Problem with newly bought car

motorguy

Daz2009 wrote: »

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

+1

And its definitely not the rocker gasket,. And based on the (limited) information the OP gave us its not the head gasket either as the solution wouldnt be to clean the plug every now and again.

Without doubt its coming UP past the oil ring on that cylinder. Either a cracked ring or its lost its tension. Common common problem on that engine.

I've experienced it on three cars i've had over the last two years. All 2002 / 2003 astra petrols, all with not excessive miles.

Jamie_Carter

motorguy wrote: »

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.

No I don't know if it is the head gasket. But you always investigate the options that are easiest to fix first.

If the OP listens to you, then it will cost them a fortune. If they have it investigated by a mechanic who knows what they are doing, then it could save them a lot of money.

One possible cause for oil in the cylinder is head gasket failure. So you shouldn't be telling the OP that it isn't the cause, just because a mechanic told you (not your knowledge).

Jamie_Carter

motorguy wrote: »

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?

Stop telling the OP what the problem is, when you don't have a clue without investigating the problem properly.

Do you actually have any mechanical experience, or are you just going by chats with a mate who is a mechanic?

GAZ237

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

No I don't know if it is the head gasket. But you always investigate the options that are easiest to fix first.

If the OP listens to you, then it will cost them a fortune. If they have it investigated by a mechanic who knows what they are doing, then it could save them a lot of money.

One possible cause for oil in the cylinder is head gasket failure. So you shouldn't be telling the OP that it isn't the cause, just because a mechanic told you (not your knowledge).

The OP has already taken it to a mechanic and the fault has been diagnosed.
To be honest I cant see why he is taking a 1k car to a main dealer to be told the same thing.
Its certainly not the head gasket. You do post some drivel at times.
You just seem to post on everything.

Retrogamer

As mentioned already, i'd check the breather pipes in case it's causing high oil pressure. It's a common fault if the car has been used for mostly town driving, has high miles or hasn't been serviced correctly.

The only way to tell for sure what it is, is to do the above and if it persists to conduct a wet and dry pressure test.

motorguy

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

No I don't know if it is the head gasket. But you always investigate the options that are easiest to fix first.

If the OP listens to you, then it will cost them a fortune. If they have it investigated by a mechanic who knows what they are doing, then it could save them a lot of money.

One possible cause for oil in the cylinder is head gasket failure. So you shouldn't be telling the OP that it isn't the cause, just because a mechanic told you (not your knowledge).

Errr, HELLO? They've already HAD the car at a mechanic - please read ALL their posts. The mechanic spent a day at it investigating ALL options and gave them the prognosis that oil was getting to the no 2 spark plug and that this was terminal to the engine.

I know these engines well - i'm a motor trader and i've (sadly) had experience of this very problem with this very year of petrol astra, right down to the EML coming on and the fact that cleaning / replacing the plug 'cures' it for a few hours / days / weeks / months until it clogs up again.

And my solution - like their mechanics - ISNT expensive, in fact in terms of reparatory work it wont cost them a penny - drive on at the car, and simply clean the plug regularly and top up with oil as and when.

Jamie_Carter

motorguy wrote: »

+1

And its definitely not the rocker gasket,. And based on the (limited) information the OP gave us its not the head gasket either as the solution wouldnt be to clean the plug every now and again.

Without doubt its coming UP past the oil ring on that cylinder. Either a cracked ring or its lost its tension. Common common problem on that engine.

I've experienced it on three cars i've had over the last two years. All 2002 / 2003 astra petrols, all with not excessive miles.

And many people have had Astras of the same age, without that problem.

Just because you have had the problem three times (which I would suspect is more down to your driving style), doesn't mean that it is the only possibility.

It won't be the rocker gasket, because that couldn't cause plugs to oil up. The only way oil would leak if this gasket had gone would be onto the outside of the engine block.

The possible culprits are:

• Failed head gasket
• Engine breather problem causing too much sump pressure.
• Worn piston rings (unlikely on just one cylinder)
• Broken piton rings (you may be able to hear a tinking noise from the engine)

All possibilities should be investigated.

motorguy

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Stop telling the OP what the problem is, when you don't have a clue without investigating the problem properly.

Do you actually have any mechanical experience, or are you just going by chats with a mate who is a mechanic?

I have whats called "experience".

I've been motor trading for years and this is a KNOWN PROBLEM with this engine of this vintage.

It *might* not be the problem i've seen but all the symptoms are there, right down to the year and model of the car.

My mechanic is not a 'mate' - hes a guy i paid, as a motor trader to fix the cars i bring to him.

Jamie_Carter

motorguy wrote: »

Errr, HELLO? They've already HAD the car at a mechanic - please read ALL their posts. The mechanic spent a day at it investigating ALL options and gave them the prognosis that oil was getting to the no 2 spark plug and that this was terminal to the engine.

I know these engines well - i'm a motor trader and i've (sadly) had experience of this very problem with this very year of petrol astra, right down to the EML coming on and the fact that cleaning / replacing the plug 'cures' it for a few hours / days / weeks / months until it clogs up again.

And my solution - like their mechanics - ISNT expensive, in fact in terms of reparatory work it wont cost them a penny - drive on at the car, and simply clean the plug regularly and top up with oil as and when.

And some mechanics are lazy.

If you tell your customers to just clean the plugs occasionally when they buy a car with a similar problem from you, then please tell us all what your dealership is called, so that we can avoid it.

GAZ237

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

And many people have had Astras of the same age, without that problem.

Just because you have had the problem three times (which I would suspect is more down to your driving style), doesn't mean that it is the only possibility.

It won't be the rocker gasket, because that couldn't cause plugs to oil up. The only way oil would leak if this gasket had gone would be onto the outside of the engine block.


The possible culprits are:

• Failed head gasket
• Engine breather problem causing too much sump pressure.
• Worn piston rings (unlikely on just one cylinder)
• Broken piton rings (you may be able to hear a tinking noise from the engine)

All possibilities should be investigated.

You really need to start reading the threads properly before you constantly post tripe.