OIL LEAK CAM CHAIN COVER

george

Just had new head gasket - left with heavy oil leak from lower cam chain cover/gasket. Is this common problem?? :?

vocky

did it have a new oil seal notsure.gif

the oil pump is part of the lower timing chain cover, so quite critical not to have any oil leaks from it 🙁

george

Thanks, will check with mechanic, going back next week for inspection/repair.

george

Hi Vocky could this be why I have had to top up 3.5 litres of oil in 450 miles with excessive oil fume smoke on start up and on acceleration from overrun together with leaks from gasket cover???

The mechanic is suggesting valve guide wear for smoke although this was not an issue before having head off, so don't understand how this can suddenly materialise??

Plus, I also have 5 second rattle from valves (hopefully not timing chain) on start up from overnight parking but not when starting warm engine.

I have also had to top up coolant with 2.5 litres of water in 450 miles obviously this as separate issue. Head pressure checked ok, no obvious external leaks which leaves only suspect cracked cylinder liner although CO2 sniffer test ok??

Any ideas please notsure.gif notsure.gif

vocky

what did the head come off for notsure.gif

batcho

valve guides will cause smoke but this only happens round 3000 rpm mark , you can use a vacuum gauge to check them if the needle vibrates fast then yes worn guides . it will also tell you most things about your engine and if used in the right hands it will tell you more than any tech2 tester and a lot cheaper2.you can buy one from most motor factors for about 20 pounds. but i would think your smoke problem will lie some where else

rushy

vocky said:
what did the head come off for notsure.gif

Think it was major head gasket failure.

george

lengthy story about reason head came off. Problems started at 90K miles with inexplicable loss of coolant - no external leaks, had to top up coolant gradually at first about every 350miles.
Engine developed a bad external oil leak with oil dripping onto exhaust pipe, eventually oil level switch failed was replaced and cured oil leak.
At same time garage investigated loss of coolant. Small oil droplets floating on top of coolant in expansion tank. They couldn't find source of problem but sure that head gasket had not failed so flushed radiator/coolant system of oil contamination and suggested continued running of car. By 103K miles having to top up water by about 1/2 litre every 80+ miles. Only small oil usage. Oil clean with no emulsion forming in engine but oil layer on surface in expansion tank progressively thicker.
At 118K engine cut out at 70ish on motorway with Head Gasket blown, thick mayonnaise in expansion tank. Catalytic disintegrated internally - blocked exhaust gases presumably causing head gasket to fail.

george

To summarise further - having new head gasket has not cured internal coolant leak - still same as before replacement.

Mechanic advised no valve damage on taking head off, could not see any chain problems and ruled out chain jumping sprockets. Has not replaced chain set or lubricator because all ok even though I gave him ok to do this if required.

Now excessive oil smoke on start up, overrun. Really bad oil leak from chain cover which is spraying oil mist under car and on boot.

vocky

I would say it's most likely a cracked head or block, either way the cheapest solution is another engine 🙁

george

Just what i didn't want to hear. :cry: :cry:

Definately not head- pressure checked and skimmed, all ok. Spent £700+ so far!!! :shock: :shock:

What's best source for new engine?? notsure.gif notsure.gif

vocky

try and get a low mileage engine from a breakers, make sure the timing chain kit is replaced before fitting the engine - much easier 🙂

the thing is you could spend a fortune trying to find the problem, but with 117k on the engine, it's not worth it.

it sounds like the piston rings aren't sealing anymore, plus an internal leak 🙁

maybe your mechanic should have recommended a recon engine, before he rebuilt the original notsure.gif

george

Another agonising 50 miles, now smoke pouring out of exhaust so looks like piston rings. puke..

Car going back to mechanic Monday, will keep updating info when diagnosed.

In meantime scrapyard search for engine. Unless anyone can point me towards a supplier / source.

vocky

a few on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vauxhall-2-2-16V-ENGINE-Z22XE-2200-39-000-MILES_W0QQitemZ330110513500QQihZ014QQcategoryZ10404QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

this one is a salvage company, ring them and buy it direct for a bit less maybe dunno..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-VX220-ENGINE-14K-MILES_W0QQitemZ150113153716QQihZ005QQcategoryZ10404QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've used them, a good company and the engine has only done 14k

if you have a vectra you will need to swap the inlet cams - for the power steering pump drive, very easy to do 🙂

george

car back from mechanic situation now:-

crankshaft oil seal was cause of chain cover oil leak, now replaced and leak cured. 😃
could find no cause for internal coolant leak, new header tank pressure cap fitted and early days but appears to have cured coolant loss problem.
rattle (5secs) on start up put down to hydraulic lifters. 🙁
blue smoke on start up still heavy and occasionally on acceleration especially from roundabouts still present but less so. New oil put in and viscocity changed to 20/50W with Forte additive to to stop smoke. notsure.gif
Questions please:-
Could hydraulic lifters have been assembled incorrectly notsure.gif - no rattle or smoke before head removed? Now thinking oil smoke coming from valve guides. :shock:
Is putting 20/50W oil in a good idea engine feels like running in treacle especially with Forte additive? notsure.gif

vocky

well I'm glad you found the water leak, so many heads are cracking these days 🙁

major oil leak sorted too 🙂

the hydraulic followers are sometimes noisy on start up, but the timing chain is designed to last 100k, it's worth replacing it.

as for the oil burning issue, get a compression test done, if it's the bores the compression will be low, if the compression is fine - it's the valve guides :roll:

it will be cheaper to replace the head than refurb it, same as the block, cheaper to buy another low mileage engine.

george

Compression test done all ok so seems points to valve guides although they were not a problem before head gasket replaced hence my question is have they been assembled incorrectly if thats possible? notsure.gif notsure.gif

Any strong views on increasing oil from 10/40 to 20/50 to reduce smoke?? dunno.. dunno..

Or could the rattle for 5 seconds on startup could be the timing chain tensioners..which would have been disturbed when the head was off......do I need thinner oil to improve the flow notsure.gif

vocky

so it points to the valve guides, were the valve stem oil seals replaced when the head gasket was changed notsure.gif

they could be the cause of your smokey engine, as valve guides tend to last quite a while dunno..

also my chain tensioner failed after swapping the head, could be a similar problem with yours notsure.gif

I would stick with the vx recommended oil type, but certainly get the valve stem seals replaced before doing anything else 🙂

george

Stating the obvious but presumably the head needs to come off again to replace the valve stem oil seals? notsure.gif notsure.gif

On the other issue is there any way of adjusting the chain tensioner - tying to understand why rattle has developed after head change when it wasnt there before? Is it meant to self adjust? dunno.. dunno..

Is a rattle on start up a sign that chain might snap or is it safe to run? notsure.gif notsure.gif

vocky

it might be possible to replace the seals with the head in place, there are tools available to do that, but depends on the garage/mechanic dunno..

I would stick a new chain kit on the engine, that will at least put your mind at rest and hopefully cure the rattle too 🙂