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white rubber on engine block
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scooksey
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Aug 6, 2018, 5:44 AM
Post #1 of 11
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white rubber on engine block
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Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Hi torq 1998 auto gearbox
I purchased it 4 days ago from a trade seller. At the time I did question the amount of oil on the outside of the engine block, I thought it was excessive, but they said that "it is a 20 year old car which will have been taken apart and put back together many times and it gets messy". The car does not overheat, the engine sounds fine and there is no oil on the ground. I was cleaning some of the oil off the block yesterday so that if it comes back I would know it was leaking and under some oil residue I found what I would describe as the sealant you put around your bath. It is white and rubbery. It was the full length of the block under where the oil gets put in and exactly where there is a join between two things. It was literally running along the fine line between the oil tank and what is below it. I think that is where the head gasket would sit. The radiator was replaced at the point of sale. I checked the oil and water in the car when buying it and all looked fine. No gunk in the oil and after running the engine no smoke coming from the oil. Now the water is going a muddy colour and having used a touch to look right down into the oil tank I can see a strip of white rubber down there as well.
Before contacting the car dealer making accusations am I right in thinking that the head gasket is knackered and a sealant used to hold it for a while. The car drives fine now but I assume in a few months it will all change. These sealants, if they work, only offer a temporary fix don't they?
Thanks for reading.
(This post was edited by scooksey on Aug 6, 2018, 10:44 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 6, 2018, 6:30 AM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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Not pretty. There's oil showing on parts that get hot so whatever the source is or was didn't even burn that off.
The unknown stuff? Don't know for sure possibly some wild sealer or a gasket sealer that squeezed out and fell off up so some road junk that got in there?
4 days? Is this what we call a "dealer" in used cars? Can you take this back for another or cancel the sale that's a mess in my opinion older or not you just know it's a problem vehicle,
T
(edit) Picture may have to go it's so wide makes this hard to read. If you can downsize that it would really help or will be removed but is needed...….
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Aug 6, 2018, 6:32 AM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 6, 2018, 9:28 AM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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Looks like someone tried to make their own valve cover gasket using silicone.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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scooksey
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Aug 6, 2018, 11:00 AM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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I have tried to resize the picture to make it smaller I looks a bit better now. I am trying to cancel the sale. They are acting all innocent and asking what do I mean by silicone sealer. I realized after I made this post that I did not mean rubbber but silicone.
I have contacted them and shown them the pictures and their reply is
"What you are showing us is evidence of previous repairs. There is no evidence what so ever that there is a current problem. Sealants in many cases have replaced traditional gaskets in manufacturing."
Will that cover it. I am not happy that since I asked if there was any issue with the head gasket they said no. Was that not their cue to tell me that it had been repaired with a sealant in the past. That does not explain the presence of the sealant inside the oil tank. How would it get down in there unless there was a crack or something.
Do you know how long these things last. They just keep quoting that there is no current problem with the car and unless there is I have no claim. But is the repair a permanent fix or a temporary thing or is there no way of knowing.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 6, 2018, 11:26 AM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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? First off they don't sell this car to the US where site is based. Quoting you what they told you ">
"What you are showing us is evidence of previous repairs. There is no evidence what so ever that there is a current problem. Sealants in many cases have replaced traditional gaskets in manufacturing." <"
That's true for some things. I think pic showed first time you had a steel valve cover which would have a gasket AND some will also use just a smear to hold those in place the common name brand is Permatex "Form a Gasket" and silicone sealant/adhesive is silicone if not dry would squish out like that but never saw it in white doesn't mean there isn't one.
If a steel valve cover vs alloy you can mess those up overtightening them would be checked if leaking with a straight edge and make it straight so gasket would work as when or if overtightened that type lifts in between bolts and or someone in a hurry doesn't want to retorque a gasket after warming up engine a couple times and torque it properly.
Not the whole point I don't like what still looks like fresh new oil on what looked like exhaust parts and shield?? Those get hot enough to burn off oil pretty fast or should be wiped clean when fixed. I don't suggest anybody power wash engines in place just parts off the vehicle away from all kinds of things the would be harmed with water/solvents under pressure so fine wipe it clean.
There's a problem lurking is an opinion I know it's older but shouldn't be wet with oil now unless it was just done oil is still leaking. If that was valve cover not head gasket oil would only make a total mess and crankcase everywhere would be under pressure not a slight vacuum which a good engine should be.
Try this: Get a second professional opinion you may have to pay for really should do that before buying a car that says it's wrong and is in fact a problem frequently a worn engine with too much blow-by for the PCV system to handle.
Then you'd have something to work with and I would cancel this sale if you can. Even a tricky used car dealer can do better than that to fake a repair knowing it's trouble. I don't know anything was done on purpose just to sell the car that's up to you and another pro tech to say there's a more serious problem that was covered up and not well at that!
Tom
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 6, 2018, 12:14 PM
Post #6 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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I agree with Tom that you should get a second opinion. Who ever resealed that valve cover may have used too much silicone that oozed out into the crankcase. I've googled your vauxhall's year, make, and model and the gasket appears to be molded rubber. The only silicone you would use would be 1/8 inch in the corners.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 6, 2018, 12:23 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 6, 2018, 1:56 PM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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Good find Descrete! So that type needed some not much. My issue is pressure in there is not a good sign of a healthy engine or it has a clogged up PCV system. DS - if you saw original pics there was wet oil on cast iron exhaust AND heat shield would have to be leaking badly at least the cast iron shown would have burned right off in anything I know of if driven just a few miles and NOT return unless it was active - that scares me enough I would pass on that car or reject it if hired to check out a car showing that or say it's a clear sign of something wrong not just a gasket still to be proven,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 6, 2018, 2:25 PM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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What's all the hoopla about? Sounds like it just needs a valve cover gasket, no big deal.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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scooksey
New User
Aug 6, 2018, 2:59 PM
Post #9 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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thank you for your help. I will take it to a local garage tomorrow and ask them what they think. The dealer is just repeating themselves over and over by asking me what is the fault I am claiming the car has. Well I will admit I don't exactly have one. I admit the engine sounds fine, it does not overheat and there is no oil on the ground but I know there is stuff around that can be used to temporarily seal a head gasket without actually dealing with the source of the problem and that it lasts about 6 months.....my brother used some stuff via the water tank to give him a few more months until he could replace the car as it was to old to contemplate replacing the head gasket not because of the cost of a head gasket but because of the labour cost of having someone replace it. I am in the UK and due to sale of goods laws on 2nd hand cars purchased from a trade person you only have 6 months to claim against the seller and even then you have to have solid proof that the problem was there before the sale of the car. I will not be able to get a refund unless the car has an actual fault that I can prove was there before sale and at present it does not appear to have an actual fault. I actually like the car and was happy with it but I did not pay to only have it for a few months so I know I will endlessly worry waiting for something to happen so best I ask some other garage what they think to put my mind at rest.
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scooksey
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Aug 6, 2018, 3:09 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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I dont want to appear rude to someone who has taken the time to reply to me but are you serious.....whats all the hoopla about. I appreciate that this site is based in the USA and I am in the UK so maybe it was not the best place to ask for help.....a 20 year old car and you reckon I should just get a garage to replace the valve cover gasket.....that will probably only cost about £30 pounds ($45 dollars) but I was under the impression to replace it involved taking the engine apart and labour costs of mechanics in the UK is £50 pounds ($75 dollars) per hour.....plus vat at 20%......the cost of repair will be more than the cars total value.......do you still maintain whats the huppla about its no big deal.......I'm just a lady driver I can't replace it myself.....I learnt to drive a car not build one. I say that with all due respect and in the nicest possible way.
Thank you for your time...
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 6, 2018, 3:20 PM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: white rubber on engine block
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It's not a head gasket, it's a valve cover gasket and it is a very common thing when they get a little age. It's pretty much normal maintenance and expected.
I don't even know what type of engine you have so I can't estimate cost but is's not a big deal.
This is a 20 yer old used car. If valve covers leaking is your worst problem, you did very well.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 6, 2018, 3:28 PM)
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