oil leak

[micksummer]

There's an oil leak on my @40k miles RS engine. Oil is leaking from the base of the barrel of the Left bank middle cylinder which is now visible when the under cover is off.
Initially the leak wasn't too bad but over the last few trackdays it's actually getting quite bad. Everytime I use the car now, esp on a trackday, the rear of the car is covered in splatters of oil.

I was toying with the idea of a 9M head but I think I've decided to leave it for now unless the head is knackered for whatever reason.

I was told the leak is from a seal which might not have seated properly during manufacturing. The part cost is minimal but the engine needs to come out and stripped for it to be done.

I'm planning on having it sorted this winter after my last trackday this wk.

Question is, while the engine is out, apart from the LWF that I'm changing, what else should I be doing/changing/checking??

 

[clubsport]

You don't need to drop the engine for a LWF fitment. As Paul H said on the other thread it makes sense to hold off until you have a reason to drop the engine. you will hardly lose any oil this way, keep an eye on it.
I would get a 2nd opinion, I had oil on my rear PU after trackdays, I feared the worse but it turned out to be an oil scavenge return pipe which was slightly lose,,,cheap fix..best of luck []

 

[paul howells]

The seal can leak from new,or if rebuilt at some point and the cylinder has a bur/sharp bit,it can nick the seal as its put in.
The seal age hardens and gets gradually worse.Just give the area a regular steam clean,and run the car with out the rear engine tray,the oil build up will not be as bad.
My gt2 racer had a leak in the same place,its was bad enough but lasted 2 seasons and then got replaced on a rebuild
If it gets really bad,then it will need doing.
It can also leak more if you have changed to a thinner oil
Things to check and replace then can get expensive,such as cylinders and heads to reseated,valves, guides and springs,to all be checked for wear,valves and seats reground,may be new piston rings.Fit carrillo or colins con rods and bearings on crank
Or if you are looking for more power also,colin will no doubt advise whats best.

 

[micksummer]

Thanks Paul, will keep a list of the above, worth checking while the engine is in bits.

The leak is getting quite bad, the rear end is covered in black oil, and you can barely read the number plate after just one trackday! The left exhaust is also smoking on over run, I guess from the same leak??

 

[william inch]

Hi Mick
Car looks great in the pics with the new wheels. Sorry to read about your problems. re teh oil leak -have you checked that the oil filler cap is on properly? I had the same problem on my old C4 after it was misthreaded (not by me of course...) after a top up. It didnt cause any problems on the road and I only noticed it when it chucked oil as you describe all over the rear pu/numberplate after a spin on a trackday. A silly point but maybe worth a check?
Cheers
W

 

[micksummer]

thanks Will, thought about that too. Unfortunately I can see the oil driping from base of left bank middle cylinder while the other cylinders are bone dry!

 

[william inch]

Mick
ahhh. damn! could have been a quick fix. am currently in agonies as to whether to put mine up for sale.

 

[micksummer]

why are you selling? moving on to something else?

 

[william inch]

Lack of time to use it mainly. Also, I've nearly finished re-building the alfa guilia gta-rep track car which i think i told you about so that I'll be looking to spend time tracking that. Hopefully I've managed to attach a picture of it...
Have you got any upcoming track days planned?

 

[micksummer]

looks lovely Will, we're thinking of doing Donny in Nov, wasn't planning on doing anymore this yr but my arm was twisted!! Bring the Alfa up if you're free! http://openpitlane.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=698

 

[RSR]

Mick,

When left in the garage over night how much oil drips on to the floor? It is possible that although there is a slight leak from the base of one of the barrells, this may not be whats causing the back of your car to be covered in oil. Someone else mentioned a breather problem. This could cause similar problems, or over filled oil tank.

I would investigate further first. If you do decide to have it done the engine doesn't need a full strip. One bank cam carrier needs removing and then you can strip the offending cylinder head / barrell assembly. They are all seperate.

I would cylinder leak test the engine before deciding on a full strip and rebuild. Its your car and money though.

 

[micksummer]

ORIGINAL: RSR

Mick,

When left in the garage over night how much oil drips on to the floor? It is possible that although there is a slight leak from the base of one of the barrells, this may not be whats causing the back of your car to be covered in oil. Someone else mentioned a breather problem. This could cause similar problems, or over filled oil tank.

I would investigate further first. If you do decide to have it done the engine doesn't need a full strip. One bank cam carrier needs removing and then you can strip the offending cylinder head / barrell assembly. They are all seperate.

I would cylinder leak test the engine before deciding on a full strip and rebuild. Its your car and money though.

Thanks for the advice. The car doesn't drop oil by standing, in fact the back is only covered in oil when the engine is pushed hard like on a trackday, and hardly any under normal road driving.

I had the undertrays off and had a good look around with the car up on the ramp, the rest of the engine is bone dry, just the visible drop of oil at the base of Left bank middle cylinder and the undertray. Right bank is dry as anything!

I'll get the valve guides changed as well 'cos the Lt bank is smoking on lift off, and apparently that can be due to some exhaust valve guide leak.