TABOO TOPIC?

george

There is remarkably little information on this website of one of the most common z22se engine problems, that being high oil usage and blue smoke emissions. what..

I approached several garages who fight shy of the problem by saying go for a low mileage scrap yard replacement. :roll: :roll:

Is there anyone who can advise please? dunno..

JohnnyN

The reason for such little information might have something to do with the fact that this topic doesn't really come up very often and therefore I would disagree that its a common problem. If you are suffering high oil usage and blue smoke then I would recommend that maybe your seals might need replacing you need to delve a little deeper for a more serious problem.

baldie87

a few peeps have had this problem but no many piston rings, valves etc

vocky

from my point of view the most common reason for excess oil consumption is damaged pistons after the timing chain has snapped.

there have been other instances, mainly due to sticking piston rings OR worn valve stem seals

edbutler

Even though some service books recommend 5w30, mine loves to drink it from time to time albeit not visibly from exhaust emissions(1litre per 2-3k) as its just too thin... It feels MUCH happier on 5w40 like the yanks recommend and barely touches a drop. Could try doing that?

george

Hi guys, thanks for replies although I notice no one comments about garage responses about going for low mileage scrapyard engine. Why are garages fighting shy of oil seal and or piston ring replacement. Is it such a difficult job?? notsure.gif

My engine has done 125K, not had a chain snap, but had head gasket replacement.

Before head gasket replacement, no smoking, but since has got progressively worse to the point where no.1 plug is oiling up and engine misfiring.

No blue smoke when its running at low revs on 3 cylinders until I feather throttle then it fires up on all four with a plume of blue smoke from exhaust.

This points to the problem being directly related to no.1 cylinder.

Any further advice please. Is it a sticking piston ring? AND repair or change engine? dunno..

vocky

I would think that because of the mileage the garages are playing it safe and suggesting a newer engine

george

Been shopping around for quotes, options are:-

Vauxhall exchange unit £2100 including fitting 12 months warrranty
Exchange units, generally £1000 plus fitting mileage 40-50K, 3 - 6 months warranty
Engine repair £600 to include new cam chain, piston rings, valve stem oil seals - warranty 12 months 12000 miles

Option 3 looks the best, any ideas plse?

shunter

How about somewhere like...

http://www.reconditioned-engines.co.uk/

I'm sure there are others, that was the first one Google threw up. Should be cheaper than VX.

george

shunter said:
How about somewhere like...

http://www.reconditioned-engines.co.uk/

I'm sure there are others, that was the first one Google threw up. Should be cheaper than VX.

Already had several of these quotes as stated in option 2 above. E-bay seems to have pushed up the prices on recons.

The choice is taking the risk of a repair at approx half the cost?

Was hoping Vocky would give his expert much valued opinion 🙂

vocky

it's a gamble to fit new rings and seals due to the mileage, it might fix it, then again it might not

it's a lot of money wasted if the bores are worn 🙁

I suppose the only way to find out is to strip the engine, if the bores aren't worn then new rings can be fitted, same as the head, if the guides are ok then new seals can simply be fitted and hopefully the oil burning is fixed.

george

Thanks Vocky what I was hoping for some engineering based logic. 😃

The engine repairer says its not a problem and even if bores and guides need re-doing its still cheaper than an exchange engine. 8)

vocky

sometimes you find the rings gunged up or worn valve guides, it's hard to tell without stripping the engine

but at least if you rebuild your engine you know it's history

george

If i go ahead with engine repair route, will request new cam chain cos its never had one but is balancer chain set necessary? notsure.gif Anything else i should ask engine repairer to check? dunno..

rushy

God, you not got this sorted yet G? I had my oil scraper rings replaced on a 30k Vec C, once replaced the car chucked out loads of blue smoke, VX then replaced the hole lump under warranty. Didn't you also have a blocked Cat that caused the gasket to blow?

george

Hi rushy you really know how to cheer a bloke up just when im at the point of deciding on a repair :roll:

Don't have the luxury of a warranty repair which focusses the mind a bit :shock:

rushy

Sorry mate, was not my intent. The mechanics at my dealers were a bunch of kids and as the car had been in and out of there for 6 months trying to find the where the oil was going I think they got peed off and rushed it out.

george

Its alright rushy mate just kidding :lol:

The problem is im kind of attached to the old car, had it from new and looked after it, bodywork immaculate. Its sale value has dropped to the point where spending a shed load more doesnt really make sense. It would probably be worth spending another £600 on but not £1200+

So its whether to risk another £600 if it would stop smoking and give me say another 30K miles out of engine rallygif

If i go ahead with engine repair route, will request new cam chain cos its never had one but is balancer chain set really necessary vocky? notsure.gif

Anything else i should ask engine repairer to check? dunno.. HELP PLEASE VOCKY! 🙂

vocky

due to the mileage both chains need changing anyway, even if the engine was in perfect health.

remove pistons, cleaned piston ring grooves, fit new rings

remove valves, check guides, replace seals etc

should be good for another 30k

george

Hi vocky

Car in at repairers they have done compression checks before proceeding with quote and have found cylinder no1. no (zilch)compression at all so suspect it may be worse than a piston ring problem, maybe piston holed. They need to remove head to have a look to give a quote so have presented the following options:-

remove head to inspect piston for £230 then produce quote depending on findings.
remove engine, remove head, fully refurbish head, replace piston rings, new chainsets £1100. Extra if have to replace with oversized piston, rings and re-bore, acid etch block. This extra will take it towards cost of option 3
fully exchanged rebuilt engine plus fitting £2000

Any thoughts please vocky on best route to take? notsure.gif notsure.gif

Also please do you think their reasoning is correct that no compression suggests more than a piston ring problem? dunno..

They have established valves sealing ok.