burning oil smell

[andrewgrazier]

hey everyone i have a 91 SP astina and anwayys yesterday n even today when i was driving i could smell a light oil burning smell
anways i got out of the car because i could see smoke coming out of the bonet
it looks like oil is leakin from the top engine cover and running down onto the exhaust manifold bit n then smoking when the engine gets hot

i also know that the water pump is leaking too so ive got to get that replaced but i think i might take it somewhere to get that done n then do the top myself
just wondering if its like the gasket or somthing ? its on the passenger side of the engine along the join between the black top engine cover n the bottom of the rest of engine. near where the spark distributor is
just wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them and if so was it easy to fix?

my cars up to almost 300 000kms so i am expecting a lot of **** to be replaced soon

thanks everyone

[JynX]

it is probably the rocker gasket but the BP blocks have been known to leak oil around the dizzy also. Send it to the mechanic and they will plug it up for you.

[DrSilver]

Mine had a leak behind the dizzy, oil was leaking down to the gearbox. Replacing the gasket(which cost $5) fixed the problem.

[andrewgrazier]

hmm cool thanks

i think ill try n get it done on mon or tues

im pretty sure its the rocker cover thing
its like the bit wich has got MAZDA written on it

[Cosmo Dude]

If you're changing the rocker cover seal you may as well do the dizzy seal and the PCV seal. Remember to mark the distributor so it goes back in set to the right timing.
It took me about an hour to buy the parts and instal them.

Oh yeah, clean everything with a rag before putting things together and tighten the timing cover bolts in three staged. Finger tight, a little tighter then firm but not over tight.

[Mizda_Mazda]

Yeh, make sure you don't over tighten cos you can crack stuff from over tightening, i've done it before.

Plus check for holes in your exhaust, the oil smell is how i found a hole in mine. But i think it's the rocker cover or timing cover from the sounds of it.

[andrewgrazier]

im pretty sure its the rocker cover thingy.
nar no holes in the exhaust thats still all good.
its only leaking from like the front left side when looking towards the engine
i guess the seal is like one that goes around the whole thing?
whats these other things i might as well replace if im taking the cover off?
like
it hasnt really had any parts replaced on the engine since we got the car
just the water pump
and its had the timing belt changed too
hehhe
that reminds me
does anyone know howm uch a water pump would be
i was gonna buy it from supercheap or somthing befopre taking to to get it fixed
my uncle is a mechanic so i might as well get the water pump and timing belt replaced.
im guessin timing belt is like $80 ? cauyse i know the last one was pretty expensive

[Mizda_Mazda]

I think my mate got a timing belt kit for about $170-$220, not quite sure, out at repco. I'd go with the kit, that way you can replace the sprokets and pulleys while your there. i think the rocker cover gasket was about $10, and water pump was around $80-90. These price's are for parts only, labor is wats gonna kill ya.

[-BraXta-]

lol i remember i had a burning oil smell on my car..

and i was all like oh ****..

then i realised ... that my gf left the heater on to the feet and that the oil on my work boots was burning =P

[geetee]

slight confusion here, you say that the leak is coming from the front LEFT of the engine when your looking towards it, but near your dizzy???? :?
problem there............your engines in the wrong way round!!!!! :lol:

seriously though, do the cam cover gasket (rubber) and the distributor "O" ring at the same time. these are probably the 2 most common places for an oil leak. cosmo mentioned the pcv valve seal, i found this seal near impossible to get out, so if it`s ok then just leave it!!!!
those chrome dome head bolts on the cam cover snap very easily so go easy on them, the torque setting is 8 - 10Nm.
you should also apply silicone to the "humps" on the left side and the hump around the dizzy housing before seating the gasket.
finally, why not take this fine opportunity to "BLING" your cam cover??? :wink: [/img]

[DrSilver]

hey geetee, just went to mazda today and bought a pcv valve seal for $1!! I was surprised how cheap it was!
The old one comes out easily. Just use long nose pliers and pull the f*#ker out. easy job!
the new one is so mucb better because the pcv valve now sits very tight in it.

[geetee]

:shock:sorry mate, but i don`t believe you!!!!! :?

nothing from mazda only costs a buck....... :lol:

when i tried to take mine out i didn`t want to damage it so pliers were a no no.......suppose if i wanted to change it then brute force would suffice!!! :lol:

[andrewgrazier]

god dammit

how could the timing belt be soo damm much?

[miah87]

I don't know if I post in the correct thread... My car smells bad. Not inside but out of the car and not from the engine. It is from the exhaust I believe... Well, I think this smell is common for all cars... How do I get rid of that? My mechanic said different cars different smells but my bro and my friend's car dont have that smell. There must be a way to get rid of that cause I don't want to annoy other people with my car smell. I usually park beside a shop waiting for my gf to finish work and I don't want to irritate other people with that smell. Any ideas?

[phildough]

Well you have just dug up a 6 year old post that has nothing to do with your problem!!

Is your smell a sweet smell? if it is its leaking coolant.
If its a dirty burnt smell its used oil on the out side of the block.
You have said that your car has many problems and it sounds like it wasn't properly maintained by the previous owner.
If i was you I would go get a few cans of degreaser and clean your engine.
See if your smell goes away then.

[miah87]

Thx, will try that.... Hope it works

[phildough]

The 2 most common places for an oil leak on your car are the cam cover gasket (rubber) and the distributor "O" ring seal.
I'd start by looking round there for oil leaks

[Clean_Cookie]

could it be that rotten eggs smell from the cat dying (if its been replaced or somethign?)

[miah87]

There is a small oil leak from the cover gasket but my mechanic said don't bother fixing that cause it is only a minor oil leaks. If it becomes worse then I should fix it. So he is asking me to wait till it becomes worse. If it doesnt, then don't fix it. If the oil leaks becomes worse will it cost me more to fix?