Crank case vent smell in engine bay
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:37 AM.
i have it too mate but smell it inside the car too...
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:37 AM.
HEXEM, I dug up this thread as I have introduced the oil smell since the Week-end.
I can't smell much around the engine bay but when driving I can smell when stopped at lights coming through the air vents.
Now all I did on the Week-end was change the engine oil. I refilled with valvolene DUra-blend 5w-40. The oil is sitting at the mid-marker on the dip stick. It took about 8 ltrs. There is definiately no oil leaks around the engine.
I've concluded that it must be the oil type I used ?????
As you have said, it very strange...
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
I contacted Valvoline tech support and they stated (of course) that I must have disturbed the crankcase venting system when I changed the oil. They said that there is no-way a smell emulating from the oil.
I didn't go near the PCV system when I changed the oil. I checked it last night and it all looks well.
Its got me F%*KED where the smell is coming from. There is no other vent location on the whole motor...
Looks like I'll just have to dump the new oil and put some odourless $hit in (what ever that could be!!!). There goes another $80+!
Oh BTW, for the first time since birth, when I started the engine this morning the lifters decided to rattle for a bit. FFS, have a purchased a POS
So far this car has been the most temperamental and delicate thing I've ever owned
How the stuff can you change the engine oil and introduce an oil odour into the cabin
Last edited by Thumpin; 21-07-2011 at 09:59 AM. Reason: I shouldn't post when I'm angry - sorry
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:37 AM.
Cheers Phil. I've been itch'in for you to chime in.
Excellent reply. I honestly think its the Valvoline oil and since you were using Durablend too, it adds to the arguement. Maybe one of its additives produces an odour when its hot that escapes from the crankcase somehow. The tech rep at Valvoline thought I was an idiot and when I describe the problem to someone I too feel like an idiot. It has to be the oil...Its the only change to the car that has introduced the stench (well maybe not that bad but I can smell it).
Put it this way. If I can't get rid of the smell, then the car is being sold. Pretty harsh action but these sort of issues really PMO.
Where do I get this AC Delco oil ? (Holden I suppose)
Last edited by Thumpin; 21-07-2011 at 09:58 AM. Reason: comprehension
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
Yes mate, purchase the ACDelco fully synthetic 5w30 with the Dexos 1 logo on the front (vdery important). The part number is 19246958. I just bought my 2 bottle for $40 each but I think I got a special discount. Either way, the rrp for the oil is cheaper than most of the other full syn oils out there.
Cheers. I'll be waiting at their door in the morning.Originally Posted by bluessv
I'm fairly confident my smell with be extinguished. Valvoline Tech support are eagerly waiting an outcome also...
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:38 AM.
mine has got less of a smell now, not sure why but is there sometimes but not often, will see how it goes i guess
Well Hexem and Bluessv, the oil smell is gone
My local dealer had never heard of the Dexos 1 oil but were surprised to see the P/N appear on their database. They got it in the same day.
After I told them what I was trying to achieve, they said that its not the first time they have heard the complaint from a SII SS owners but previously discounted it as mis-diagnosed issue.
They rang someone and explained what I had learnt via JC and whoever they rang, told them to order some extra Dexos1 which they did. 12 extra packs. Makes you wonder if there's not some sort of cover-up going on here
I'm also going to pass-on my experiences to Valvoline as there is an obvious non-compatability issue with the L77 SII 6 litre, IMO.
I still can't explain "why" I had the oil smell which is frustrating but time will tell if it becomes more common. At least JC readers will have a place to start.
Cheers.
Last edited by Thumpin; 24-07-2011 at 08:51 PM. Reason: grammer
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
interesting read, no valvoline for me
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:38 AM.
I've got the same smell with my car, I think my mechanic is running castrol oil in mine. I've asked him before to check where the smell was coming from and he couldn't find anything wrong. It's interesting back when I was getting it serviced at the holden dealer it never had the smell. I might have chat to my mechanic tomorrow about switching to the AC Delco dexos 1 oil. Hopefully that will fix it.
My VE Calais http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...my-calais.html
My VR Wagon http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...-vr-wagon.html
I would recommend the AC Delco Dexos 1 oil as the preferred oil for the late model V8's until a suitable mainstream oil comes along.
Valvoline (Aust) have indicated that their new Synpower DX1 fully synthetic oil will be available very soon and will become the recommended oil for the VE V8's.
Is it a coincidence that "Dexos1" & "DX1" are similar...
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:38 AM.
I had my SSV 9.5 AFM ute serviced at a "performance" workshop that uses and recommends Valvoline and I noticed the smell of crankcase venting when driving home after the service. I searched all over for the source and decided to just leave it as I assummed that they must have dropped a small bit of oil onto the exhaust.
The smell never really went away and was more evident when stopped at lights. Just decided to cruise with the windows down instead. Took the car in to Holden for the next service and presto, the smell was gone. When I asked if they found anything that would cause the smell and they said that everything was fine and they just done a routing service with oil change. BINGO! Must have been the Valvoline oil. Not sure what is in there now but may try the ACDelco (part number 19246958) next. Cheers for the oil tip.
Just a follow-up to this thread.
There has been a rare occasion that I still get a sort of oil smell when idling at lights. Maybe I'm imagining the smell due to paranoia but I can live with it.
I told another SS owner who mentioned his new car has the same smell issue. He promptly changed his oil to the Dexos1 but the smell didn't change. After speaking with his local dealer they removed the car's pollen filter and it smelled like oil residue. They changed the filter and no more smell.
I'm stuffed to think how the filter would smell of oil????
Maybe the crankcase smell had just contaminated the filter. IMO, if the engine bay area smells (when engine is hot and running) then its not a pollen filter issue.
Anyways, my friend was quick to blame me for a $140 oil change that wasn't due.
Give a few Weeks to see if the smell returns (probably not as he now has Dexos1 in there..)
Anyone else made any oil smell discoveries ?
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:39 AM.
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:39 AM.
F O R U M W A R R I O R
hrm cant say Ive heard of this complaint before, we use Castrol magnatec 10/30 on all V6 and V8 engines unless otherwise requested.
Cant imagine how a different brand of oil would cause it either?
Silver Certified.
Well we need to know whats different between the 1 & 2 Dexos.Bit of an update.
Car had its 90k service on Thursday. Only got the basics done as the engine is only 12k old. Anyway, new air filter and had them install a pollen filter this time round. Got them to do a brake fluid flush and some other things. My mate who is the manager of parts said that Holden has been talking about going to the 1 type of DEXOS formula oil. As your all probably aware DEXOS comes in 2 flavours (1 & 2). 1 is for petrol engines only and 2 is for deisel and petrol.
They (Holden) are talking about just having DEXOS 2 for all cars to save confusion as DEXOS 1 if used in a deisel will distroy its filters and other parts. So I said ok lets give the DEXOS 2 oil a go. Well you can guess what has happend.... I have that oil vapor smell back although not a strong as the other time I had it. I have taken all the induction system off and inspected the engine bay and underneath the car for oil residue and nothing can be found. Nothing anywhere.
I am going to run it for a few days and see what happends. I will be reporting back to Holden on Tuesday night when I drop my car off for a cold start in the morning while the Holden engineers are here to listen to it. If I think of it I will mention it to them and see what they have to say. Its a complete mistery...
Cheers
Phil
What's strange about this crankcase fume smell is that it doesn't effect all cars. I have spoken to many owners of S1's & a few S2's who run various types of oil and don't have a smell issue what so ever. As Ricey has stated he has never had complaints and the way he spoke it sounds like he is a trader or auto servicer?
Maybe the firewall to hood seal is not working and letting engine bay fumes into the ventilation on some cars?
Maybe the smell is present in the engine area of more cars but its not getting into the cabin. Maybe some owners drive with recirculation air only, dunno!
Its cause is unknown to me and very weird but I would love to hear from anyone that could help lead us to a diagnosis.
Cheers
VE II SS-V Sportwagon
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:39 AM.
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Last edited by HEXEM; 12-03-2012 at 09:40 AM.
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