Burning Oil + rear light lenses

[Alexw]

I've been trying to get to the source of an oil burning smell from my car and everyone suggested i check the hatch seal. Just got in and its in perfect condition! What was in a bad state though was the mastic round the edges of the rear light clusters (one was full of water and mold [:'(]). I'd like to take the lenses out to clean the inside of them properly but they appear to be glued in - is this the case? How do you get them off the unit?

Can anyone suggest anything else that could cause this oil burning smell? It gets much much worse when the throttle is opened up but ive never seen any oil drip AT ALL on the floor of my garage. Oil consumption is way up so its going somewhere....

 

[333pg333]

Check out this site for light issues and upgrades. http://www.protocast.co.uk/
As for the oil smell, sounds like it's dripping down onto the exhaust as that's really the only time you'll smell burnt oil. The suspect rear hatch usually leads to smell of exhaust or fuel. Fuel smell can often be just a poorly sealed filler cap.

 

[swright]

If i recall correctly the lights are held in by nuts on the inside of the boot. They should have a seal. Im not sure about any mastic or if its standard for them to have it.

Can you not see any smoke in the rear view mirror especially on the over run? mind you its not always as obvious as we might think to tell as i have been getting a slight burning oil smell in my merc but couldn't see any in the rear mirrors at all. But having followed my dad back from my mechanics after some work on the 44(he was in the merc) i noticed a slight puff of oil smoke as he set off every now and then. Can you get someone to follow you and report back if they see any smoke?

 

[Alexw]

Yeah that was my next job to do, get someone to follow me and be on the phone with them to find and when it smokes, i know it does im just never sure of the colour as it tends to be under pretty heavy acceleration and i prefer to look where im going in that case []

Ive got the light clusters off, they are held in by 6 bolts, its the actual lenses i can't get off, i was just going to start poking at it but don't want to break it as it doesnt look cheap.

 

[333pg333]

Well they wouldn't need to phone you as they could just tell you when you pull over.[]
I want to clean up my rear lights and my guess is that they're not that expensive to buy some from a wrecker?

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: Alexw

Ive got the light clusters off, they are held in by 6 bolts, its the actual lenses i can't get off,

The clusters are a complete unit, the coloured lenses weren't designed to be removed unless you cut them off. When refitting the clusters you should use a soft non-setting mastic like 'Dum Dum'

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8317&frostProductName=DUM%20DUM%20Sealing%20Compound%20(400g)&catID=13&frostCat=Bodywork%20&frostSubCat=Miscellaneous&subCatID=21

If your lenses are cracked and leaking then it would be easier to buy a complete s/h unit for around £15 each

 

[Alexw]

ahh well, i was only going to clean them as they're dirty. Ive got some mastic in my garage that should be ok.

Still not found this oil leak, im going to properly clean the engine off later and put it back together. If it doesn't help at least i know its clean []

I've gone and put my replacement intake gasket "somewhere safe" so it wouldn't get damaged.....[] Thats pretty much stalled my rebuild for the moment

 

[geoff Ives]

Are you by any chance using Synthetic oil?
My 944 engined car (924S) smells when using synthetic. My 924 Turbo also has the same problem but on that car I need to use synthetic because of the turbo and I add 30% semi.

These cars were not designed for the new generation of oils and the low primary viscosity allows them to dribble a tiny amount that then drips onto something hot and smells.
Neither of the cars use any quantity of oil in fact the 'S' goes from one oil change to another without a top up.

 

[Alexw]

hmm, i think ive been using semi-synth for the most part. Im not sure what my indi used, i need to go ask them.

 

[geoff Ives]

Look at the lower viscosity number as in 10/40 if it is 5 (5/40) or less this could be your trouble. Synthetic oils are superb, they get into every part of the engine and unfortunatley trough some of them.
Good look and keep this forum informed of any success.

 

[333pg333]

Yes, check what sort of oil and visc is in there.

 

[333pg333]

This is what's in your owner's manual. No need to go too low a viscosity. Look at what low temps even a 20w/50 operates within. How often is your car in -10c?

 

[Alexw]

just got the email back from them - Mobile1 0w40 Fully Synth.
The car has had this problem pretty much since i bought it a year ago so its not directly related to the oil atm, although from what everyone has said its not helping?