Big Oil Leak! Help :(
Discussion
Hi Guys
2 days after picking the car up from the paint shop I've had a pretty major oil leak. You may remember that the car puked up a load of fuel from the filler cap and ruined the paint at the rear of the car.
The car had been locked up in the garage after a decent run yesterday (oil temp was 90ish when switched off) and didn't notice any leaks a couple of hours later when I went to get something out of the car.
When I went to the car just now this is what awaited me:
I initially thought perhaps it was the carbon tank being full which was the case for another PH'er last year, but after finding the little hole that it vents from it appears dry.
I opened the little access hatch where I thought it was located but actually wasn't sure what I was looking for:
The problem is I can't seem to find where the leak is coming from and the oil pipes above where it leaked all appear dry(ish). All I can see is where it is collecting before dripping on to the floor:
As you can see, it's quite a bit of oil:
I checked the dipstick and there is oil still touching it, although not too sure how significant that is because the engine is stone cold.
Has anyone got any ideas?
2 days after picking the car up from the paint shop I've had a pretty major oil leak. You may remember that the car puked up a load of fuel from the filler cap and ruined the paint at the rear of the car.
The car had been locked up in the garage after a decent run yesterday (oil temp was 90ish when switched off) and didn't notice any leaks a couple of hours later when I went to get something out of the car.
When I went to the car just now this is what awaited me:
I initially thought perhaps it was the carbon tank being full which was the case for another PH'er last year, but after finding the little hole that it vents from it appears dry.
I opened the little access hatch where I thought it was located but actually wasn't sure what I was looking for:
The problem is I can't seem to find where the leak is coming from and the oil pipes above where it leaked all appear dry(ish). All I can see is where it is collecting before dripping on to the floor:
As you can see, it's quite a bit of oil:
I checked the dipstick and there is oil still touching it, although not too sure how significant that is because the engine is stone cold.
Has anyone got any ideas?
Basil Brush said:
Power steering fluid (ATF) is red so you should be able to tell if it's from the PAS system.
Depends how dirty the floor is, in my experience. Have you needed to top up the PAS fluid? You can check the level as there is a dipstick built into the PAS cap. Squeezing the gaitors is a top tip!
If you can get the car onto a ramp you need to look at the braided pipes to the PAS pump and the pipes to the oil cooler. The welds on the bottom of the oil tank can fracture. I had to have a few oil pipes replaced at the last service as they do degrade.
Also check oil pipes to the block and the oil filter
Thanks again for all the replies.
It is power steering fluid! Reservoir is totally empty.
I've just popped up the road to get some new fluid so I can work out where the leak is coming from. I'm not really intending to do this, but will I do any damage turning on the engine whilst the reservoir is empty? I understand it's a hydraulic system, but does it need the fluid to lubricate the moving parts like in an engine?
Also, does this tube look like it's pushed up against the joint enough to you? It seems to be in the general area of where the leak came from and is the only obvious thing to me.
The only other power steering part I can see which passes the same area is the braided hose here:
Anyway, feeling quite happy it's not something more serious!
ETA: As long as it doesn't turn out to be the steering rack seals! Although I've got to hope not due to how sudden it dumped all the fluid out!
It is power steering fluid! Reservoir is totally empty.
I've just popped up the road to get some new fluid so I can work out where the leak is coming from. I'm not really intending to do this, but will I do any damage turning on the engine whilst the reservoir is empty? I understand it's a hydraulic system, but does it need the fluid to lubricate the moving parts like in an engine?
Also, does this tube look like it's pushed up against the joint enough to you? It seems to be in the general area of where the leak came from and is the only obvious thing to me.
The only other power steering part I can see which passes the same area is the braided hose here:
Anyway, feeling quite happy it's not something more serious!
ETA: As long as it doesn't turn out to be the steering rack seals! Although I've got to hope not due to how sudden it dumped all the fluid out!
Edited by Cockey on Sunday 6th May 10:54
This may be useful. I used M&P steering. No problems 3 years later and £160 all in for the refurb.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
24 hours since the new owner took mine and I am missing it.Blimey mate, no luck at the moment, not just me that has runs like this! The fragility of these cars p!sses me off sometimes, get one thing done an another pops along. I guess they are now 10-12 year old cars, and its unfair to expect modern day reliability as this are getting on...but i do feel my car must be getting to a point where it is better than when it left the factory lol!!! Im sure there are a few like that tho....
Anyway, let us know how you get on, and how much of a PITA the steering rack is to remove, it might be a job we all have to tackle at one point or the other....chin up
Anyway, let us know how you get on, and how much of a PITA the steering rack is to remove, it might be a job we all have to tackle at one point or the other....chin up
If you've got fluid in your gaitor then its almost certainly the seal at the end of the rack. The outer one (at leas on the cerb anyway) can be replaced in situ - so that may be worth looking into.
That said, if it were me, I'd be bunging some jeyes power steering stop leak fluid in there and see if it helps. For £8 you may get lucky & it just seals it
That said, if it were me, I'd be bunging some jeyes power steering stop leak fluid in there and see if it helps. For £8 you may get lucky & it just seals it
stuthemong said:
If you've got fluid in your gaitor then its almost certainly the seal at the end of the rack. The outer one (at leas on the cerb anyway) can be replaced in situ - so that may be worth looking into.
That said, if it were me, I'd be bunging some jeyes power steering stop leak fluid in there and see if it helps. For £8 you may get lucky & it just seals it
I have a bottle of the stuff going beggingThat said, if it were me, I'd be bunging some jeyes power steering stop leak fluid in there and see if it helps. For £8 you may get lucky & it just seals it
blueg33 said:
stuthemong said:
If you've got fluid in your gaitor then its almost certainly the seal at the end of the rack. The outer one (at leas on the cerb anyway) can be replaced in situ - so that may be worth looking into.
That said, if it were me, I'd be bunging some jeyes power steering stop leak fluid in there and see if it helps. For £8 you may get lucky & it just seals it
I have a bottle of the stuff going beggingThat said, if it were me, I'd be bunging some jeyes power steering stop leak fluid in there and see if it helps. For £8 you may get lucky & it just seals it
Blueg33 - if you want to go through the trouble of posting it to me, then thanks and let me know your price. Otherwise I'll just order some online.
Cheers
Edited by Cockey on Monday 7th May 15:01
Robertjp said:
Blimey mate, no luck at the moment, not just me that has runs like this! The fragility of these cars p!sses me off sometimes, get one thing done an another pops along. I guess they are now 10-12 year old cars, and its unfair to expect modern day reliability as this are getting on...but i do feel my car must be getting to a point where it is better than when it left the factory lol!!! Im sure there are a few like that tho....
Anyway, let us know how you get on, and how much of a PITA the steering rack is to remove, it might be a job we all have to tackle at one point or the other....chin up
Lol, thanks Robert. I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I let this get me down after all I said to you. I'm trying to stay positive - I'm going to end up with a nice shiny reconditioned steering rack, which will be one less thing to have to replace in the future. But even still... bugger. Anyway, let us know how you get on, and how much of a PITA the steering rack is to remove, it might be a job we all have to tackle at one point or the other....chin up
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