Cold Start-MASSIVE OIL LEAK-Please Help!

[zakmuh]

Hi Experts,

Hope you all are safe and sound in this snowy weather. I'm here seeking some advice on the oil leak in my 2003 Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi Auto.

What it is...I don't drive my car to work. I use it wholeday on weekends, but today I wanted to do late shopping after work. We've got extreme cold temperature with 6 inches of snow. I tried to start the car but engine refused to crank. It was cranking like when trying to strat the car with low battery. So I jump started it using neighbour's car-engine cranked and started running perfectly. Then immidiatley oil light came on. I got out of the car and my driveway was full of oil-black oil leaking from the right front side of the engine. I think entire engine oil has drained, cos it's not a small leak! I also saw some water ( coolant?) leaking on the same side as well?

I couldn't go underneath to see where the oil was leaking from but it looked like from the upper part of the engine.

I simply can't figure out what has gone wrong!? Metal contracts in cold, so it could've caused something to happen to pipes/headgasket?

I've RAC cover and they will be here to see the problem tomorrow evening. If anyone of you had similar issue in the past or have knowledge on these issues, please help me why it happened and how you sorted it out.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

[steveo3002]

wonder if the block froze and cracked?

[stevieturbo]

Without an inspection, nobody is going to diagnose that remotely.

And given the size of the leak...it should be pretty easy for anyone making that inspection

[Mr2Mike]

I think these have a water/oil heat exchanger. Possibly this has failed causing the combined leaks, and frozen coolant could be the cause.

[zakmuh]

Thanks for you replies guys.

I couldn't precisely inspect cos oil is everywhere on parts and side of the engine, but definitely not from where the oil filter is.

I really hope it's not the headgasket. I'll try to upload some pics tomorrow.

Cheers

[GreenV8S]

Maybe cold oil + revs have produced enough oil pressure to burst a seal / pipe somewhere.

[stevieturbo]

zakmuh said:

I really hope it's not the headgasket. I'll try to upload some pics tomorrow.

Cheers

Very unlikely.....it could be less...or indeed it could be much worse.

[zakmuh]

I didn't rev the engine, just the cranking. Burst hose or pipe makes sense. Anyways...RAC is on it's way and I'll update you all soon

Thanks again!

[zakmuh]

I've got an update...

The RAC guy had an inspection. The leak is from the pipes connecting to the turbo. As its from the turbo he didn't want to start the, to avoid any oil getting inside the engine.

I think the oil and water feeder pipes is the issue here? Turbo internally wouldn't have any leaks as all the leak is from outside and no blue/white smoke from the exhaust. I need to double confirm this taking of the air hoses from the turbo.

I need to book a recovery to take it to my mechanic..

[Mr2Mike]

Frozen coolant around the watet pump could have caused starting issues as well.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Friday 2nd March 12:20

[zakmuh]

Makes sense.

I should have kept the coolant liquid in it in the first place eh!

The coolant reservoir tank has a leaking issue. Therefore I had water instead of coolant, until I sort it out.

[HustleRussell]

zakmuh said:

I should have kept the coolant liquid in it in the first place eh!

The coolant reservoir tank has a leaking issue. Therefore I had water instead of coolant, until I sort it out.

Bloody hell, what did you expect? Also don't you think that this little nugget of information might've been useful in the opening post and helped people diagnose the problem?

[zakmuh]

I know, I've been daft!

Live and learn eh!

[E-bmw]

An ex-neighbour (a mechanic, believe it or not) did exactly that several years ago & junked a RV8 engine because he wouldn't listen to reason.

Very cold winter spell exactly like now, in spite of my warnings he swore blind that the water (10% mix at best) would survive double figure minus temps & then ignored the shrieking from the water pump belt saying that it was just his alternator belt loose & his bonnet erupted in a cloud of steam half way to work!

As they say "you can't educate Pork, you can only cure it"

[zakmuh]

Hi,

I managed to get remove the turbo - the problem seems to be the oil feeder pipe-to-turbo gasket is cracked AND also the oil cooler (where the oil filter is fitted to). Ice is thawed and coolant is still leaking through the oil cooler.

I'll get these both completely off the engine and post some pics this weekend.

[zakmuh]

Hi,

I managed to get remove the turbo - the problem seems to be the oil feeder pipe-to-turbo gasket is cracked AND also the oil cooler (where the oil filter is fitted to). Ice is thawed and coolant is still leaking through the oil cooler.

I'll get these both completely off the engine and post some pics this weekend.

[wildoliver]

If your really unlucky and manage to get the car repaired and back on the road sticking some anti freeze in might be a good idea.

[zakmuh]

Thanks mate. Yup a lesson learnt - I will not keep it without antifreeze.

[stevieturbo]

Before you waste any time and money....you'd need to be damn sure the engine block or head have also not been broken anywhere from the ice....or indeed many other waterways that could have suffered.

[zakmuh]

Thanks for that.

Please could you advise me on how to check the engine block and head cracks?