Head gasket replacement/oil leak

Axial

Somerset_La_La_La wrote: »

The strange thing is there is no oil leaking when it's parked etc, so is there a chance it's burning the extra oil rather than leaking it?

With the quantities that you say it's taking it, I'd have thought it if was burning it you'd have some fairly thick blue smoke emitting from it, plus the associated smell when the engine is running

arcon5

Is there oil in the engine bay? If it's only the rocker cover that's an easy fix

Axial

I second that the rocker cover gasket is easy, cheap part which can be purchased for a few pounds on eBay

Check for signs of oil escaping all around the cover and running down the engine from there

Norman_Castle

Somerset_La_La_La wrote: »

The strange thing is there is no oil leaking when it's parked etc, so is there a chance it's burning the extra oil rather than leaking it?

.

When parked the oil will be in the sump (the bottom of the engine). When running the oil will be pumped to other parts of the engine.

Have you tried lifting the bonnet and looking for fresh oil on the outside of the engine?.

Marktheshark

It could be the usual.
The circlip from the gudgeon rod has broken on a piston, got lodged outwards and grooved the piston barrel.
The oil is getting burnt.
If the engine has a cam like ticking, its even more likely.

colino

If a gudgeon pin was floating enough to score the bore, the car would be like a 007 stunt car with the amount of blue smoke being thrown out and the racket from the engine.

facade

400 miles to a litre isn't much above the "normal" consumption of a BMW Mini or a VAG 1.6, and you don't see much smoke from these.

It could just be burning it through heavy wear, it won't smoke until the catalyst gives up.

If it is leaking, I'd expect the underside to be fairly coated in oil, and a lot of oil marking where it is parked.

Norman_Castle

Somerset_La_La_La wrote: »

He's advised that I need the Rocker Head Gasket replaced ASAP, and that once this is done hopefully the leak will stop - if it doesn't it is something a lot more serious, but there is no way to tell until the initial work is done.

I don't drive a great deal, and he said if I were to drive it I could just put plenty of oil in and it'll be ok, but keep the oil topped up. Now I've done probably 2,000 miles since then (and used 5L of oil)... but in terms of fuel consumption it seems to be pretty average, if not slightly more than my Corsa I had a few years ago. There have been (touch wood) no breakdowns, failures to start etc. So I'm thinking there can't be *that much* wrong with it, given that it's been up and down the Motorway plenty of times???

I'm stuck now in that I've got an MOT coming up (where presumably an oil leak or whatevers wrong with it isn't going to pass), so I've got a quote from Click Mechanic for a replacement and it's saying:


Cylinder head & gasket replacement
5-6 hours labour time
Includes parts: Cylinder head gasket kit.
£340.33

Was the initial quote 2000 miles ago?. The rocker cover gasket and the head gasket are not the same. Replacing a rocker cover gasket should cost £40-£60?. Have you recently got this quote for a vaguely remembered. misunderstood diagnosis from months ago?.

Cylinder head & gasket replacement There's a big difference in replacing the cylinder head and replacing the cylinder head gasket.
What exactly does the quote say? If the cylinder head was being replaced it would be listed as a part.

facade

The rocker/cam cover gasket always weeps oil on a Corsa, mine did, not enough to use any measurable amount of oil between services.
When I first had it, I used to wash it off when I cleaned the car, then I couldn't be bothered.

I even bought a new gasket, but it never leaked enough to bother fitting it.

I would try and find out where the oil is going. If 5litres of oil has come out of a gasket it will be obvious where it is coming from: the engine will be soaking in oil, just wipe it off and go for a 2 mile drive, a teaspoonful of oil should have come out and you will see it.

I'm with the others who think that it is burning it, most likely the bores are worn out from 100,000 miles at high revs.

You could get a good second hand engine supplied & fitted for under £500.

[Deleted User]

The inspection didn't lead to an actual quote, just written what needed to be done.

I'm sure "rocker head gasket" was what was said on the day as I texted it to a friend - here's the exact wording that was sent in an email by mechanic

"Oil level low rocker cover gasket appears to be leaking. Make sure oil level topped up and monitor oil loss."

So does seem like the cover as people have said - but he did warn it may be a lot more serious.

There is a lot of oil around the top of the engine - I believe a lot of it was dried rather than fresh though - even though he had the engine running for a good 30 mins.

That expensive quote is what comes up if I put in rocker cover and my reg.

As it wasn't a quote no prices were mentioned, so I've just gone via that quote online - so the idea of spending £300 and it not being 'fixed' isn't good!

Will definitely take it into to an actual garage though before deciding whether to scrap/sell it, especially as it seems it might be less to get it sorted. I've got no paperwork/service history etc for it, so if it's cheap to fix I think a 'major service' might be a good call too to keep it running?

Especially as it looks like the cover has been bodged up before too with some kind of dodgy sealant.

Thanks for the help everyone Will update with what the garage have to say too!