Problem with newly bought car

motorguy

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Head gaskets are far easier and cheaper to replace than complete engines, even if the head needs skimming.

Thats not the problem.

motorguy

colino wrote: »

Once a proper garage has a look and diagnoses the valve-stem oil seals properly, you can throw in a can of snake oil, refurb the head, or live with it.

Sadly it wont be the valve stem oil seals, but the treatment is the same - keep topping it up with oil and drive on at it.

Jamie_Carter

motorguy wrote: »

Thats not the problem.

You don't know that.

Jamie_Carter

motorguy wrote: »

Sadly it wont be the valve stem oil seals, but the treatment is the same - keep topping it up with oil and drive on at it.

Again, you don't know that.

red_eye

DSpence wrote: »

Hi all,

I just bought a car (53 reg Astra, ~77,000 miles on the clock) from a private seller through autotrader a few weeks ago. It's been fine since then until yesterday when one of the warning lights on the dashboard came on and it ran on 'limp home' mode.

Took it into the garage today and they've told me that the no.2 cylinder is leaking oil into the spark plug, and that in order to properly fix this (can keep it going by periodically replacing the spark plug / oil) the engine needs to be replace. This will be around £900 to do inclusive or labour, and I bought the car for £1000.

The garage also said that there was no way the previous owner wouldn't have known about this, as it would have been a problem he would have encountered at some point. They suggested it as the reason the car was for sale so cheap. Obviously I wouldn't have gone near this car with a bargepole had I known about this problem.

The garage suggested that as I didn't sign any 'sold as seen' receipt, I would be entitled to go back to the guy that sold it to me and demand my money back as there is clearly a major fault with the car.

The AA 'selling a used car' page says: "Remember that if your vehicle has a serious defect and is unroadworthy, you could be breaking the law by selling it, if you haven't described it accurately"

What are my rights here, and what can I do about this?

Would appreciate any and all help / advice...

Thanks in advance,
Dan

where is this oil leaking from? rocker cover gasket, head gasket or steam seal? rocker gasket will be the cheapest out of the three followed by head gasket.

motorguy

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Again, you don't know that.

And you dont 'know' its the head gasket.

Sadly, i've had lots of (bad) experience with this engine and this engine is known for this fault and it gives the symptoms as described by the O/P and their mechanic.

The plug will clog up with oil, which eventually stops it from sparking, which brings on the engine management light - the code will say something like weak spark to cylinder 2 or something like that - and the car will run rough.

As per the mechanics suggestion, you need to keep cleaning / replacing the plug, although the car will likely be burning a lot of oil too which will need to be topped up.

Also the mechanic said it needed an engine - which is the only reasonable solution to this problem - rather than simply fix a head gasket or put a rocker cover gasket on it.

motorguy

red_eye wrote: »

where is this oil leaking from? rocker cover gasket, head gasket or steam seal? rocker gasket will be the cheapest out of the three followed by head gasket.

It will be coming UP past the oil ring in the cylinder.

Hence why the mechanic is saying it needs an engine, not a rocker cover gasket, head gasket or valve stem oil seals.

Unless maybe your mechanic puts a new engine in every time a car needs a rocker cover gasket?

spacey2012

The first thing any even half competent mechanic will have done is renew the breather valve filter and clean out the engine breather system.
If they have not done this, then no diagnostic is really valid.
Poor or blocked breathers can force oil past any seal at very high pressure.
The dipstick popping up a little from its clip down position is usually a sign the breather is blocked.
Push it in, run it and have a look.
Remove the oil cap whilst running with a rag to catch any oils is the engine pressured with vapour, it should not be.

motorguy

DSpence wrote: »

Thanks everyone - going to take it to a Vauxhall dealership tomorrow and see what they reckon. Fingers crossed...

Any update from Vauxhall?

Daz2009

It's definitely not stem seals,they cause an engine to emit blue smoke not misfire on 1 cylinder.
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