Technical major problems with losing engine oil and high engine temp

[neenor]

Hi again all, I didn't think it would be long until I needed your expertise again! I think I have major problems with the engine in regards to losing oil and a melted engine case (no idea what it is technically called).

I have some pictures for you to have a look at, I would really appreciate any advice you might have for what I should do!

I have the 2.4 abarth selespeed.

Many thanks in advance

Chris

 

[Davren]

I don't see anything melted, just the engine cover looks cracked or broken. Possibly it's rubbing on something below it.

You need to take the cover off (4 screws) to see where the oil leak is coming from.

 

[neenor]

Hi Davren, the pic on the top right shows a hole where the pipe underneath has melted it. This was very VERY hot when I looked after driving before. Do you know what this pipe is??

 

[Davren]

No .... but if you take the cover off and post another picture, it would help.

 

[12[X]]

that's your exhaust.. it gets very hot .. oil can be lost from many places.. but, before you start ripping your hair out, check you are not losing from the oil filter (very common! and generally leaves no drips) or the rocker cover (extremely common and would evaporate on contact with the exhaust pipe.. thus no drips) - take that cover off and have a look about for sludge.. how much oil are we talking about? If it is below 1 litter per 1000 miles.. it may be high but acceptable

 

[neenor]

Is it common for the exhaust to melt the engine casing?

I'm using about 2 litres every 2000km of oil, when I was looking before I think I could hear some fluid evaporating somewhere.

 

[12[X]]

now that's amazing hearing! I'm not familiar with the 2.4 (being a 1.8 owner.. my engine cover does not sit over the exhaust manifold as much as yours does.. however.. given that it is right over it.. i wouldn't think it unlikely.. especially if you sit in traffic on a hot day.. perhaps other 2.4 owners would advise you from experience) 1litter per 1000 km is a bit excessive.. but not alarmingly so (2.4 are oil heavy from what i gather also depends on age and mileage).. i will stick to the original advise.. take the cover off (top and bottom) and see if you can spot any gunge/leaks and then get back to us

PS: is that the original heat shield on the exhaust? looks nothing like mine.. perhaps that could be the reason? also the trace on the right side of the shield looks like an oil leak from the rocker cover

 

[neenor]

I find it very strange how the exhaust melts the engine casing after 98,000km. If it gets this hot, how come it hasn't burnt through before? Last summer was 35 degrees here in Switzerland and I had no trouble.

I'm not going to take off the cover, I'm going to book the car in for a major service next week and explain the problems I have. I'm just not confident enough to do things like that!!

 

[neenor]

The car is with the mechanic now, he will take a look.

Incidentally, he pushed the engine cover very slightly and the whole thing gave way, he asked if it has ever overheated, I replied no.

he is checking the oil, oil filter, rocker, thermostat and giving it a full service. In Switzerland here I don't expect a bill below 1500 chf which is about £1000.

Today, I promised that when I return to Cheshire, I'm having a Nissan 370z GT Pack with extra service and maintenence options. I never want to experience this again!!

 

[Argonought]

Lifting the the bonnet (OK, you did manage that ) and removing the engine cover is about as basic as it gets when investigating engine faults.

If you don't want to do that then what's the point in posting

...and you sure as hell wont catch me buying jap

 

[neenor]

I have it back, I'm very happy!

He said it was low on oil (not surprised as it uses more oil than fuel) he said there was no problem with any leaks and nothing seemed to be wrong. He will put an additive in the oil to stop it from consuming as much. He wasn't concerend at all about the engine cover being slowly melted so if he isn't then I'm not!

Mr Argonaught I know it may be hard for you to believe, but even if I take the engine cover off it still wouldn't help me diagnose any problems! Thats why I come to you nice, helpful and knowledgable forum people for advice!

Lets be honest now too, if you like to fiddle and repair cars then you buy a Fiat. If you want to drive a car and not worry about ridiculous maintenence costs and the fact that "if it can go wrong then its Fiat, it inevitable will" then you buy Jap!

I drove a Nissan 370z at the recent Sony Playstaion National Finals for Switzerland and instantly fell in love. Such an AMAZING car and the best value for a semi-new sports coupé on the market at the moment.

 

[Muppet1]

What a load of twaddle, My fiat apart from a few issues has been spot on, Has never left me high and dry and will be replaced by another FIAT.
I think all the abuse that my car gets and the fact its not looked after in any way shape or form i think is great. As for your oil consumption, What a joke i have never ever topped up oil between services.
Oh and whats all this about Toyota in the news then, Jap reliability havent laughed so much in months.

So Mr Neenor, Why did you buy a Fiat then??????? Couldnt afford your jap cr*p??

 

[neenor]

"Apart from a few issues". OK. Before this shoddy Fiat I had a Vectra SRi for 3 years with absolutely no problems at all. Before that a Ford Ka with no problems at all. I suppose it's just all down to whether your car was built on a Monday or a Friday!!

From what I can gather high oil consumption is a known problem with 2.4 abarth. Just a quick scan through the forums and the oil threads will prove that.

Toyota isn't Nissan. They were also very transparent about their problems and I was impressed to see them fix it so quickly and they are not the biggest car company on Earth for no reason..

I stand by what I say, if you like to fix cars buy a Fiat. The only reason I have this Fiat is because I bought it from a friend who was re-patriating to France and sold it to me for an excellent price. Before you say "well it must have had problems before thats why it's so cheap". It didn't. Just problems with a broken sky roof, sat nav and cdc. I finally managed to fix the NAV+ but the skyroof and the cdc are buggered and I refuse to shell more out for this car.

 

[Yellow Peril]

As a matter of design, the engine cover would not melt in normal use. The entire exhaust manifold is shrouded in a heat shield and the engine cover itself (as your picture shows) has pairs of ventilation cut-outs along its length above the manifold, to allow rising heat from the exhust to escape.

 

[Davren]

"Apart from a few issues". OK. Before this shoddy Fiat I had a Vectra SRi for 3 years with absolutely no problems at all. Before that a Ford Ka with no problems at all. I suppose it's just all down to whether your car was built on a Monday or a Friday!!

I doubt the robots that build cars now have any idea whether it's Monday or Friday.

 

[neenor]

And I thought umpa-lumpa's built Stilo's.

My My I am naive.

 

[Muppet1]

I stand by what I say, if you like to fix cars buy a Fiat. The only reason I have this Fiat is because I bought it from a friend who was re-patriating to France and sold it to me for an excellent price. Before you say "well it must have had problems before thats why it's so cheap". It didn't. Just problems with a broken sky roof, sat nav and cdc. I finally managed to fix the NAV+ but the skyroof and the cdc are buggered and I refuse to shell more out for this car.

You really do make me laugh, So if these highlighted problems are not problems what are they.

Suggest you sell it double quick and hurry up and get your nissan then you might be 100% happy but i doubt it.

 

[neenor]

I was willing to overlook the problems with the sky roof and the cd changer because the car was so cheap.

My fiat apart from a few issues

If you enjoy fixing your car good for you, for me there are many other things I prefer to do than fix broken cars.

I really wouldn't bother yourself with me wanting a Nissan, in fact I'm rather confused about your apparant concern with my happiness.

 

[Muppet1]

Nowt wrong with me, Just take offence at some people slagging off fiats when they bought one with problems and then moan and groan about not being arsed about fixing them.
And believe me fella if you think i spend anytime messing about with my car you are sorely mistaken. It gets abused and not looked after at all.

 

[spyshagg]

My abarth engine underside was clean and dry, not a drop of oil for the first 500km I had the car. Then I took him to do a revision, changed oil and plugs. Bought the selenia 10W40 oil.



Now, since 1000km after the revision, the car drips a bit of oil every night, and the left side of the engine (underneath) has oil on it...



They say it might be the Seal from this red piece http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheiro:Cshaft.gif But they cant know for sure without removing the gearbox. But not to worry they said.
It only has 42k miles.