**Possible small oil leak**

[chim500nj]

I may have a small oil leak somewhere around the bottom of the engine. A tiny amount of oil can be seen when a reverse out of the garage on the garage floor.. This only seems to happen when the car has been left for anything over two or three days without driving..

If I park it up for half a day in the drive then no oil seems to leak..I have checked the dipstick and it is using no more than 1 Litre every 2-3000 Miles which for a 5 Ltr I would say is acceptable..

I think it may be a leaky sump plug any ideas..

[chris43]

I had a similar problem and this turned out to be the sump gasket.
Changing this cured the problem.
Regards,
Chris.

[chim500nj]

Thanks Chris, I will get Fernies to look at this next time...

[wolosp]

I too had a leaking sump gasket (now fixed), but also have a very slight leak from the propshaft seal when the sump is slightly over-filled - which I intend to do nothing about, as my local dealer advised it needed replacing as it would contaminate the clutch (and while they're about it, they would replace the clutch too - at £700+ !!!!). I decided to leave it until the clutch needed replacing (either due to wear or contamination if the leak gets so bad)....a plan supported by the indi I now use.

>> Edited by wolosp on Tuesday 8th June 12:42

[Big Al.]

chim500nj said:

Thanks Chris, I will get Fernies to look at this next time...

So will I when it's next in for a service, as mines got the same problem!

[PeterC]

A very common problem (mines the same). They don't fit a gasket between the bottom of the engine and the sump, but rely on sealant only. After a while it leaks particularly when using very thin synthetic oils.

You can sometimes fix a leak by tightening up the bolts holding the sump on. Do not be tempted to overtighten as you might strip a thread. Use gentle persuasion only.

[anonymous-user]

I've had four attempts to fix mine

1st New rocker gaskets - Still leaking.
Took to dealer to investigate cleaned it up.
Still leaking.
Took to dealer again, tightened bolts & cleaned up.
Still leaking.
Took to dealer again who kindly did the sump gasket FOC, but now think it maybe the Crankshaft seal
Still leaking.

And occasionally there is a puff of burning oil from under the bonnet just after start up.
WTF is that all about

Lee

[GarryM]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Do you have power steering? If so, it may have a slight leak just above the exhaust manifold. Just needs tightening. Hope that's it.

[anonymous-user]

I do have PAS, It hasn't done it the last couple of times I have used it though.

Lee

[RobM]

I had same problem with mine. Leak only showed after 2 days on the garage. Changed sump gasket and leak was still there. Turned out to be pas fluid. There's a 'u' shaped rubber pipe under the pas pump. The jubilee clip was shafted.
gah :/

[spend]

I thought my rear oil seal was leaking, but Joolz said he'd never seen that problem. So I looked, wiped looked..... and faint leak at rear of sump. It certainly appeared to be from the crank seal, but the oil was creeping from the rear of the sump - very difficult to get fingers up to clean / test. Joolz did recommend cork gasket + sealant which I shall do shortly.

An interesting point is that many Rovers & LR's fitted a strengthening bracket at the rear of the V8 sump, between the 2 rear bolts. I have been mulling over fitting one of these at the same time.

Dave