Cracked sump miracle repairs

[TVR Sagaris]

I have somehow cracked the alloy sump on my Audi A4 1.8T going over a speedbump. I'm miles away from home and will be based here for the next four weeks so can't drop it off at my local garage to fix.

Has anyone used one of the various brands of liquid metal to repair a sump? It's a small crack near the plug but is pissing oil out currently.

Halfords may be the only option for buying stuff nearby too, so further limited by that.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[227bhp]

The best you can do is drain the oil off, clean all the surrounding area with abrasive and thinners etc, blather your chosen bodgit muck on and hope for the best. Chances of success? Minus 50.
It won't stick properly because of the oil in the crack, but I think there is something called Oilite stick or something which you can waste your time and money on if you like.

[sploosh]

JB Weld.

Water pump failure sliced a hole in the side of my saab's block 60k miles ago and I used this to get me by. Still going strong.

You need to make sure the surface is really clean.

[Wacky Racer]

Don't even think about it.

A new Audi engine will set you back £££££££££'s if the "repair" fails.

Surely a local independent garage near you could order and fit you a sump?

[anonymous-user]

why not get eurocarparts to deliver a new one and some oil and a few tools and just change it yourself, should be doable on the drive. May ask local phers to borrow some tools?

The problem is if it fails by the time you know most likely the engine will be toast.

edit just had a quick look looks like you may have to raise the engine up a bit.

If in the aa I would get it recovered or just join to get it sorted.

Edited by The Spruce goose on Friday 29th July 22:18

[steveo3002]

i dont think any of the repair glues will work on a oily sump and you wont clean it up well without taking it off

put the effort into changing it diy or see if theres any mobile mechanics on facebook /forums etc

[TVR Sagaris]

Thanks all. Removing the sump means either lifting the engine or dropping the subframe on these unfortunately (it's a B5), so it's too big a job for me to attempt in a public car park with only the tools I can buy in Halfords.

I'm fearful of a big bill, but guess I will either have to have it recovered home or to a garage here to be fixed. What a horrible speedbump.

[PositronicRay]

I successfully repaired a sump, with fibre glass resin when I was miles from anywhere. The heat from the engine seemed to make the repair "go off" quicker.

I had intended it just as a "get you home 200 miles repair". But years later when the engine was out I thought I'd braze the sump properly. That stuff was stuck fast, couldn't move it, so just left it.

I'm not suggesting you risk your engine though.

[S0 What]

Done a few ally sumps on passats with grazed though and cracked sumps usually near the drain plug, JB weld will hold for a while but you need some decent scuffs or grooves for it to grip onto and it needs to be oil free !!! lots of stuff will work, wether it LASTS is the issue, drain the sump and clean the area you have a chance, just slap anything onto a sump dripping with oil and you have NO chance

[magpies]

clean the area as best you can. Using two pack plastic metal (only a small amount ) apply to the crack and about 10mm either side and about 2 to 3mm high. Once that has gone off it should stop the leak good enough to then clean a larger area better. Then apply a second coating of the plastic metal. This will allow you to use the vehicle while sorting out a new sump. Ours lasted several months and even then could not remove the patch when we fitted the new sump. Just inspect it daily while using the car.

[HustleRussell]

TVR Sagaris said:

Thanks all. Removing the sump means either lifting the engine or dropping the subframe on these unfortunately (it's a B5), so it's too big a job for me to attempt in a public car park with only the tools I can buy in Halfords.

I'm fearful of a big bill, but guess I will either have to have it recovered home or to a garage here to be fixed. What a horrible speedbump.

Measure the height of the speed bump. If it's above the regulated maximum, the local council might pay for your new sump.

Halfords have chemical metal. Clean the area as best you can, get that stuff on there. Good chance of success.