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[Dawes]

I'm wondering if this is a common problem with the V6. Often particularly at low speeds I get an awful smell of oil in the cabin, would this be caused by chocked breathers?

[duggs]

Could be...I have the same problem to be honest and Im SURE its coming from the oil cooler pipes somewhere which are right under the centre console. Mechanic sais is gaskets, I'm sure it ain't but he's reluctant to go and find the leak.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Could be...I have the same problem to be honest and Im SURE its coming from the oil cooler pipes somewhere which are right under the centre console. Mechanic sais is gaskets, I'm sure it ain't but he's reluctant to go and find the leak.

If the breathers have got to this "oily smell" stage, the cam cover gaskets have probably gone as well!!

Check for oil in the plug wells.

[CoolHand]

I have the very same problem with an oily smell, do you know how much it would be to get fixed and if it's a big job. Sorry, i'm useless when it comes to working on engines. I was told by a VX dealer that they needed doing when it went in for it's last service, they wanted nearly £500!! I told them that I loved the smell of burning oil!!

[tuckshop]

my oily cabin smell was cured by wiping my bum.......

no sorry wiping my..... no sorry wrong forum....

my was cured by fitting new rocker cover gaskets and cleaning out the breathers.................

gaskets care of a very nice man on this forum   and the breathers by me, a piece of wire, a cut up wire coat hanger, rags, carb cleaner and tissues...............

or was the tissues the other forum............


the smell is almost deffo caused by the oil dripping on the manifolds,

drips caused by leaking gaskets,

leaking gaskets caused by blocked breathers......


I tell you this site could do with a workshop meet to do this job let alone a cam belt meet.........................

[Cameron]

I have the very same problem with an oily smell, do you know how much it would be to get fixed and if it's a big job. Sorry, i'm useless when it comes to working on engines. I was told by a VX dealer that they needed doing when it went in for it's last service, they wanted nearly £500!! I told them that I loved the smell of burning oil!!

If you leave it, the plug leads will deteriorate and need replacing, potentially damaging the coil pack I've heard.

[feeutfo]

as said really, smell probably coming in via the pollen filter near the pass side bank. Lift the bonnet while hot you may well see some smoke from burning oil.

[addy]

Hi I had this smell, as said the breathers were blocked and rocker cover gaskets gone.  Loo-Knee and Pete did both for me, we had great fun when first taking it out for a drive, blue smoke from under the bonnet where old oil was burning off and when cold air was on in cabin the windows had to be down.

When him and Pete got underneath they found a mixture of old oil mixed  with crud tucked in behind the manifold on the left side as looking from the front, they cleared some of it out and the smell has gone.  I have got some carb cleaner to clean the rest when the car can be left for two days.

[DazzerBoy]

....same problem on my 2.2 - caused by blocked breathers...oh and a spell of not hanging around on the motorway building up the pressure....!!  

For info....vauxhall want approx £25 for the gasket on a 2.2 and £75 to fit it.

Cheers

[MutantCav]

As said...blocked breather causing camcover gasket to blow...

Use genuine Vaux gaskets and Vaux black sealant in only the prescribed places (90 degree bends and half moon) and tighten to only 8nm when done and make sure the covers etc are cleaned of any old crud before fitting new gaskets...

Clean breather system once a year minimum to avoid re-occurance...

Shouldnt take more than 3-4 hours (and I would go somewhere thats significantly cheaper labour wise) plus gaskets about £75...

[M0T0RVATE]

I have the very same problem with an oily smell, do you know how much it would be to get fixed and if it's a big job. Sorry, i'm useless when it comes to working on engines. I was told by a VX dealer that they needed doing when it went in for it's last service, they wanted nearly £500!! I told them that I loved the smell of burning oil!!

 
Unfortunately, from a garage or dealers point of view Omega engine work is time/labour intensive which is reason for the high prices for relatively small jobs...

[jjleonard]

I've done a gasket change on my car and, (more recerntly) Tuckshops' as per his post above. He did a far better job of cleaning out the breathers than I ever did on mine.

On a V6 it'll take 4-6 hours to replace both gaskets and clean the breathers - well it will if you keep having coffee breaks and smoking breaks like I did!

Well worth a go if you fancy doing it yourself - it's not that hard a job.

[Chris_H]

Just to put a spanner in the works; agreed about the camcover gaskets but my breathers appeared to be immaculate - no visible sludge build-up.

Problem hasn't recurred.... yet.

[MutantCav]

Always possible the guy who put yours on originally didnt use gen gaskets or seal them properly...jobs gotta be done right to last

[Seth]

Always possible the guy who put yours on originally didnt use gen gaskets or seal them properly...jobs gotta be done right to last

Absolutely .......