Car has been running really well. Then started leaking a bit of oil. Then it started smoking a bit on startup. Wasn't too happy, but carried on driving it, just keeping an eye on things. Smoking got a bit worse (from startup only). Had all the hoses checked and tightened to sort the leak out. On my private test track last week, a V8 Kompressor E class decides it wants a race. So I give it some. Zed initially pulls away from Merc but Merc reels me in. While we were kind of 'giving' it some, I look out of the mirror and see plumes of smoke out of the back. Drive back slowly. Get out of car the whole thing is smoking from everywhere.

 

After leaving said test track, I nurse it back to a mate's house and get out, oil spattered all up the side. I imediately thought, worse case scenario and thought a turbo oil feed had ruptured. Had it running and the exhaust was as clear as a whistle. Gauges were all reading correctly.

 

Anyway, get the torch on it and have a look, dip stick has blown itself out of the tube. Might have not put it back in properly. Anyway, it had pumped around 1litre of oil all over the car. So no damage done, just a smelly mess!

 

Hadn't noticed it before due to me not driving it hard.

 

I know why all this happened.

 

I think on service it was over filled with oil a bit.

 

The smoke must have been the oil being pumped up to the breathers. The blow out and leaks (loose hoses) must have been due to excess oil pressure as I was on full boost for about 3 or 4 mins.

 

Anyway, no harm done, back to driving it like an old woman as per usual now! :rofl:

 

Had to spend £7 on jetwash!! LOL

 

Car drives as it did. No smoke, no nothing. :)

Mates TT dumps oil onto the nearside exhaust someplace when warm. Had the car on the ramp can see nothing from below recon it's a rocker cover but just guessing ?? Ideas welcome

Was wondering if you'd post it mate! I'm glad it wasn't anything major. Did you notice it overfilled before? probably would be a worry as people seem to have problems with the cam seals and similar things going. Looks like you solved the overfilling problem the rather quick way. Next time give us a call and I'll lend you a 14mm socket to undo the sump plug! Dave

Mates TT dumps oil onto the nearside exhaust someplace when warm. Had the car on the ramp can see nothing from below recon it's a rocker cover but just guessing ?? Ideas welcome

I've seen one with a leaky (edit- rear half circle seal under the rocker cover) that did that, caused smoking to come up rear of engine after it hit turbos/exhaust. Someone had done a cowboy repair and tried to seal it outside with liquid gasket, obviously it didn't work to well. I changed all the rear seals along with the rocker covers and they def all needed replacing.

 

Edit- sorry not the cam seals, the little half circle seals under the rocker covers.

 

I think on service it was over filled with oil a bit.

 

 

Keep an eye out for oil leaks for a bit, particualy the rear main seal (oil will appear around gearbox bellhousing) - common failure after oil overfill.

Seems to be the odd drop Legrath, but nothing major. Is that seal a ******* of a job then?

 

Mono...Erm, I noticed it was slightly above the max line. Not much, but probably enough to cause problems...old engine, PCVs and other breathers clogged etc....

Mates TT dumps oil onto the nearside exhaust someplace when warm. Had the car on the ramp can see nothing from below recon it's a rocker cover but just guessing ?? Ideas welcome

 

PCV valve could be.

Rear seal is a gearbox off job, thus people often do it if they have taken the gearbox off for another reason such as knackered autobox.

Have you had the PCV valves / hoses replaced? Sounds like you have high crankcase pressure which is either going to be bad PCV / breather system or the rings are worn.

Just for my edumacation John: I understand the Pcv bit , but what does worn rings do to make high crankcase pressure, is it because the pressure comes through from above the pistons or something? Trying to learn from you people with white coats and big car brains! Cheers mate Dave :dance:

Ah interesting

 

Ive seen this and assumed that i had a worn oil seal but oil does not continue to drop ..so this is evidence of an overfill

 

Many thanks

 

Looking and learning

 

 

 

 

Keep an eye out for oil leaks for a bit, particualy the rear main seal (oil will appear around gearbox bellhousing) - common failure after oil overfill.

Ah interesting

 

Ive seen this "leaky marking" and assumed that i had a worn oil seal but oil does not continue to drop ..so this is evidence of an overfill

 

Many thanks

 

Looking and learning

 

Keep an eye out for oil leaks for a bit, particualy the rear main seal (oil will appear around gearbox bellhousing) - common failure after oil overfill.

Just for my edumacation John: I understand the Pcv bit , but what does worn rings do to make high crankcase pressure, is it because the pressure comes through from above the pistons or something? Trying to learn from you people with white coats and big car brains! Cheers mate Dave :dance:

 

Yes, more of the pressure in the combustion chamber gets past the rings and into the crank case. The breather system then can't handle it all so you get more oil leaks, dip stick blowing out etc.

No, it's stopped smoking now. Rings don't heal themselves....hehe ;)

 

So, combo of oil level too high and maybe old PCVs....which will be replaced forthwith.

No, it's stopped smoking now. Rings don't heal themselves....hehe ;)

 

So, combo of oil level too high and maybe old PCVs....which will be replaced forthwith.

 

Hey Si,

 

Does indeed sound like PCVs - that would blow the dipstick out of the tube in extreme circumstances.

 

Richard :)

Oh yeah,

 

(Excuse post whoring :rolleyes: ) it is easy to overfill the oil on these cars as it takes seriously long for the oil to return to the sump after running the engine.

 

I always supply my garage with exactly 4 litres for each service and each time I collect the ZX the mechanic says "You need to add another 1/2 litre"

 

However I kinda know better and when I get home, leave the car for 20 minutes or so, I check the dipstick and find the level is spot on!

 

If I left it down to the garage they would overfill it by 1/2 litre :o (and charge me for the extra oil that would feck my engine as well :rolleyes: )

 

Richard :)

Interesting... I thought the oil capacity was 4.6 litres. You've got me worried now.

Bart

don't won't to sound stupid guys but what are PCV's? (i'm new around here), my car's not dripping oil but i looked under neath yeaterday and the underneath of the gearbox/bell housing looks a bit wet but not much.

sounds like your rear oil seal bananaboat

thats all i need, its not bothering me at the moment until i start seeing dripps on the drive, that would realy do my head in.

 

What about the PCV's?

Interesting... I thought the oil capacity was 4.6 litres. You've got me worried now.

Bart

3.5l seems to do mine ok.

3.5l seems to do mine ok.

 

Erm, OK. Now I'm seriously concerned. Just double checked and it looks like you might be right (this is from one of Oilman's threads):

 

Engine VG30DETT

Petrol, 4-stroke, 6 cilinder, V, 4 valves/cil., Turbo, liquid cooled

Cilinder capacity: 2960 cc

Capacity: 3.4 liter

Filter capacity: 0.4 liter

Use: Normal

Change 10000 km/6 months

 

Goodness only knows where I got 4.6 litres from. I'm going to double-check this in the service manual later, but it looks like I might be getting under the car at some point over the weekend. Not what I wanted to be doing.

 

Thanks,

Bart

That's quite a small sump capacity really. Guess it's top stop oil surges maybe. My old V6 Vauxhall took just under 5 litres.

I think the hand-book says 4.4 litres with a filter change, but as Oilman's thread suggests it is 3.4 + 0.4 for the filter(total 3.8); and 4 litres dead seems to do the trick in mine, I'd say the hand-book is a little wrong......

 

It would seem just under 4 is about right.

 

Richard :)

Mates TT dumps oil onto the nearside exhaust someplace when warm. Had the car on the ramp can see nothing from below recon it's a rocker cover but just guessing ?? Ideas welcome[/quote

 

is it an auto

check underneath when the car is running front end on axal stands if u may see a leak dripping on to ur exhaust from the small hole in the bottom of the box if so ur crank seal is blown i had the same problemcost to repair is about 450 all in

Mates TT dumps oil onto the nearside exhaust someplace when warm. Had the car on the ramp can see nothing from below recon it's a rocker cover but just guessing ?? Ideas welcome[/quote

 

is it an auto

check underneath when the car is running front end on axal stands if u may see a leak dripping on to ur exhaust from the small hole in the bottom of the box if so ur crank seal is blown i had the same problemcost to repair is about 450 all in

 

£450..ouch. Rear main crank seal is only a few quid and 2-3 hours labour.