Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: cleggy on 01 September 2009, 16:15:26

Title: Oil Consumtion
Post by: cleggy on 01 September 2009, 16:15:26
While driving to the stealers to pick up a couple of door strap bushes the check light came on for oil level.
So while there I got a litre of 10/40 semi synth, and it needed the lot to top up the distick from the bottom to the top mark.
The car was serviced in January at 70k miles, and has only done 2.5k since  nearly all on very short journeys.
My question is assuming that the level was correct at the service is this exessive, and something to worry about.
P.S No apparent leaks   
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Elite Pete on 01 September 2009, 16:17:22
It has been known for the 2.6 to have leaking valve stem oil seals which will cause a bit of blue smoke (oil) when first started.
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: cleggy on 01 September 2009, 16:23:27
I have noticed that a puff of blue smoke emits from the exhaust on startup .
When do leaking valve stem oil seals become a problem?
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Elite Pete on 01 September 2009, 16:29:25
It could be any time, apparently Vauxhall used cheaper seals on the 2.6 :(
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: cleggy on 01 September 2009, 17:07:17
Cheers Pete, how difficult/expensive is it to replace them?
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Martin_1962 on 01 September 2009, 19:21:11
Join the club

Depends if you fit 3.0 cams at the same time
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2009, 19:40:47
Quote
Cheers Pete, how difficult/expensive is it to replace them?
The heads have to come off, so not exactly a 5 minute job :(
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Elite Pete on 01 September 2009, 19:42:47
So long as its passing the MOT I would just keep an eye on the level ;)
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: dbr on 01 September 2009, 19:46:05
MY OIL LACK COMES ON AT 3/4 FULL.
1500 MILES A LITRE ON M'WAYS OTHERWISE 3000 / L
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2009, 19:47:30
It normally comes on about 1/2 way between min and max
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: goonv6 on 01 September 2009, 19:50:30
My Chevy has stem seal seepage. Always smokes on start up. As long as you take if for a good run before MOT and keep an eye on the oil, I shouldn't worry too much for the mo.
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Drinky on 01 September 2009, 20:03:12
VX say upto 1 liter of oil per 1000 miles is perfectly acceptable  :o

My 2.2 petrol with 100,000 miles on uses about 3/4 liter per 1000 so i just put up with it !!!!!!
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: vauxsull on 01 September 2009, 20:11:27
well bugger me...
I'm so glad to to have stumbled on this thread. my Facelift 2.6 MV6 is going through around 2 litres of oil between its 5k oil change. Its been doing this since I bought it with 85K and now on the 100k mark. Didn't know about the valve seals problem nor did I know its also relitively common to use upto 1 litre per 1000 miles too. Feel like I can sleep a little easier now.
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: cleggy on 01 September 2009, 20:20:30
Thanks guys I'll not worry about it then, just keep an eye on it :)
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Seth on 01 September 2009, 20:37:40
You could try an engine oil and filter-change, then use Forte Seal Conditioner. Comes in a tube.
My supplier has had excellent results using this stuff.
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2009, 20:48:37
Quote
well bugger me...
I'm so glad to to have stumbled on this thread. my Facelift 2.6 MV6 is going through around 2 litres of oil between its 5k oil change. Its been doing this since I bought it with 85K and now on the 100k mark. Didn't know about the valve seals problem nor did I know its also relitively common to use upto 1 litre per 1000 miles too. Feel like I can sleep a little easier now.
Thats quite a lot still, I know Vx say up to 1l/1000m, but that is far from the norm.

2.6 stem seals are poor
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 01 September 2009, 20:51:00
Quote
It could be any time, apparently Vauxhall used cheaper seals on the 2.6 :(
Does this apply to 3.2 aswell,being as they are similar. :-/
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2009, 21:01:30
Quote
Quote
It could be any time, apparently Vauxhall used cheaper seals on the 2.6 :(
Does this apply to 3.2 aswell,being as they are similar. :-/
I seem to recall they were used for a time on 3.2, but more used on 2.6.  Hopefully someone can confirm
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 01 September 2009, 21:03:52
Quote
Quote
Quote
It could be any time, apparently Vauxhall used cheaper seals on the 2.6 :(
Does this apply to 3.2 aswell,being as they are similar. :-/
I seem to recall they were used for a time on 3.2, but more used on 2.6.  Hopefully someone can confirm
Mine doesent use a drop of oil anyway and done 114,000 miles,so hopefully mine was not affected by this minor balls up. :D
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: less on 01 September 2009, 23:00:06
Touching wood (and all that  :)) mine doesn't use any either. (about 85k now)
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: oceansoul on 01 September 2009, 23:16:18
Quote
VX say upto 1 liter of oil per 1000 miles is perfectly acceptable  :o

My 2.2 petrol with 100,000 miles on uses about 3/4 liter per 1000 so i just put up with it !!!!!!


check oil is always coming up on my 2.2 sometimes it needs a lil top up, other times i think the check computer is on drugs ;D
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: 3.2 manual on 02 September 2009, 04:58:30
done about 2000 mile with the 3.2 still full, which is odd cause in its book it meant to use oil, see handbook, also stems can be done with the head on i made a copy of a tool, i once saw. basically its the bottom half of a spark plug, with a compressed air fitting( i soldered it) on top. make sure the cylinder(your working on as you can olny do one at a time) is on the power stroke and blow it full of compressed air and leave compressor connected, the piston goes to bdc and the pressure holds the valves shut when you take the springs off. worst case, if you do drop a valve you gotta take the head off which you would of had to of done anyway!
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Matchless on 02 September 2009, 13:38:37
Make sure your breathers are cleaned-out and the brass stub on the crankcase breather box isnt blocked.
The breather system should maintain the pressure inside the block at slightly below atmospheric. If its blocked up then pressure will be above atmospheric giving the stem seals and all other oil seals a harder job to do.
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Ghost on 02 September 2009, 17:30:40
My car does not use any oil at all, its at the same place it always has been since i changed it, Ive done over 3k now since then :-/
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Martin_1962 on 02 September 2009, 17:52:34
Might as well head off - do some other jobs as well
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: 3.2 manual on 03 September 2009, 03:48:33
well a good decoke is always good, oh and i just noticed my discription of blowing the cylinders up with air makes it sound like the engine is all together! its not! power stroke was used to discribe piston on the way down with valves shut. but with cam out theyre all shut! drifted off to older... or is that more user friendly? engines, sorry
Title: Re: Oil Consumtion
Post by: Rockfordk on 03 September 2009, 11:45:07
My 2.2 Estate uses about 3/4 litre per 1000 miles too. Been told nothing to worry about.