Oil leak (with photo)

[stevesey]

Got around to looking at the small oil leak under the starter motor.

The highest point I can see oil is the flange above the torx bold on the top right (and the torx bolt head was covered with a drip of oil before I wiped it off with my finger). It looks like oil from there has spread down and around the bell housing and also forwards along the line of the flange and down.

I'm thinking it looks like the oil is coming from the sump/oil pan gasket in that corner, so it's going to be a new gasket job.

Anyone have any other ideas?

And how difficult is it to drop the sump/oil pan (any issues with the steering/cross member being in the way?)

Also noticed that the bracket (holding the cables) on the left has lost it's torx bolt (you can just see the empty hole hiding behind the steering damper on the left).

Thanks

 

[BlackC55]

Remove the engine covers and have a look down that side. The rockers have been known to leak.

It is very unusual for that engine to leak oil. Mine has done 160,000 and has no oil leaks.

The sump pan I think is an engine out job.

 

[grober]

I would be inclined to live with minor oil leaks like this, if you don't have excessive oil loss. i.e. pool of oil on garage floor or constant "topping up". As engines "age gracefully" they do develop small leaks.As long as the oil is not saturating some rubber or electronic component such as a gearbox mounting I would be inclined to leave well alone. You could try"tweaking up" the sump pan bolts in the vicinity of the leak but remember over tightening may distort the gasket and make any leak worse.

 

[stevesey]

Remove the engine covers and have a look down that side. The rockers have been known to leak.

Been there already, can't see anything (from above or below). Will be changing the oil next weekend so will have the bottom tray off for a better look.

 

[television]

Remove the engine covers and have a look down that side. The rockers have been known to leak.

It is very unusual for that engine to leak oil. Mine has done 160,000 and has no oil leaks.

The sump pan I think is an engine out job.

Ian does what I do and jacks the engine, he has said else where that this works.

 

[television]

Trying to find oil leaks on an oily engine is not easy as the fan blows it all to the back.

I would get an aerosol of de greaser spray it all over, hose off and wait for it to dry, then start up and watch, in the worst case a short drive

 

[stevesey]

Yep think I'll clean it all up and see what happens - there is no noticeable oil drop on the driveway/space at work so it is quite low volume.

 

[Ian B Walker]

You can drop the sump without taking the engine out completely. Remove rad, undo engine mounts, take off steering cross shaft or steering rack (if fitted), remove steering damper. Lift engine from above and take out all sump bolts. Its a fiddle taking the sump off 100% but if all you are doing is changing the gasket you will probably get away with it. Forgot to mention that you will have to uncouple the power steering fluid lines from both sides of the engine. Tip. If the sump bolts are allan keys socket thingies (technical term ) then tap the allan key fully into the bolt before trying to undo it.

 

[BlackC55]

There is no gasket just sealant on these engines. The only gaskets are the head and rocker cover all the rest is sealant.

 

[stevesey]

Had the tray off to change the oil this morning, bottom of air con compressor was coated in oil (power sterering pump also quite oily). Looks like it's been leaking for sometime at low volume and spread a long way. Having a peer around the front of the engine from underneath the front is a little oily from the oil filter downwards. I have de-greased the best I can for now and will have a look next week to see it the source is more obvious.

Doesn't appear to be the crankshaft seal as contamination is limited to the right hand side. Also some of it may be due to clumsy oil filling/filter changing (not by me of course).

Any other thoughts.