St182 Oil Leak Woes!

[teethkid]

Hmmm decided to change the oil in my trusty ST182 last month, and I noticed a bit of an oil leak from the headgasket? area. I have had no overheating trouble so far, it still drives like it should and doesnt smoke or anything, should i be worried? Since i filled the oil it has only lost about 1/2 to 1/4 litre over 3000 miles so it doesn't look horrendous, but the oil light actually came on shortly before i changed the oil and seemed to be as dry as the proverbial bear's bottom according to the dipstick!

Have I killed my trusty steed? I need to drive to Zurich quite soon; is there anything I should do? Can i ignore it? I'm guessing this may have been like it when I bought it back in march of this year, and have covered 10,000 miles thus far with no problems, other than now it sounds a bit rattly when cold but otherwise it seems ok....... anyone ever changed a headgasket on these before?

[daktari]

Are you sure it's the HG? More often than not it's the rocker cover gasket which hardens with age and ultimately leaks.

Quarter to half a litre of oil per 3000 miles is pretty well normal on a car this age anyway. Provided you use a good quality oil (GTX MAGNATEX) you should be pretty well ok.

[T600]

I'll second that. Good quality oil, and check the level more frequently. Unless you're using a lot more than that, i.e. enough to start getting alarmed about how much you're spending on oil top ups, then I don't think it's anything to worry about.

[Dan_Q]

as the chaps above say, if the cars running OK then I wouldnt worry.with the engine being canted back, oil leaks from either the rocker cover or the dizzy can run round the engine making it appear like its coming from the head / block joint.

1/2 a litre per 3000 miles says healthy to me, mine uses about the same.

as for the dipstick being dry, dunno whats happened there- the oil level light and dipstick have always been quite reliable on my car. hopefully it will just be coinsidence :)