Oil leak?

Guest · May 2, 2007

Hi there,
Well, I fear I may have my first oil leak, but I call on you experts to let me know if it's in a common area or not etc! Photos at:
http://www.photobox.ie/album/5498271
I put cardboard down last night under the car to see if there were any leaks, and to my heart ache... there is.... it's on the drivers side, just ahead of the back wheel where the 2 sills meet. The photo shows exactly where it is. The leakage in the photo is when I parked at 9pm last night until 9am this morning... so 12 hours worth.
What do you guys and gals think?
Thanks,
Adrian

sbloxxy · May 2, 2007

Looks like its from the oil tank/thermostat area and most likely to be corroded oil pipes. They get covered in mud/salt etc and corrode quite badly. Have a good check around these with a decent inspection lamp. They are readily available but they are a swine to change. I had mine changed and I recall it was £400-£500 inc labour.
Whatever you do, don't ignore it. Its not unknown for an oil pipe to actually burst and dump the engine's oil which is NOT a good thing...

tim_haskins · May 2, 2007

I had a simallar leak on mine. It was coming from the level sender in the oil tank. If you look inside driverside wheel arch towards front of car,you will see the oil tank. Around half way up is the sender unit you will see cable and cover over the top. The metal on mine had rusted and oil began to sweat through causing a leak which looked the same as your getting. Hard to tell with out more photos

Tim

Guest · May 3, 2007

Thanks a million everyone.

Guest · May 3, 2007

Just to back up what's already been said I had exactly the same leak - same area, same amount etc.
Rusty oil pipe was the culprit.
My indy charged me nearer £400 if I remember right.

Definitely get it sorted

Alexander_Drobik · May 6, 2007

agree with waht has been said - best scenario is that the jubilee clips holdng the pipes around there are loose, most likely the rubber hoses will be on their way out, and possible the tank pipes as well. The metal pipes around there may be ok wil a good clean. Generally, if none of these have been changed then the area will have many weakness and changing the lot will be needed - and good. With 11+litres of very hot oil sloshing around - you don't want any weak pipes/joints etc!