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[chrisdb]

Hi all

I'm new to this forum but I expect I'll be asking lots of questions 'cos every time I take my Omega to the garage it come back with more faults!

This time, as the car has done 155k miles I decided to get the gearbox oil changed. I do about 250 motorway miles twice now, on different days I have had oil leaking out on to the exhuast causing white smoke. It lasts about 40-50 seconds then seems to stop. I have been back to the garage but the mechanic could not find where the leak from from. He sais it seemed to be from the top of the engine, but the oil is definate either gearbox or power steering oil. He checked the levels but neither was low.

Any ideas what could be happening? When it's leaked I've been driving about 1.5 hours and speed between 80-90. I use the speed button quite a lot.

Cheers
Chris

[ians]

Firstly can you update your profile so that your car details/engine appear on the left plsase?

Why is it defo power steering/transmission oil?  Most likely candidate is leaking cam covers but that would be engine oil.

Why is your change of transmission fluid relelvant to this?

Cheers,
Ian

[chrisdb]

Firstly can you update your profile so that your car details/engine appear on the left plsase?

Why is it defo power steering/transmission oil?  Most likely candidate is leaking cam covers but that would be engine oil.

Why is your change of transmission fluid relelvant to this?

Cheers,
Ian

Sorry about that! All updated now.

The leaked oil is red and only the steering/gearbox oil is this same colour. Also, the first time it happend I called out the breakdown people. The guy who came out said it was fresh, and so this is why I would have thought of the transamission rather than steering because the steering oil is quite old.

[ians]

but the transmission is not high up on the engine.  That can only be steering fluid - check the level in the reservoir.

Are you sure its red or are you going off what someone said?

[chrisdb]

OK, I'll check the steering oil again - it was OK when I checked but maybe it has gone down a bit. The breakdown mechanic told me it was fresh oil, but the mechanic who changed the oil told me it was either gearbox or steering oil when it was towed back to him. He was totally confused by it! From what you say though, it must be steering.

[Grumpy]

You said you use the 'S' button a lot, so I assume you have an Auto.
So this also means that you have Transmission fluid pipes running
forward to your radiator.

You say it happens on the motorway, presumably at speed. So this
also means that you have a strong airflow through the engine bay,
blowing anything from your engine bay back on to the exhaust.

Upshot is, that it could be anywhere from the radiator backwards
that your leak is from.
Only thing you can do is to thoroughly clean all transmission and power steering
pipes, work both systems, and see what gets wet again. Don't rule
anything out just because it's not near where you are seeing the smoke.
Leaks often start well away from where you see the evidence, just ask
anyone who has tried to find the entry point in a leaky house roof.

[Grumpy]

Also, check the condition, position and security of your Auto Box
breather pipe.........seeing as a garage has been playing around with your
system to change the fluid.

[chrisdb]

Thanks Grumpy, that's a great help. It is an auto and I did not know about the pipes to the radiator. The day before the oil change I changed the spark plugs and it is possible I damaged a pipe when moving things to get clearance on the passenger side.

I will do as you suggest. I also had the leaky house roof problem so I know what you mean

[ians]

the pipes to the rad are underneath and on the drivers side - nowhere near the spark plugs.

When you changed the plugs was there oil around them..?

[chrisdb]

No oil around the plugs, but at least I feel better 'cos it's not likely to be something I've done   I will have a good look tomorrow. Be great if it is just a pipe or connection.