Thoughts on these oil advisories
Thoughts on these oil advisories
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Wiltshire2282

Original Poster:

6 posts

44 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
I'm looking at buying a car it's over 14 years old.

On the most recent MOT, it had one advisory which was oil leak but not excessive engine area.

That has shown up on this year's MOT and last year's MOT.

Thoughts please.

Thank you.


buggalugs

9,279 posts

264 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Personally as long as it's not leaving puddles everywhere or needing top-ups I wouldn't be that bothered on a 14 year old car

bimsb6

8,722 posts

248 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Find out where the oil is leaking from?

shtu

4,390 posts

173 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Much like your near-identical question from November - it can't be judged from a bit of text on a screen, go and look at it for yourself and judge.

The spinner of plates

18,084 posts

227 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
buggalugs said:
Personally as long as it's not leaving puddles everywhere or needing top-ups I wouldn't be that bothered on a 14 year old car
Agreed.

OP, my thoughts are you need to get underneath the car with a torch and have a look where the oil is from.

Could be some old muck that was never cleaned up. Or could be the sump gaskets are failing. Or a threaded sump plug. Or filter housing is weeping. Or something else.

If you are not confident it knowing what you're looking at, engage the services of someone who does, pre sale car inspections are available from many sources - they're just a google a way for you to make some calls.

If you told us the car and shared some good quality photos or said oil leak areas, you might get some more useful PH advice in terms of how serious it is and how easy it is to fix.




Edited by The spinner of plates on Wednesday 22 March 16:28

boyse7en

8,114 posts

192 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
On a 14 year old car, I would treat a small oil leak as an automatic rust prevention system for the front subframe area.

anonymous-user

81 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
On a 14 year old car, I would treat a small oil leak as an automatic rust prevention system for the front subframe area.
Ironically my similar age Honda Civic shed engine was as clean as the day it was built, yet the underside was a crusty mess.

What car is this out of interest, is it a model known to suffer from cam cover seals?

Deranged Rover

4,555 posts

101 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
If the engine in question is a Rover V8 then you only need to worry if there are no reported oil leaks, as it means there's none left in it.

B'stard Child

30,992 posts

273 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Wiltshire2282 said:
I'm looking at buying a car it's over 14 years old.

On the most recent MOT, it had one advisory which was oil leak but not excessive engine area.

That has shown up on this year's MOT and last year's MOT.

Thoughts please.

Thank you.
If it's a BMW TADTS (they all do that sir)

loquacious

1,173 posts

184 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Every car I own I take to the same dealer for the service and MOT, each and every one of them has the same advisory for oil but not excessive.

Not one of them has ever 'marked its spot' or the oil level dropped even a fraction, no top-ups required from one year to the next.

I took my Jag yesterday and got the same advisory, I checked where they said it was and it was a greasy mark/slight oil mist that had become dirty from where a breather pipe was not plugged in correctly. None of them have oil leaks.

it annoys me beyond reason but they do it to show they are being particular for the man from VOSA.

Giles_L

1,091 posts

226 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
I'd want to know where it's coming from personally. Depending on the car could be a useful bargaining point.

anonymous-user

81 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
The 'oil' leak thing could be anything. gearbox oil, engine oil, PAS fluid, brake fluid etc etc

It could be minor or something major that needs sorting before too late.

inspect and diagnose prior to purchase is my thought on the matter

georgeyboy12345

4,559 posts

62 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
Me personally I'd run a mile, excessive or not.

Ilovejapcrap

3,311 posts

139 months

Wednesday 22nd March 2023
quotequote all
I'd have a look under it / round it etc. Do a bit of research on cae in question to see if known problem etc.

If not I'd not be that bothered TBH.

QJumper

3,238 posts

53 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
The only way you'll know is to check it out yourself.

I bought a car where a minor oil leak was identified on the inspection. I couldn't see where it came from, but cleaned it up and, 2 years later, it's never reappeared, and doesn't lose a drop of oil. It could anything from a genuine leak to a spill from a careless oil fill.