Help: Oil Leak!

[hotwire]

Does anyone have first hand experience on an oil leak under the front end of their Griff. Reckon it could be the oil sump gasket?????

Mine's started to leak oil leaving a patch in the garage under the front end. It's got a year's warranty, but I don't think this is covered on mine.

Anyone had the same problem and if so how much are we roughly looking at the correct the problem.

After missing out on the growl last week due to a family accident, not it looks like I'm going to miss out on Knebworth..... so am not a happy man at present.

[groucho]

Mine had a leak in the same place when I first got my Griff, that was over 2 years ago. It was leaking through the studs or dripping off the studs.
Got them to change the sump gasket and all is fine since.

I'd send away for the gasket and do it yourself. It's going to cost you some new oil though.
I'm sure they put some of that orangy stuff on mine as well.



>> Edited by groucho on Sunday 28th August 16:17

[rnd]

Have you tried tightening up the sump bolts a LITTLE bit. Sometimes helps, but it is very easy to replace yourself. A set of ramps and you are half way there. If you do it check the oil pick up and make sure there is no gasget in round it. I tightened mine up a few times and it must have split the gasget and when I went to replace it the oil pick was full of bits of cork. When fitting the new gasget (cost me £4-00) I also put a small amount of "instant gasget" on the sump tray and then after putting the gasget on I put more "instant gasget" on the gasget. If nothing else it helps to keep the gasget in place. One other tip take out the dip stick before puting them together as it can get in the road.

Ray

[siwes]

Have you tried the oil pressure TX they leak badly either from the tapered fitting or from the body of the sender itself , if its the latter then a replacement is the only option
si

[hotwire]

Thanks to everyone's replies. I had the oil sender replaced by the garage I bought the car from around 3 weeks ago, and considering the car hasn't really been out that much since, then I will have to contact the dealer to see if it could in fact be related. Otherwise going by everyone's response there's a good chance it could be the sump gasket?

I am hoping to go to Knebworth tomorrow (from Essex). Not too long a run but what are people's thoughts about running the car with such a leak? I'm hoping to get the car looked at on Tuesday/Wednesday, but don't really want to miss out on Knebworth as missed out on the Growl and was bitterly disappointed. The car seems to lose whilst standing but not going along. Apart from taking a supply of oil does everyone think it will be okay to still go along? Thanks

[Guillotine]

what looks like lots on the garage floor is actually Cock-all.

check the level, the garage will have filled it to just below the top mark on the dipstick. bet its still there.

you can loose a litre before danger, think about how much that is on the garage floor.remember, you have apressure gauge AND a light!

do some basic checks, DON'T overtighten the sump bolts...it doesn't take much, just feel around. that won't cause any probs, just slight leak. probably is the oil sender if they changed it. they're notorious for leaking. just feel if it secure/not loose by hand, then leave it to the garage.more of a problem if this comes off. won't happen if it feels ok

std TVR...if its not leaking, THEN you worry.
means there's no oil in it!!
reckon of the 30000m i've done, its not had a leak at all for...5000!

[hotwire]

Thanks Guillotine. Haven't got the equipment to check underneath at the moment, and what with Knebworth tomorrow am running out of time. However, thanks for your comments and I will take on board what you said about the oil sender and take it up with the dealership who did the replacement. I have tried to have a look and all looks okay with this, but I'm no expert.

Checked the dipstick and this reads as very slightly below max but hasn't really moved in last week or so. As you say, a small amount of oil goes a long way. My main concern is actually using the vehicle whilst it is like this and not causing any more harm.

It just sounds like the joys of TVR ownership!

Thanks again