oil leak, flashing light and a dodgy needle?!?

Post by **Valsowners** » 13 Jun 2008, 09:43

Hey guys

Yet another dumb blonde question!

I've just had my cambelt changed on my 1982 1.6d high top. when I got home I noticed a spot of oil on the road, had a quick look underneath and there's oil over the bottom corner of the engine. I've just received my new JK 1.6d manual and it mentions (just after the cam belt replacement section) about a camshaft oil seal - could this be at fault??

Also when driving her back from MOT (which she passed) on the journey home which is only 3 miles the oil temp gauge moved right over to the right, the light flashed, then the needle moved back to where it normally sits. Does this mean anything, should I panic?? I assumed the flashing light was an oil temp warning light, am I correct??

We're off to Bus stopover tomorrow (150 mile round trip) Will Val make it??

Please help as I'm rather worried

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Jun 2008, 09:56

Doubt if it'll be camshaft seal as this isn't changed to do a cambelt...

Has it been topped up with oil lately? Who did the seal and did they do a service too?

They don't have Oil Temp gauges as standard so you'd better check what it is and where its wired.. they do put a LOT of heat into the oil!

The two sound connected... investigate further what was done at cambelt change garage

Post by **Valsowners** » 13 Jun 2008, 10:03

just had a look at the dial, its on the right hand side at the top.the little picture underneath shows what looks like a choppy sea with a thermometer coming out of it. I always assumed this was the engine oil temperature - am I wrong?????

I checked the oil yesterday, it is up to the top marker. Val hasn't had a full service yet, thats in a few months

Just been out and checked the coolant, when I opened the top it was flowing out so it's obviously over the max level - it wasnt last time I checked a few months ago - now I'm very confused

Post by **Fritz** » 13 Jun 2008, 10:53

Personally I'd be washing off the excess oil from the sump and then going for run to re check if it re appears......If it does this may have to be looked at closer.
Bear in mind they rev the ballz off your motor during a diesel MOT for some silly reason (as part of the emissions test) and oil residue could be a result of this test.

Water temp is the only standard fitted gauge on the console....if this has settled down I wouldn't worry about it, just check all levels and as I said road test again to be sure.

Regards

Fritz,,,,,,,

Post by **The_blue** » 13 Jun 2008, 11:04

Its a water temp guage.

If the waters not been touched in months and its now producing its own i'd be checkig what else is in there. Check the folks who did the belt havn't topped it up.

Not knowing these engines (not watercooled here) I'm not sure if it could be an airlock or oil from a blown head.

Most places can check water for exaust gas which is a sign of blown heads.

Post by **camper** » 13 Jun 2008, 11:05

It could be a camshaft cover oil seal that is leaking.To set the timing it is removed then the seal is replaced or gasket sealent used in conjuction with the old one.

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Jun 2008, 13:16

** Something is wrong ***

Find out quickly

Was it cold when you took the cap off the overflow bottle?

Fan-belt, water pump?

Yes, oil could be that damned camcover gasket.
Water problem more important at this stage...

Try bleeding at top of radiator first, see if air in there when hot.

Post by **Valsowners** » 13 Jun 2008, 13:31

Hi

yes it was cold when I checked the coolant (hadn't been used for a day)

I'm assuming the fan belt and water pump are ok as I hope my mechanic would have spotted anything major. The last time I checked the coolant was anout 3 months ago because I had found a small amount of coolant on the spare wheel. At the time we could not trace the problem. I looked again this morning and there was more liquid on the wheel (about a dessert spoon full)

I went on a 12 mile motorway run before, all seemed fine the temp gauge was normal. about an hour after I got back I checked the coolant - it was over flowing again. I opened the oil filler and could swear it smelt of burnt oil - I don't know if I was imagining it or not though - I'm feeling very paranoid about the whole thing.

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Jun 2008, 21:41

Hot diesel oil will smell a bit like that...

Did you check for air in rad (bleed screw) when hot?

As water can't be inventing itself its normally air that gets in to expand volume... sometimes implies head-gasket

Post by **Valsowners** » 13 Jun 2008, 21:55

Hi all, thanks for your help here's the latest instalment

My dad came round earlier and we had a look. There was air in the radiator, when we looked in the expansion tank it was half full. I am worried that when the cam belt was changed the garage may have done something. Val was fine beforehand. I know they removed the top up tank as they had to angle grind one of the screw's off - do you think it could be something they did??

Dad and I topped up the expansion tank and ran the engine until water came out of the bleed screw, however we really needed 3 of us so we may have got more air in the system. I took val for a test drive and the needle went right across twice but went back to normal within 15-20 seconds. I rechecked the level's when val was cool - they are the same as they were after dad and I had messed about, so doesn't appear to have taken in anymore air. We will try to purge the system again this weekend - look's like we'll miss out on bus stopover

I really do think the garage have done something, it seems too much of a coincidence, plus there is the oil leak as well

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Jun 2008, 22:04

The oil leak is prob. the camcover gasket, right down the back left hand side as you stand , see if its coming down that side of the engine... over exhaust manifold.

Thats quite common and not easy to prevent when camcover is removed without all new attack at it, so if its that, they aren't tooo culpable - its a bad design.

What were they grinding? Alternator bolt?

They might not have bled it out very well... they aren't that hard, you shpuld have it bled out without too much fuss, just fill the header tank blue cap up (if its not blue (black?) change it to a new blue one! Put cap back on, run, get hot, rev a little, bleed a little, rev a little, beled if needs it, top overflow tank up to approx level indicated and should pretty well stay there. Drive and check for air after 5 or 10 miles when parked but running... they seem to self-bleed quite well.

Not sure they caused it as such... just might have got some air in there...

Keep good eye on oil level, as you'd want to knwo if oil is getting into water and raising level, though doesn't sound like it is.

Post by **Valsowners** » 13 Jun 2008, 22:12

Cap is blue so I have one thing right!!!

They ground off one of the bolts that held the top up tank next to the numberplate flip down thingy (that's the proper technical term

)

I'm hoping that it was just them bleeding it badly and that tomorrow we can try again. The two tanks themselves are rather manky inside with brown/bluey gunk that smelt of antifreeze, we checked the water which again is a manky colour it smelt of anit freeze not oil and has been like that for at least the last 12 months

must try harder!

What do you think my chances are? - will bleeding it again sort the problem??

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 Jun 2008, 22:20

Cap is blue so I have one thing right!!!

Clean it thoroughly (inside it)

They ground off one of the bolts that held the top up tank next to the numberplate flip down thingy (that's the proper technical term

Whyyyy?

Sounds like coolant system needs a good clean out and flush... and refilling using NEW antifreeze (50/50), usually the pink stuff is the right one (about £12@15/gallon)..

Presume they didn't change the coolant (yes, that needs doing every 3 years or so!)

Yes, should be OK but how many miles has she done?

Post by **Valsowners** » 13 Jun 2008, 22:35

the mileage question is a good one!!

the clock say's 33000miles,the V5 say's 1.9ltr, therefore we suspect it gave up the ghost at some point and was replaced with whatever they could get hold of hence the 1.6, so really the mileage is anyones guess!!

I have no idea why the ground the bolt off - they didn't even replace it!!!

I got a bottle of blue antifreeze from our local car shop will that be ok? I think at a ratio of 50/50 i'll need about 8ltrs - my jk book said it should take about 16 litres to fill all in all - does this seem right??

Thanks so much for all your help