from above the oil filter, thought it could be the 2 metal pipes.
The 2 metal pipes are the oil cooler pipes. Check they are done up :)
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 19:31:23
thought they could be

having problems getting a spanner in there!! have to try a borrow a smaller 19mm spanner from work
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: TheBoy on 05 July 2007, 19:33:25
Quote
thought they could be

having problems getting a spanner in there!! have to try a borrow a smaller 19mm spanner from work
You need whats called a 'crowfoot' type spanner...
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 19:48:51
Quote
Quote
thought they could be

having problems getting a spanner in there!! have to try a borrow a smaller 19mm spanner from work
You need whats called a 'crowfoot' type spanner...


arse !!

deffinatly havent got one of those !

is there any seals on the nuts that will need replacing ?
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 05 July 2007, 19:51:01
No, no seals on them....
Title: Re: top ten most probable sources of a oil leak !!
Post by: Skanky on 05 July 2007, 20:04:55
ok

Thanks for everyones advice, I'll report back if it fixes the leak or not.

thanks again

Tim