Rocker Cover Oil Leak?
 

Suddenly started smelling fumes inside the car and slight smoke coming out of the bonnet after about 5 mins of driving.

Upon investigation, I think it might be an oil leak along the back of the rocker cover, so possibly needs a gasket replacement? If so, this probably isn't something I'd be comfortable doing myself, but my garage can't take a look for 2 weeks.

Curious if my diagnosis is correct, and wondering if it's still safe to use the car in the meantime (only short trips) until the garage can take a look? Advise welcome.

http://spdr.me/WECtzn+
http://spdr.me/VVixuj+
http://spdr.me/GNOHbT+
http://spdr.me/24miHS+

Higher-res photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/da7lqi52f...6bXRU-FLa?dl=0

First Vauxhall Omega V6 I owned used to leak oil from the cam covers all over the exhaust manifolds such that when I stopped anywhere smoke would billow out from the bonnet sides,the front edge of the bonnet and the front wheel arches:speechless-smiley-5 Drove that thing all over the place[kept topping up the oil]never did get round to fixing the problem as it was only a short term[11 months]keeper.

I've no experience with that particular engine but I've done a rocker cover gasket when I had my Saab 9-5 2.3L and it was very easy, but then again it was a surprisingly accessible engine and barely anything needed moving to be able to take the cover off so it could be a different story here.

The only other thing I did was replace all 4 plugs and clean out around where the ignition coil cartridge went over them as the inner gasket had released oil in to them and they were soaked.

These engines don't have a rocker cover gasket...they are cam-in-head engines. There doesn't look to be enough of an oil leak to cause the symptom you are seeing in my humble opinion. Has the engine sump been over filled?

The worst of the oil leak & fumes are more likely to be coming from the hole (see pic) on the back of the block. I believe there should be a rubber bung in it. It's most likely perished & come out ?
I think the hole is there because it has the same block as the turbo engine & that is where the oil return pipe would be from the turbo ?

Not sure, but i think this is what's missing ? https://www.skandix.de/en/spare-part...block/1021416/

Interesting. Had it serviced at the garage 5 weeks before started seeing smoke. This may also explain why I've struggled to get clear oil readings from the dip stick, as there is no obvious line, it's as if the oil is just smeared up the stick.

I think this could be it! Thank you!

I had wondered if this hole was related intially, but struggled to work out what it was for so couldn't look it up.

Using that part number, I've found this diagram, and "3" is same part that you linked to!

http://spdr.me/0zQf4A+

So could it be that the garage put too much oil in which caused it to start seeping at the rocker cover and also caused the plug to pop out?

If so, sounds like I just need to:

• Replace the plug
• Drain out some oil

It's staring you in the face the leak !
There should be a core plug in that hole , it is the oil drain for the turbo when you have one fitted .

You're right, I don't know why I discounted this so quickly, now that I've had a closer look it is obvious.

So the question is, could the garage overfilling the oil have caused this plug to pop-off?

http://spdr.me/me8B6u+

No, its a rubber plug and gone soft no doubt ... it has been known to happen before and needs volvo's modified steel plug . it needs hitting in straight with a long rod which should just do it through the branches of the manifold .

Great, thanks, that's good to know.

And the seeping that seems to be coming from the rear of the rocker cover (first 3 photos in OP) is likely completely unrelated and nothing to worry about?