oil leaks

[clive f]

do AJP`s tend to have small oil leaks?

I`ve sorted one leak from the oil pressure switch, but now have a drip coming from the front on the engine on passenger side, which appears to be coming from the timing cover bolt that is at the top of the engine mount and its driving me nuts.

my old rover lump was completely dry on the outside, and I`m worried that once its run in and the thinner fully sythetic goes in then the leak may get worse, am I being paraniod about this, are you lot going to "say they all do that"?

reasurances please

[itiejim]

I understand that timing cover leaks are fairly normal. It might be worth pulling the offending bolt out and refitting it with some silicon sealant around it.

Otherwise it's an engine out job to remove the timing cover and reseal properly...

[stuthemong]

Go mental with gasket sealer. I did, seems to have cured it

[Ireland]

I'm afraid to fix the oil leaks on mine ..... the chassis might start to rust.

[ro_butler]

they all do that sir.

You could fix them all, only to have them re-appear later. Some of the leaks require
the engine out to fix (as noted previously). Just keep an eye on your oil level.
Personally I am convinced that leaks account for a very large part of the cerbs oil
consumption, rather than the oil being burnt (assuming the engine is healthy!)

[FUBAR]

If enough leaks out, and you keep filling it up, you will always have good oil in there

well sounds like a good idea to me, but WTF do I know

[clive f]

FUBAR said:

If enough leaks out, and you keep filling it up, you will always have good oil in there

well sounds like a good idea to me, but WTF do I know

thanks guys, no need to remove the engine tommorow then

[Storer]

Most things on mine that have oil in them seem to leak judging by the drips on the floor.

As said, it helps protect the chassis.

[Byker28i]

The car drips a little from somewhere at the back of the car, but it's a few drops and it's done it since I've owned it and hasn't got worse. It never seems to use much oil.

The timimg covers can leak as they don't have gaskets, just sealent, so it's easy to nick it as you put the covers on. I had a small one which dripped into the central v, where the alternator belt sprayed it around the engine. Took a huge amount of time to clean that up after a certain indy did 150 miles in my car and didn't lift the bonnet - ho hum.

Mind you, the scottoiler on my bike leaves more mess on the garage floor/bike.