Strong oil smell?

[Ramsey]

Me again,

Well after my very costly new head(£1768) things still dont seem quite right? As posted before, when the engine is cold (first 30secs of driving) it hardly moves but then totally fine, weird I know.
Now and even more worrying, since the head has been changed theres a strong oil smell?
I first put this down to the work they did etc but I have done enough miles now to know its not right.
The oil smell is from the exhaust fumes not the engine (which is spotless since head change, no oil leaks).
I get a puff off white smoke when starting too!
My oil level is fine (in fact a tad on the high side) and water level stabilised after about a week of having it back.

Im taking it back in to be checked out on Tuesday and was hoping for some things to suggest to them.
My feelings arent good as this is head gaskets signs again surely? Im going to ask them to do the dye test again, can any of you suggest other things I should ask to be checked please?

Al, next time it breaks down (there wont be one!) I will push it from Bude to Plymouth myself to your garage as having someone like you who knows these motors is worth its weight in gold as Im sure the garage I have taken it to have done something daft!
Oh yeah the other thing is my mid section part of the exhaust is blowing quite bad, could this cause the above problems?

One thing Im totally under confident about is that they have charged the water system properly as I read that its quite hard to do, could this cause my problems? Temperature is fine by the way.

As ever, thanks

Rams.

[Doone]

Al, next time it breaks down (there wont be one!) I will push it from Bude to Plymouth myself to your garage as having someone like you who knows these motors is worth its weight in gold as Im sure the garage I have taken it to have done something daft!

Al (my hubby) has seen your message Ramsey. He has sent you a pm.

[wonkanoby]

how old are glowplugs

and for sure get the exhaust fixed

[Ramsey]

Well I must admit with all the snow and Xmas I havent used the bongo much BUT we went to Newquay yesterday (50min ride each way) and the very strong oil smell was there plus my little puff of smoke.
I think the smoke thing maybve ok as I have a hole on the joint of my mid section exhaust and it maybe the valves settling in as adviced BUTTTTTTTTTTTTT
I looked under today to find a small pipe that didnt look right!
It comes from the gear box and is either a breather/overflow of some description which I doubt or should be connected to the thing next to it (which looks like a grease nipple). The transmission oil is also on the bottom marker where it was ok when picked up from repair.
My guess is the garage who repaired the head knocked this off and its to do with the gearbox oil level decreasing and my oil smell.

Firstly from the pic can anyone advise that the pipe should be connected to the nipple next to it?
Secondly, where do I fill my gear box oil up and what with.

As ever bongo buddies,

thanks

Rams.,

[francophile1947]

Sorry, no idea about the pipe, but you use Dexron 3 spec ATF and fill it through the dipstick hole.

[dandywarhol]

I can't picture where that is - but a nipple near the gearbox could be for a clutch slave cylinder bleedr - no pipe should be attached to it I take it yours is a manual gearbox ramsey?

[Ramsey]

Soz guys, lack of info there, mines an auto. The pipe comes from the top passenger side of the gearbox and the nipple is in the middle to teh drives side of the back of the head/engine. The pipe is about 2ft long. thanks for info re toping her up.
Just tried to take some more pics but battery died.

so the pipe goes from the top passenger side of the gearbox, runs about 1ft half along themiddle and then is clipped on the engine block with a curve on it right next to that nipple.

Cheers

[Ramsey]

Theres no sign of a jubilee clip but the pipe is sitting right next to the nipple and it fits perfectly? I have put it on with a cable tie for now. The other thing is there is oil around that area but none in the usual places. When i first start the motor for the first 30secs in drive its weird with no power and then totally fine, my guess is that this pipe is leaking oil and thats why my gearbox oil is suddenly low but this would only happen when driving and not standing still is my guess?
Any ideas? im hoping this is the problem.

Cheers Rams.

By the way its taken this long to reply because my 2yr old daughter thought it was fun to pull all of the keys off the laptop whilst I was out of hte room, joy LOL.

[Allans]

I have put it on with a cable tie for now.

This would be easier if you lived closer. But I've sent you a pm.

[Alacrity]

The pipe sounds to me me like the gearbox breather - if it is then it definitely shouldn't be connected to anything as you risk blocking it (depending on what it is you are connecting it too) & this is very bad news for your gearbox. Remember to have the engine running in park (preferably with a hot gearbox) when you check/top-up the oil.

[francophile1947]

The pipe sounds to me me like the gearbox breather - if it is then it definitely shouldn't be connected to anything as you risk blocking it (depending on what it is you are connecting it too) & this is very bad news for your gearbox. Remember to have the engine running in park (preferably with a hot gearbox) when you check/top-up the oil.

Shouldn't it be in Drive?

[rita]

The pipe sounds to me me like the gearbox breather - if it is then it definitely shouldn't be connected to anything as you risk blocking it (depending on what it is you are connecting it too) & this is very bad news for your gearbox. Remember to have the engine running in park (preferably with a hot gearbox) when you check/top-up the oil.

Shouldn't it be in Drive?

A lot safer doing it in Park

[francophile1947]

The pipe sounds to me me like the gearbox breather - if it is then it definitely shouldn't be connected to anything as you risk blocking it (depending on what it is you are connecting it too) & this is very bad news for your gearbox. Remember to have the engine running in park (preferably with a hot gearbox) when you check/top-up the oil.

Shouldn't it be in Drive?

A lot safer doing it in Park

But is it as accurate?

[dandywarhol]

More accurate in "D" IMO - less splash on the stick

[missfixit70]

Perfectly safe in D with handbrake on if it works right, if in any doubt, chock it & hold the footbrake down.