Oil leak...

Hopelessness

Hi all,

I have a bit of an oil leak in my 2.2 Vectra B. I can't really tell where it's coming from, but it looks like it's somewhere behind the inlet manifold :S

I've run a cloth around the oil filter housing and it appears to be dry, and I've replaced the rocker cover gasket as that was weeping a small amount.

Is there anywhere else I should be looking? A Vauxhall specialist in Cardiff has quoted me £60 just to diagnose the fault, and I'm reluctant to pay that much right now!

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated,

Phil

JohnnyN

What makes you think that its behind the inlet manifold?

Just under the inlet manifold and above the starter motor is the oil pressure switch. This is prone to splitting its seal. Do you have oil dripping from under the starter motor?

If its the oil switch, the starter needs to come out to allow access.

Hopelessness

Just a hunch to be honest, the back of the engine looks clean and there is oil dripping from the starter and sump.

Is it possible to see the oil switch from below without removing the starter, just for diagnosis? And if it is the switch, how difficult is it to remove and refit the start?

Cheers!

JohnnyN

Its straight forward to replace. Unplug cable from front of switch and unscrew the switch from the front and replace. Plug cable back in.

You may be able to see it from looking from the top. I can't as my charger is in the way. If you can't see from the top, jack up the car and have a look from underneath. It should only leak when the engine is running. Wipe off the starter/sump area, start the engine and wait a few minutes and you should see a new run of oil.

The starter is a bit of a bugger to remove but you'll get there.

:thumbup:

JohnnyN

Have a look here when I done mine...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17372&hilit=oil+pressure+switch

Hopelessness

Brilliant, thanks a lot. Seems likely it's that.

Probably a silly question, but should I dump the oil first?

JohnnyN

No need. Straight forward swap.

That pic I posted was looking from the bottom up with the starter removed.

:wink:

John_T

Listen mate, if you need a pressure switch I have one here, genuine GM working & not leaking, £10 posted, sorry mods if this is wrong. I had the same problem, replaced the switch, turned out the switch was fine & it was the oil filter cap or seal that was the problem, pm if interested mate, there £20 from vauxhall.

Matt

John T said:
£10 posted, sorry mods if this is wrong.

Nothing wrong with offering to help out another member. :thumbup:

herb-16v

does the starter need to come off or can it be done with it on? i just looked at mine and i think that's where my oil is coming from

JohnnyN

If your coming from underneath then yes. Can you get at it from the top? I couldn't.

herb-16v

yer i think i can. what size socket is it do you know?

JohnnyN

EDIT

27mm Deep socket.

herb-16v

JohnnyN said:
EDIT

27mm Deep socket.

gutted only got a 24 deep one will have to get one tomorrow and try it see if can do it from top

Hopelessness

John T said:
Listen mate, if you need a pressure switch I have one here, genuine GM working & not leaking, £10 posted, sorry mods if this is wrong. I had the same problem, replaced the switch, turned out the switch was fine & it was the oil filter cap or seal that was the problem, pm if interested mate, there £20 from vauxhall.

PM'd. Love car forums, everyone is always so helpful! cheers..

John_T

Matt said:

John T said:
£10 posted, sorry mods if this is wrong.

Nothing wrong with offering to help out another member. :thumbup:

Just wasn't sure if you had to be a "premium member" & only post in for sale section etc etc.... :thumbup:

herb-16v

is this deep enough?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kennedy-27mm- ... 415c6aeca7

JohnnyN

That'll do the job.

Here's mine...

herb-16v

spot on will get myself that one off ebay then and go order new sensor for the weekend

Hopelessness

The oil pressure sensor arrived this morning from John T (very prompt, cheers!), replaced it fine without taking the starter off. The old one wasn't even plugged in, and someone had filled the connector full of some sort of filler to stop it leaking, obviously didn't work very well.

Anyway, now the engine won't start, it'll turn over fine but not even try to catch. Oddly, the EML is on and yet when I checked with OPCOM and there are no codes.

I'm baffled, does anybody have any ideas?