Some advice please !

simon_forrest

Hi all, I drive a vectra B 2001 with 60k on the clock with a full dealer history.
The chain went 2 years ago and a complete new head/chain kit was fitted. My problem is excessive oil consumption. I do not have any leaks (after doing the crankshaft oil gasket) but I am using about 2 litres a week (300 miles). I get clouds of blue smoke above 4500 rpm. I instantly thought piston rings but today I removed the intake and it was full of oil. I dont know how this is its getting into the throttle body, it is either from the metal pipe (up to the egr valve) or from the camshaft cover, both seem to contain oil residue.
What are the common causes ?
Any help would be appreciated !!! cheers..

daaaaavek

The oil in the intake will be coming from the PCV pipe that's connected to the top of the cam cover, but that won't explain the high oil usage.

Most people fit a oil catch can to stop the oil drawn from the cam cover getting back into the manifold.

If I were you, do a compression test on each cylinder to check for worn/leaking rings. Or you might have a cracked piston from the chain damage (I hope not!).

MikeS

sounds like stem seals to me

daaaaavek

I thought that ... but he says it's a brand new head assembly ... notsure.gif

simon_forrest

Thanks, yes it had a brand new head, chain kit, gasket and seals.
There is quite a lot of oil residue in the cam housing pipe (to the air intake pipe) so much in fact that it is leaking out were it joins the throttle body. What would cause so much oil to be sucked into the air intake ? Could the blue smoke at high rpm be the oil being burnt with the intake air ? I thought about a compression test but my guage won't fit into the deep plug sockets (will have to try and get hold of one though)
Just thinking though- i once rebuilt a astra 2 litre 8 valve engine and one of the valve stem oil seals was a very loose fit- wonder if one of the seals could have popped off ! would explain the high oil comsumpion but not the oil in the intake.
It is run on vauxhall semi oil and the rate i'm topping it up at the moment, it's getting changed every month ! I did a full change last week and used the oil flush detergent also. left the sump plug out over night so every last drop was re-newed.
Cheers for any advice cheers..

JohnnyN

So, are you saying that this has been like this for 2 years or just recently? If its been 2 years then i would say that there is something wrong with the pistons. If only recently then i would suggest looking at the head for a stem valve problem.

jimbob600

This was the same problem as mine, vx listed the work as new head, chain kits etc. and its used oil since i bought it.
Just took the head off myself after it smoked all the time and all the pistons had been hit by the inlet valves and piston 4 had a piece missing from the edge, you can see the top ring, whipped the pistons out and all the 3 rings on each were stuck fast.
What im saying is just because vx replaced the head and chain does not mean they replaced all the damaged parts. :o :o

JohnnyN

CYNICAL BLAST ALERT!!

Vx will tell you anything! They are a bunch of cheating bastards! They tell anyone that calls a main dealer or head office that their 2.2 engine wasn't in the affected range. Every Vectra z22se that rolled off the productoin line until 2002 has the small oil jet fitted thus every engine in a Vectra 2.2 will be affected.

The fact that you MAY have damaged pistons would be no problem to cover up seeing as they've been covering their tracks over the chain issue for the last 9 years.

And relax............!

jimbob600

Mine was done under warrenty before i bought the car, i got a full printout from vx of what they did to the car, which was new head and components but no mention of pistons, to be honest is wasnt a shock when i took the head off and found the pistons in the state they were in, i guess thats the trust we all have in our lovely main dealers.

simon_forrest

Hi all, the sri had developed another fault- this time its off the road aswell.
The car starts fine and idles ok, when you press the throttle, the revs buid up then the throttle stops working, it overfuels as I can hear popping in the exhaust and it has little-no power. The confusing thing is the eml-tc-and airbag lights have all come on. When you restart the engine the tc light goes out- until you rev it again.
Any ideas- or is it time to scrap the bloody thing ?
My thoughts are Coolant sensor-ecu-egr valve or throttle body- truthfully i havn't a clue.
I don't want to throw hundreds at it only to find it still has the fault.
The eml is on however there are no stored codes (aa pluged it into his laptop). However when he cleared the codes it started ideling ok- until you rev it and the lights come back on-missfire and throttle stops working.
Any help --------------PLEASE
I need a car to take kids to school as taxis cost £30 a day.
Thanks.

simon_forrest

I have checked all the earth connections and fluids - all seem fine.
Any ideas ?????

MikeS

if the eml is on then there is codes there

what device is he using to pick up the codes as quite a few vxhall codes do not appear n generic readers

could be something simple such as an ABS sensor

simon_forrest

Hi all, I had the vectra plugged into computer- 2 codes present 1-coolant temprature sender (Now changed with no improvement) 2- throttle assembly motor fault.
I guess I need to buy or try a throttle body. anyone willing to let me try a spare or sell me one ???
Thanks.
Simon.
PS- I live near newcastle upon tyne.

simon_forrest

Hi All, well after travelling 100 miles yesterday to buy a throttle assembly, i got home and fitted it-------------no change whatsoever. I am gutted, really need the car back on the road. I just don't understand, both parts the computer said were faulty have now been replaced yet I still have the same problem.
I really disslike this engine. I have owned 23 vauxhalls - novas astras cavaliers vectras and carltons and never has any had a problem like this. Really thinking about breaking it for parts now.

Any ideas ???? the car starts and idles fine but as soon as you rev it the lights come back on and it runs rough as fcuk. According to the fuel computer it is using over 1 gallon per hour at tickover. it used to be 0.2 gph. That would explain the popping in the exhaust but what is causing it to happen.
Any help much appreciated.
If anyone wanted to call me my number is 07866690624
Thanks.

simon_forrest

Right guys- had the vectra plugged back into the computer and it still says throttle motor fault- anyone got one they are willing to let me try ???
I really don't want to but yet another part and still have the same fault. Obviously if this cures the fault then I will have to buy another.
Cheers !

simon_forrest

OK- tried yet another throttle body and still the same fault ! I think i will test the loom between the ecu and the throttle body next. If i carn't find a fault then i am thinking it must be the ecu itself. Just the car idles fine, it's only when you rev it that th TC light comes on and it runs like a bag of shi*e.
Any ideas ???
Thanks for any help and advice.

simon_forrest

Hi all, I have today changed the engine loom (Quite a task) making sure all the earth connections are clean, Still have the same fault, I even took the cat of to check it wasn't blocked.
Any Help ???? PLEASE LOL

MikeS

check for air leaks around the manifold, very unlikely it is the engine loom

what is the fault code you are getting as i can possibly narrow down your problem

simon_forrest

double post

see 2 posts above 🙂

what code are you getting ?

try pulling the fuse for the traction control [it also disables the abs system]

and see how u get on

vocky

might be a blocked cat dunno..