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Smell of tar

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  • 31-10-2014 7:32pm
    #1
    Skuxx
    Registered Users Posts: 2,370 ✭✭✭


    Friend of mine recently bought an '08 Opel Astra, 1.3 diesel!
    It has a smell of tar coming through the vents while driving, and also you can see steam/ smoke coming from under the bonnet!
    Any ideas what it might be? I was thinking possible oil over spill from when it was last serviced burning off


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    #2
    mgbgt1978
    Registered Users Posts: 4,230 ✭✭✭mgbgt1978


    Not being smart, but has he lifted the Bonnet to see where this steam/smoke may be originating from ?
    It could be any number of things causing the symptoms you describe.


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    #3
    Skuxx
    Registered Users Posts: 2,370 ✭✭✭Skuxx


    Yeah had a look, coming from around oil filler cap area, slightly below it! No sign of it anywhere else in engine bay!


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    #4
    mgbgt1978
    Registered Users Posts: 4,230 ✭✭✭mgbgt1978


    Could be just oil overspill.
    But could be an oil leak onto the exhaust.
    Could also be a small coolant leak.

    TBH if it was just an overspill I would'nt expect to see much smoke as it's really only the exhaust that gets hot enough to actually cause 'loose' oil to smoke a bit.
    Pour a bit of water over the filler cap (with the cap on) and see where it goes...any oil would have followed the same path and should be easily spotted.
    Another option is that the car may have had some recent work done. This usually means greasy hands all over the place and this can cause all sorts of oily smells as the grime gets burnt off.
    The main thing would be to check the oil and coolant levels very regularly for a while.


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    #5
    mossy50
    Closed Accounts Posts: 391 ✭✭mossy50


    i had the same problem turned out to be a gasket failure at back of the head seems the gasket had failed due to been over torqued and basically pushed the gasket out of line hence it started to fail and leak oil and stink


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