Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: StevieP on 21 August 2010, 16:39:51
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Hi Guys,
Some advice needed, I have a low mileage (50k) 2.6 V6 which I have recently noticed the following problems:-
1, Burning Oil Smell from Engine
2, Getting through more oil than usual (topping up once a month now)
3, Smokes on initial start up after sitting all night.
There are no signs of any oil leaks on the floor or in the engine that I can see, so baffled as to what could be causing it.
The car still seems to run fine, but I am keen to get this problem resolved ASAP as it might get worse.
Has anyone any ideas of what could be wrong ???? Is my poor car dying ???? Any one local who could resolve the problem at a reasonable cost (Im in Northants).
Any Help / Advice Appreciated
Steve :(
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Check round the rocker cover gadkeys and in the holes where the spark plugs are.
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My shout is cam cover gaskets leaking and breathers blocked as this is the most common but you say burning oil on initial startup. That reads to me as valve stem oil seals.
If confirmed no oil visible on outside of engine/floor then remove one of the coilpacks from one side and see if the plug base is wet with oil. That would be an indicator of cam cover leak, potentially.
No misfiring at all?
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No Misfiring that Ive noticed when warm, but only on a couple of occasions when cold.
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No Misfiring that Ive noticed when warm, but only on a couple of occasions when cold.
That would tie in with stem oil seals leaking then.
When engine running the head & internals are full of oil. When its switched off the oil drains back to the sump. Some valves will be partially open and the seals are designed to prevent oil draining into the cylinder.
Pretty sure there was a problem with duff seals on a certain age of 2.6/3.2 but someone will confirm no doubt...
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That sounds an expensive job .........
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Y reg or 51 reg?
You need new valve seals.
I did mine last year, but took the opportunity to port and fit 3.0 cams as well.
I also replaced cam belt and oil cooler as it was basically sensible to do so
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Chances are that any 9 year old Omega has blocked breathers and leaking cam cover gaskets as a result.
Before you do anything else clean out the breathers. It won't stop the cam covers leaking but it should significantly reduce the quantity of lost oil.
If you do have to change the valve stem seals then fit genuine cam cover seals when you put the cam covers back on.
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The Car is a Y reg Martin, probably worth me trying to get the breathers cleaned and the rocker cover gasket done to see if that is the fault, getting burning oil smell in actual car now, car seems to run fine though.
Anyone near Northants fancy earning some cash to do this ???
If this dosent fix it then, new stem seals maybe next, anyone any idea of how much this is likely to cost ??
Steve :D
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The Car is a Y reg Martin, probably worth me trying to get the breathers cleaned and the rocker cover gasket done to see if that is the fault, getting burning oil smell in actual car now, car seems to run fine though.
Anyone near Northants fancy earning some cash to do this ???
If this dosent fix it then, new stem seals maybe next, anyone any idea of how much this is likely to cost ??
Steve :D
Y reg so in the danger periond
It isn't that bad a job, if you can put up with the burnung you could leave it
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new stem seals maybe next, anyone any idea of how much this is likely to cost ??
Steve :D
This is the kind of job you can leave until the heads have to come off for something more serious. The seals themselves will only be a quid or so each, it's just the labour invoved in removing the cylinder heads, and all the associated gaskets.
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I have the same problem on a Y reg, Valve Stem Seals. I just ignore it, althought to be honest I don't get the smell of burning oil, just blue exhaust smoke on start up, and a little high oil consumtion. IIRC VX state that a litre per 1000 miles if fine.
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My Y reg MV6 smokes on start up. I just live with it. I was told that it is possible to change stem seals with out taking the head off. Is this true?
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Is the smoke out of the exhaust? If so, stem seals are favourite....
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My Y reg doesn't smoke any more, however I did have lambda issues - they were soot covered, and it never burnt off
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Pervious post I've seen with oil smell in the car have been cam cover seals leaking on the pollen filter/oil filler side of the engine. Oil leaks from cam cover onto exhaust manifold heat shield below and burns. Air flow takes the fumes rearward directly into the air intake for the climate control/cabin.
Nothing unusual, the seals go hard with age or the breather block. Must use genuine seals and thoroughly clean and check the breathers are clear. Easy way to check is to remove the rubber pipes at the back of plenum and blow by mouth through both ways.
Would not smell oil in the car if it was stem seals, although they may well need doing.
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I have changed the stem seals on an old Landrover without taking the head off, I don't know if it would work so well on an Omega :-/
1. I made an adapter to allow me to connect an airline to the spark plug hole (I took an old spark plug, smashed the insulator and then welded a quick release air line fitting into it).
2. I made a lever that allowed me to compress the valve springs and get the collets out. On the landrover I was able to hook it under the rocker shaft. On the Omega I would consider removing the camshafts & followers (tappets) & using a dummy shaft to apply the pressure. (I would be very carefull not to damage the camshaft bearing surfaces).
I found that winding up the pressure regulator (slowly) to about 65psi forced the piston down to the bottom of its stroke and applied sufficient pressure on the valve to keep it shut while I hoiked the collets out.
HTH
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1. I made an adapter to allow me to connect an airline to the spark plug hole (I took an old spark plug, smashed the insulator and then welded a quick release air line fitting into it).
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I found that winding up the pressure regulator (slowly) to about 65psi forced the piston down to the bottom of its stroke and applied sufficient pressure on the valve to keep it shut while I hoiked the collets out.
HTH
a length of soft cord fed into the bore and then lifting the appropiate piston works very well too. :y
I've fitted stem seals to a Ford Essex engine without taking the heads off. I made a fork that pressed onto the collet retainer mounted on a stud fitted where the tappet rail would normally fit. :y
All because my Dad had this row of stem seals left over after completing some head work on his car. ::) ::) ::)