Oil leak on top of engine 1.6 tdi

[Igor 296]

Hi guys, just been out doing the usual checks on the car, oil level, water, washer fluid ect. ect. (Oil needed a top up)

I took the engine cover off out of curiosity and noticed oil sitting in the cavity on the engine, under where the fuel lines go into the engine. Dipped a rag in to make sure, and it is definitely oil (not diesel) that has leaked out.

I did run the engine for a few minutes but could not see the oil seeping out of anywhere and I don't have time to investigate further as I'm off to away to work for a week as of 12-30pm today.

I am wondering If any of you fellow tdi owners / drivers have encountered this problem before or if any of you know what could be the cause of this issue and what kind of remedy / fix I am looking at here?

It's a A3 1.6 TDi 2012 plate on about 99k miles.

Attached photos of the issue. Thanks for your time.

[annodomini2]

Are you sure it's not diesel?

[Igor 296]

Yes, I shoved a rag down into the fluid and it was black like old oil.

[finlo]

If it's sticky it could be injector blow by.

[steveo3002]

would it collect there if spilled when filling?

[Igor 296]

It could be possible that it could be sitting there from an overspill while filling oil, but it is very dark oil which suggests to me its been run through the engine, as fresh oil form the jar would still be a golden colour.

Thanks for your replies comrades.

[Igor 296]

Definitely not a problem with the oil fill funnel, oil cap.
The oil can be seen to be dripping down the back of the engine (front side of the engine is clean)

[Igor 296]

The oil (circled red) has flooded this area and is runing down the back of the engine.
The sliver coloured part in that last photo, what is that component? Could it be that the oil is coming from there? Not tight enough? Gasket/ o ring problem?
Thanks guys

[Lindonros]

Most likely it’s the plastic rocker cover gasket or do the injector seals cause this ? Not quite sure

[Belle427]

Rocker cover seals probably where the injector passes through it.

[paintman]

Bit of a resurrection of a thread from 2021 which hopefully the OP has sorted. But for anyone with a similar issue:
Quick google suggests the injector on these is the long pencil shaped one:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HVoAAOSw12RieZz8/s-...
If that's the case then that is the injector clamp - holds the injector down in place - and it could well be injector blowby.

Usually means the copper washer at the lower end of the injector (visible in the link as the gold ring at the bottom of the injector) that seals the injector to the head has failed & the pressure is allowing partially combusted diesel to come up the side of the injector & pool in any low point eventually building up until it starts to run off.

Normally black in colour & could easily be mistaken for oil but I'd expect there to be a diesel smell.

Common issue on engines that use that type of injector - Mercedes Sprinters are well known for it & it's referred to with them as 'the black death'.

Need the injector removing, the seal recovering - if it doesn't come out with the injector - the seat cleaned & checked for any damage which would need a light recut, the injector cleaning & refitting with a new copper washer & probably a new hold down bolt.
Reason for the latter is that these are often stretch bolts & are single use only.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 22 June 11:50

[Krikkit]

Or it could be an oil leak from the cam cover

[paintman]

As the OP never bothered updating we'll never know.