2000 XKR Convertible. 110000kms approx

From when I first bought the XKR, I regularly get an oily/fumy smell inside when travelling at low speed in traffic or more pronounced when I come to a stop . Not over powering but it's there.
During a recent inspection my mechanic advised me of the following minor oil leaks.
Both cam cover gaskets
Timing case seal
Lower sump gasket
Diff pinion seal. Very wet.

And a very ,very minor leak at the LH Head gasket.

Long shot I know but has anyone else had a similar experience and knows what is causing it?
If I knew I'd bump it up the repairs / maintenance items list

Pete

 

You have a number of miles on a 15 year old car. IF you're not the orig owner then you haven't any idea what the cars been through. Sounds like it's leaking / weeping everywhere though I'd highly recommend getting another opinion / mechanic to look it over. He states several leaks which is rare to have them all but one or two sure, again it depends on the care of the car over the years. Some repairs are cheap from what you listed others probably not.

 

First, a question; is the oil smell of burnt oil?

If so, that is probably coming from the valve cover leaks that drop on the exhaust manifold and a gasket change will probably fix it. The rest you list are just messy.

 

Have the secondary chain tensioners been replaced? That is more important than the oil leaks, and the valve cover gaskets can be replaced at the same time.

It would be wise to top up the differential, but the other leaks I would ignore for now unless you see a lot of oil spots on the ground.

 

Thanks team

1. I wouldn't say 110000 kilometres or 66,000 miles is a lot for a 15 year old car. Is it?
2. Although I am the 3rd owner , I have a full service and repair history that came with the car. The first owner had it until 2009 or 99000kms and the second until 2015 or 106000kms.
3. I wouldn't say it's leaking everywhere. There aren't pools of oil forming under it when parked. I trust my mechanic implicitly. He is a very straight up guy.
4. Yep. It's a burnt oil smell.When you say valve cover leaks, do you mean the Cam Cover gaskets or the timing case seal?
5. Yep the tensioners have been replaced in the last 10000kms and I have the service record for that.
6. Good idea about checking the diff oil. I reckon it might be that, splashing across onto the exhaust.

Pete

 

It's almost always the cam (valve) cover gaskets leaking onto the cats that cause the smell.
Since they haven't been on that long there is no need to replace them unless damaged. If the screws were over torqued there could be a crack in one of the covers, or they could be slightly warped, not unusual with plastic covers.

 

Thanks RJ

Will tackle that one first then

 

I agree with the Cam Covers being the likely source. The oil drips onto the hot manifold and the fumes are pulled in through the plenum cover when the vehicle is standing or at low speed.

The cam cover rubber seals do fail but the covers themselves are easily cracked by over tightening.

The V8 is otherwise oil tight and leaks are unusual.

Graham

 

I would also look at the PCV valve and hose. They were put there to keep pressure from building up inside the engine,(or blowby as it is called) from air that passes through the rings, during the compression cycle. It sounds like you are building up pressure inside the engine.

As for where to look for leaks, chances are it is the valve covers, because they are about the only things high enough to leak onto the exhaust manifold.

I would also get a couple of cans of engine degreaser, from your local parts store. This is where I would trust Autozone or Advanced(they are owned by the same corporation). Go to a car wash, with bays, where you can use their pressure washer, if you don't have one. I would do it relatively late at night, and spray the 2 cans liberally on the front of the engine, down the sides, and underneath, including the trans pan, when you get to the pressure washer. The engine will be hot, but that is when this stuff works the best. Let the engine sit, for probably 15 minutes, so you don't crack the exhaust manifolds, when you rinse everything off, usually when you can touch them, without leaving your finger prints on them, they are cool enough. DO NOT!!! SPRAY ANYTHING ON THE UPPER PART OF THE ENGINE, as in anything above the bottom edge of the valve covers, or electrical connections, as in the huge engine connector mounted on top of the transmission bellhousing, or you will be waiting for a tow truck, or getting home with a lot of work and codes to erase, from cylinders misfiring.

You would need to remove the coil covers, and use compressed air to blow out all the holes, where the sparkplugs live. Run it a little, until she is running smoothly, and remove the codes(that sounds like a lot of unnecessary work to me)

After you perform this cleaning, and replace the PCV, you should be able to find any real leaks in a few days. I do not think you have as many leaks as the mechanic said, once you complete this......Good luck......Mike