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[danzigfan]

Hi guys, I just came from outside, checking oil and other liquids...
Deep stick was oily just on the lowest part, way under it should be. Done only 3000 km after oil change, done by myself so there's no question about oil level when changing it.
Added one liter to reach only 3/4 to max. There is a small oil leak from crankshaft seal at the front of the engine but nothing major, the same for last 20.000 km. Camshaft cover gasket was sorted out 20.000 km ago, no other leak or oil smell from anywhere. My omega has covered 232.000 km now, no extra smoke from exhaust when starting at -15 degrees all month....
Any ideas maybe? Thanks, Stan

[Abiton]

Possibly valve stem seals starting to feel their age.
In my experience this is almost symptom-less in the early stages, as the catalytic converter does a good job of re-burning the oil smoke into CO2 and H20.  Only when it gets really bad will you start to smell it at the tailpipe. (Ours at 300K km is getting quite horrible!)

[danzigfan]

Valve stem seals are most logical explanation but all so sudenly? In one month after last oil change?

[cem_devecioglu]

do you experience any late than normal starting issues.. or sparks with shorter life than normal..

[Abiton]

It's a good point about sudden-ness; but what might have happened is that one seal has fallen apart completely, or become dislodged from its correct position, rather than all of them gradually starting to leak.  Look down the spark plug holes with a good small torch to see if one piston crown looks much dirtier than the others? (And you can check the spark plugs for oil fouling at the same time)

[danzigfan]

do you experience any late than normal starting issues.. or sparks with shorter life than normal..

Hi Cem, no, sparks changed 20000 km ago when I bought Omega, still no problem with them, no starting issues, apart from -15 to - 20 degrees typical start. Always starts at first crank

[danzigfan]

It's a good point about sudden-ness; but what might have happened is that one seal has fallen apart completely, or become dislodged from its correct position, rather than all of them gradually starting to leak.  Look down the spark plug holes with a good small torch to see if one piston crown looks much dirtier than the others? (And you can check the spark plugs for oil fouling at the same time)

Good point there, I'll take a look inside tomorrow. I'm also considering a piston ring/s but to sudden too.
If it's oil stem seal issue, is it easy job for DIY? And...concidering price of new seals and gasket....does it make sense(compared to omega's selling price) ? I really love my Omega, and there is no big choice of Omegas to buy where I live so I would like to fix it

[cem_devecioglu]

if there is oil flow into the bore, sparks will show.. but also you can check oil from spark holes with a rope..

[danzigfan]

if there is oil flow into the bore, sparks will show.. but also you can check oil from spark holes with a rope..

Crossed my fingers for the best, will see it tomorrow, thanks

[cem_devecioglu]

if there is oil flow into the bore, sparks will show.. but also you can check oil from spark holes with a rope..

Crossed my fingers for the best, will see it tomorrow, thanks

and imo trying a compression test will also give better answer ..

[danzigfan]

Damn....again after 20.000 km oil in spark plug holes!!!!!!

[Andy H]

Oh dear.

Time to clean out the crankcase breather system and fit new (genuine Opel) cam cover gaskets and 'o' rings 

20000 km seems a bit quick for the breather system to get blocked maybe there are some more pipes that need cleaning that you didn't find last time ?

PS on a positive note, changing the cam cover gaskets is a lot less work than changing the valve stem seals or piston rings

[cem_devecioglu]

Oh dear.

Time to clean out the crankcase breather system and fit new (genuine Opel) cam cover gaskets and 'o' rings 

20000 km seems a bit quick for the breather system to get blocked maybe there are some more pipes that need cleaning that you didn't find last time ?

PS on a positive note, changing the cam cover gaskets is a lot less work than changing the valve stem seals or piston rings

yep.. so the solution is easier and cheaper than our initial estimates.. you are lucky

[cem_devecioglu]

imo also check cam covers on a perfectly flat surface.. to be sure there is no distortion..

[danzigfan]

....thanks guys. I"ll do this job myself this time and I hope it will be fine after it. Breather system was cleaned by me right after cam gasket replaced so I don't know how could this happened so fast.
What do you think, will it hold for a month more? Couse I have 10 days off work from 20th March on and some work to do in flat couse we're moving away fro the dragon...I mean mother in law