Oil Leaking from Top End
Discussion
My 4.2 has just come back from a top end rebuild after the timing chain broke and bent some valves. Looks like there is an oil leak from the rear of the offside bank. Am I right in thinking the only joints from the block upwards are the cylinder head gasket and the camshaft cover?
Oh, when I say leak, it got through over 2 litres of oil on a 200 mile steady run, most of it has covered the entire offside underneath of the car, right back to the exhaust, a real mess! Also whenever the car was stationary the cabin filled with oil smoke as it was burning on the catalyst, the embarrassment!
I was without the car for just over 8 weeks, now it looks like it'll have to go back....
Oh, when I say leak, it got through over 2 litres of oil on a 200 mile steady run, most of it has covered the entire offside underneath of the car, right back to the exhaust, a real mess! Also whenever the car was stationary the cabin filled with oil smoke as it was burning on the catalyst, the embarrassment!
I was without the car for just over 8 weeks, now it looks like it'll have to go back....
WIL35 said:
My 4.2 has just come back from a top end rebuild after the timing chain broke and bent some valves. Looks like there is an oil leak from the rear of the offside bank. Am I right in thinking the only joints from the block upwards are the cylinder head gasket and the camshaft cover?
Oh, when I say leak, it got through over 2 litres of oil on a 200 mile steady run, most of it has covered the entire offside underneath of the car, right back to the exhaust, a real mess! Also whenever the car was stationary the cabin filled with oil smoke as it was burning on the catalyst, the embarrassment!
I was without the car for just over 8 weeks, now it looks like it'll have to go back....
Oh, when I say leak, it got through over 2 litres of oil on a 200 mile steady run, most of it has covered the entire offside underneath of the car, right back to the exhaust, a real mess! Also whenever the car was stationary the cabin filled with oil smoke as it was burning on the catalyst, the embarrassment!
I was without the car for just over 8 weeks, now it looks like it'll have to go back....
If it had been the front of the car, I'd have suggested the oil cooler hose had come off.
In your case, Is it actually connected at the other end ?
Pistons weren't touched, heads came off, valves and chain replaced.
It looks like the oil is leaking from the head gasket joint and the airflow is blowing the oil onto the manifold, where it runs down and then spreads underneath the car, with some going to the catalyst for the smoke screen effect.
The area around the oil pump looked dry.
It looks like the oil is leaking from the head gasket joint and the airflow is blowing the oil onto the manifold, where it runs down and then spreads underneath the car, with some going to the catalyst for the smoke screen effect.
The area around the oil pump looked dry.
The oil feed passageways through the head are at the front and are very small diameter holes. At the rear, the oil returns to the sump via gravity. I suspect that your leak is a result of seepage under the cam cover - have a feel round the back of the cam covers and see if they are soaked in oil. If not, then go lower and feel around the head gasket area. Having looked at an AJP block, if the head gasket were to go, it would most likely leak coolant and not oil.
Edited by longbow on Monday 14th May 10:01
Yes, with the engine running the oil will surge up to the cam cover joint and if there is a gap (i.e. silicone seal missing), the leakage will probably be significant. If you clean the area up like you said, and then start the engine, you should quickly be able to find where the oil is coming from by feeling round the back of the cam covers.
Checked the rear of the cam cover as suggested, was definitely oily just below the cam cover joint. Hopefully that's all it needs, it's being collected today.
Noticed there was also oil dripping from the steering box, didn't have a chance to lift the front cover to check. Is there a technique for removing the front cover without bending the corner by the radiator inlet and making sure the feeder hose into the washer bottle doesn't get broken?
Noticed there was also oil dripping from the steering box, didn't have a chance to lift the front cover to check. Is there a technique for removing the front cover without bending the corner by the radiator inlet and making sure the feeder hose into the washer bottle doesn't get broken?
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