Oil leak woes

[sawood12]

I have a minorish (approx 1000 - 1500 mile top up interval) oil leak somewhere. I've been trying to track it down but lack of obvious signs are hampering my efforts and it doesn't help when the oil gets blown about all over the place by turbulent underbonnet airflow. Several steam cleans and periodic checks have failed to locate the offending seal.

I strongly suspect the oil cooler/oil pressure sender unit simply because this appears to be the next most likely candidate since camshaft/crankshaft/balanceshaft seals appear to be OK (front of engine is dry) and the engine is wetter on the oil cooler/oil pressure sensor side of the engine than anywhere else.

Has anyone any experience of leaks from this area and are the oil cooler gaskets a simple job to replace since i'm considering just replacing the gaskets anyway to see if it fixes the leak?

Once this, my tyres are sorted out and then my A/C recharged I will have ticked all the jobs on my 'things to fix' list!

Thanks.

 

[Fen]

You need a more comprehensive list. I bet most of us run closer to double figures of 'things to do'.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: Fen

You need a more comprehensive list. I bet most of us run closer to double figures of 'things to do'.

PMSL

 

[Andy Duncan]

If its the manifold side the culprit is likely to be the oil cooler or it could be the unions that feed the oil cooler pipes that run to the oil cooler rad in the front spolier. Also check your oil filer is properly seated.

To investigate,: take fOS wheel off and engine undertray, clean the mess as best you can then start the engine and watch carefully, a bad leak will show itself soon enough.

If you take the oil filter off, this will allow you to dismantle the heat shield that sits under the manifold, when this is off you get a good view of the oil cooler and the fittings going into it.

good luck.

drop me an email if you have any further questions.

andy

 

[Diver944]

Could the mess on this side simply be years of spillage when changing the oil filter? Some of us always make a mess there [:-]

What is your consumption for this 1000-1500 mile top up? It is not uncommon for older Turbos to use a litre normally through old seals in the turbo itself, or even slightly worn engine internals. Take off the hard pipe from the turbo to intercooler and check how oily it is inside (or inside the intercooler itself)

 

[sawood12]

Paul,
I've had the engine steam cleaned a couple of times now in my attempts to locate the leak. My problem is that the oil seems to get all over the place since it drips down various pipes. But the left hand side of the engine (as you look at it in the engine bay) is the wetter which is why I suspect the oil cooler since I can't think of anything else it could be on that side.

My 1000 - 1500 mile top up is from when the warning light on the dash comes on at about the oil minimum leve on the dip stick. I'm not sure if this is normal consumption since I know the engine should consume some oil.

I think i'm going to go ahead and get the oil cooler gaskets replaced at my next service anyway. They are bound to be the orinial ones from new so are about 17 yrs old now so are ready for replacement anyway. Hopefully that'll give me a nice sealed engine.

Cheers.