Ticking manifold

Soldato
Joined
26 Apr 2003
Posts
5,746
Location
West Midlands
I've been having a few niggles with my car recently. First off its buring oil, around 1liter per 1000miles and upon start up I get a puff of blue smoke. I am also getting a ticking noise coming from the front of the block. The ticking frequency increases with the revs. I'm am certain this isn't the tappets. I noticed that there appears to be oil splatted around the area of the ticking indicating a blown gasket or cracked manifold. What do you guys think?
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The ticking is either a cracked manifold or defective manifold gasket. The "oil" is soot.

I don't believe this is related to your other issues though.

Blue smoke on start-up would usually indicate valve stem oil seals, but along with the volume of oil being consumed, I'd put money (or at least pray!) on turbo oil seals.
 
^Oh dear.

OP - i wouldnt say thats splatter, thats more a very slow seep

ticking - could be a few things tbh injectors sticky tappet lots of stuff

even auxiliary components
 
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I have for sale my 2007 Astra VXR in the stunning Arden Blue which is exclusive to the VXR range. This car has been cared for on an almost obessive scale. It's washed inside and out every Sunday and clayed, polished and waxed every 3 months. The oil has been changed every 6500 miles with Mobil 1 0w40. The service book has all its stamps and they are all from the main dealer. I've had new Kumho KU31 tyres fitted on the front around 500 miles ago and new Conti SportContacts on the rears around 3000 miles ago.

Spec wise you get all the standard VXR features such as:-

VXR branded door sills
VXR Mats
Part leather Recaros
VXR branded short shift gear knob and steering wheels
VXR Dials
Black head lining
Air Conditioning with chilled glove box
Power windows with remote opening and closing
CD Player with MP3 Playback
Cruise Control
Air bags in every nook n cranny

The standard car makes 240bhp and 236lb/ft of torque, it also has a very disinctive sound. Mine how ever was taken to Thorney Motorsport for a stage 2 upgrade which involves a full turbo back 3" Miltek Race exhaust and stage 2 remap. This took the power to 285bhp and 320lb/ft of torque which has completely changed the way this car drives. Not only is it quicker but its so much smoother to drive as all the flatspots are now removed which also removes the torque steer. There are two states to have this car which are controlled via the Sport button. Which the sport button off the car is more relaxed and less on edge which makes for easier urban driving and also more economial but with the sport button on the full power of the map is activated which makes for a great time around the twisty country roads with its pin sharp throttle response and direct steering. The tuners, Thorney Motorsport have given the work a 3 year warrenty on the parts fitted and also parts that are directly affected by the parts fitted, the Miltek however has a life time warrenty.

The condition of this car is excellent for the age and millage. There are no scatches but there are few stone chips on the bumper and bonnet which can be touched up and the wheels have minor scuffs, again something which can be seen to very easily and cheaply. The interior is pretty much unmarked.

The car has tax until October and the MOT runs out in January next year. The service isn't due until November and as mentioned the tyres are pretty much new so there are zero costs due on this car for atleast 4 months. The car does have outstanding finance on it and my plan was once I have received money from you, to go down the bank with you and clear the finance off right there and then.

Thanks for looking and if you have any questions please fire them at me.

Regards

James

good tyre choice
 
i know i'm probably wrong but, are you sure your car uses 0w40 oil? It just seems quite thin oil to use in something like this. We have came across things like this before that using the wrong grade oil (too thin in your case[well it could be]) would cause noises like stated, and could potentially mess things up.
Just a thought, i wouldnt know what oil they use but that does seem particually thin.

gl in selling it, i'm sure your find someone.
 
0w30 is pretty thick oil and its the recommended oil for the car. I changed it for 10w40 today as it only smokes after sitting idle so I'm thinking having a thicker oil at cold will stop it weeping past the turbo seals.
 
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No mention of blue smoke here either, or tapping, or manifold leak


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-VAUXHALL...iewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27b31a7295

Princey said:
I have for sale my 2007 Astra VXR in the stunning Arden Blue which is exclusive to the VXR range. This car has been cared for on an almost obessive scale. It's washed inside and out every Sunday and clayed, polished and waxed every 3 months. The oil has been changed every 6500 miles with Mobil 1 0w40. The service book has all its stamps and they are all from the main dealer. I've had new Kumho KU31 tyres fitted on the front around 500 miles ago and new Conti SportContacts on the rears around 3000 miles ago.

Spec wise you get all the standard VXR features such as:-

VXR branded door sills
VXR Mats
Part leather Recaros
VXR branded short shift gear knob and steering wheels
VXR Dials
Black head lining
Air Conditioning with chilled glove box
Power windows with remote opening and closing
CD Player with MP3 Playback
Cruise Control
Air bags in every nook n cranny
The standard car makes 240bhp and 236lb/ft of torque, it also has a very disinctive sound. Mine how ever was taken to Thorney Motorsport for a stage 2 upgrade which involves a full turbo back 3" Miltek Race exhaust and stage 2 remap. This took the power to 285bhp and 320lb/ft of torque which has completely changed the way this car drives. Not only is it quicker but its so much smoother to drive as all the flatspots are now removed which also removes the torque steer. There are two states to have this car which are controlled via the Sport button. Which the sport button off the car is more relaxed and less on edge which makes for easier urban driving and also more economial but with the sport button on the full power of the map is activated which makes for a great time around the twisty country roads with its pin sharp throttle response and direct steering. The tuners, Thorney Motorsport have given the work a 3 year warrenty on the parts fitted and also parts that are directly affected by the parts fitted, the Miltek however has a life time warrenty.

The condition of this car is excellent for the age and millage. There are no scatches but there are few stone chips on the bumper and bonnet which can be touched up and the wheels have minor scuffs, again something which can be seen to very easily and cheaply. The interior is pretty much unmarked.

The car has tax until October and the MOT runs out in January next year. The service isn't due until November and as mentioned the tyres are pretty much new so there are zero costs due on this car for atleast 4 months. The car does have outstanding finance on it and my plan was once I have received money from you, to go down the bank with you and clear the finance off right there and then.

Thanks for looking and if you have any questions please fire them at me.

Regards

James
 
I won't BS, it's a pretty easy issue to find and it doesn't make the car unsafe so it's buyer beware in this case. It's the first thing you should be looking at on a tuned turbo car anyway. I would not mention it in the ad but of course if someone phones and asks categorically 'does it use oil?' I will tell the truth.
 
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