Oil leak?!?
Oil leak?!?
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Discussion

Niffty951

Original Poster:

2,399 posts

258 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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No doubt this is not the first thread on the topic but I'm having trouble establishing where the oil is leaking from on my engine? I've been around the top with a light and underneath too and everything looks as good as new?! The seals around all the sensors and between the heads and the block look clean and unmarked, I cant see any obvious source of the oil? It doesn't leak when cold and doesn't seem to burn any oil at any time through the cylinders.

If driven under 4000rpm there is no sign of a problem but blast it for a few minutes and the next time you stop the underside of the car is covered in oil (a lot of oil!) and as it burns off on the exhausts the cabin fills with smoke and oil smoke plumes embarrasingly out from under the bonnet? It appears to be running down from the back of the engine somewhere between the block and the clutch where the bottom of the flywheel is visible?

I'm hoping its a crank case breather or something thats come apart and is leaking not anything more serious.

Regards,

Ben

brogenville

941 posts

231 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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I had a similar problem a while ago - turned out to be the oil pressure switch in the valley of the engine near the back under the coil packs. Six quid for a new sensor off ebay, but a ball ache to do.

Niffty951

Original Poster:

2,399 posts

258 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Oh pleese pleese be that! I dont mind a bit of hard graft for a sub £10 fix!

peteA

2,762 posts

264 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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I'm hoping its a crank case breather or something thats come apart and is leaking not anything more serious.

Worth checking this anyway - mine was in bits and a previous owner had tried to seal it up with silicone, etc.

jammy_basturd

29,778 posts

242 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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I would be worried if a breather was chucking out enough oil to cover the back of the engine in oil in a matter of minutes!

chim500nj

394 posts

271 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Niffty951 said:
No doubt this is not the first thread on the topic but I'm having trouble establishing where the oil is leaking from on my engine? I've been around the top with a light and underneath too and everything looks as good as new?! The seals around all the sensors and between the heads and the block look clean and unmarked, I cant see any obvious source of the oil? It doesn't leak when cold and doesn't seem to burn any oil at any time through the cylinders.

If driven under 4000rpm there is no sign of a problem but blast it for a few minutes and the next time you stop the underside of the car is covered in oil (a lot of oil!) and as it burns off on the exhausts the cabin fills with smoke and oil smoke plumes embarrasingly out from under the bonnet? It appears to be running down from the back of the engine somewhere between the block and the clutch where the bottom of the flywheel is visible?

I'm hoping its a crank case breather or something thats come apart and is leaking not anything more serious.

Regards,

Ben
My crank case breather leaks slightly (few drops a day) however I have been told that a lot of Cerbs do this and it is nothing to be overly worried about I have put it down to be sorted at the next service..

Niffty951

Original Poster:

2,399 posts

258 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Sorry this is a little more zoomed in than I thought when I was fumbling with the cover above it but whats this then? Fuel pressure regulator? It's the only thing I can see out of place on the engine and there's no oil in the V of the engine..



I can only assume the oil is leaking from just below the V and above the connection to the gearbox (what would be there?). If not it must be coming from an internal seal between the engine and gearbox, like a crank seal? Are there any common problems I should be aware of?

p.s. maybe I exagerated slightly (I tend to do that) when I said the whole engine was covered. It's not been enough to show any movement on the dipstick and there's only about 8 drops on the garage floor. It is enough to create a LOT of smoke though when you first pull up! (unless you've been taking it easy)