Oil Leak

[dtpugh]

Hi

I have got oil over the sump, I have traced the oil trail which is on the right hand up the front of the engine. It appears to be coming from the front engine at the head gasket. I can't really see properly, as it is obscured by the alternator bracket. Is there anything else in this region it could be?

Dave

[spend]

The later syle LR rubber rocker gaskets work well for me. Most common leak areas seem to be sump gasket, rocker gasket and oil sender. Oil seems to run everywhere, careful cleaning & reinspection is diligent approach I think.

Dave

[dtpugh]

Sorry forgot to mention that the oil trail stops before getting to the rocker covers.

My first thoughts were the sump, but the oil has gone up the engine just underneath the alternator bracket. So I am assuming that this is the start of the trail.

I fixed a head gasket on a 106 with similar symptons last year, the gasket was broken between an oilway and the outside of the engine. Having never taken an head of of Rover V8, I am not too sure whether there is an oilway at the front of the engine. i.e. front right hand corner.

Dave

>> Edited by dtpugh on Saturday 16th July 21:29

[Aaron C. Reskew]

Are you sure it is engine oil and not power steering fluid.
The 'U' tube is renowned for leaking.

[parrot of doom]

My sump is similarly covered in oil. Does yours drip down at all? I was told by the mechanic who serviced it not to worry, as 'they all do that'.

[tahiti450]

Aaron C. Reskew said:

Are you sure it is engine oil and not power steering fluid. The 'U' tube is renowned for leaking.

It seems this leak is on the alternator side so opposite side to the PAS pump / U tube etc. The gaskets in this area are; the rocker cover gasket, the lifter gallery front seal (valley gasket seal) and the timing cover gasket (but no oil ways in this one).
I have a slight weep on mine in the same place but to date I've not investigated it.

[dtpugh]

I have taken peoples advice and cleaned the underneath of the car, and will leave it a week and look again.

The sump was covered in oil and looking at, I think the oil filter must have leaked at sometime. Maybe the oil from travelled upwards, but I can't really see it.

I think I might have a series of leaks, hopefully by cleaning it up I should see where it they are coming from.

What is the procedure for removing the belt, so I can remove the alternator and try to see exactly where the leak in this area is coming from.

Dave

[dtpugh]

parrot of doom said:

My sump is similarly covered in oil. Does yours drip down at all? I was told by the mechanic who serviced it not to worry, as 'they all do that'.

The sump was covered in oil and it has been leaking for a while. So it is difficult to pin point exactly where it is leaking, but I suspect that the sump is leaking.

Dave

[spend]

There is a front crank oil seal on the timing cover - but this is not a usual suspect. As you have noticed a little oil from the filter / pressure switch / pressure sender & sump area goes a long way.

Dave