Oil Leak but where from?

[truCido]

When I bought the car I was aware from a MOT advisory slip that they had noticed an oil leak on the rear of the engine. There is a tiny drip or two on the floor every morning before I leave but nothing major.

Just having a look and the entire right hand side of the engine is caked in black crap. I've wiped a load of it off in this pic, but you can see the smears where I've wiped it away. I just wondered if anyone had any idea of where it was all coming from? The plug under the dizzy cap is absolutely plastered so i'm wondering if the seal there is leaking? or maybe the rocker cover gasket?

 

[AlpineWhite]

Wow, that is pretty well covered! Maybe the best bet is to clean it all up and then keep a close eye on it, perhaps you can see where it's coming from then?

 

[truCido]

Yeah I think your probably right tbh I removed quite a bit on my lunch with loads of toilet roll lol. Will have to get the degreaser in there i think!

It's just the fact it seems to be everywhere not just around one part lol

 

[AlpineWhite]

Get the degreaser and a stiff brush out!

 

[CraigW]

I think it could be the rocker cover gasket. A relative had a similar problem on a 106, oil only down one small section of the block and it did turn out to be the rocker cover gasket.

 

[roly]

My old valver lump was prone to leaking from the distributor seal, only a couple of quid so could be worth doing along with the rocker cover gasket

 

[Pantygirl]

Hi there

Rocker cover gaskets are dirt cheep... I got mine replaced yesterday.....

also if you are using degreaser make sure you wash it off well, some degreasers will eat rubber seals and cause more probs..... looking at your pic there is a semi circle plug, looks like it is filling a hole where a distributor would have been, ... you should look into replacing that too , since you are taking the rocker cover off....

Good luck

 

[truCido]

i've bought a rocker cover gasket set and a throttle body gasket, will get a few more bits and pieces and just do it all!

errr confused on the "where a distributor would have been" bit tho

 

[Pantygirl]

errr confused on the "where a distributor would have been" bit tho

hehe

am kinda new to seats etc.... on my 1.4 there is a distributer coming outta the right side of the rocker cover area...

I was thinking that your pic was of the same area... but your car was probably ecu controlled and didnt have a distributor, so that lil semi circle thing may have been where the distributor may have been on an older version of the engine.... does that make sence?

stop me if im talkin crap lol

 

[truCido]

i think i'll stop you the distributor is on the right of the pic

the 1.8T doesn't have a distributor because it has coils etc however the 2.0 16V ABF lump does

 

[Pantygirl]

lol

thats me told... still looks like something used to be there thou!

 

[truCido]

hehe yeah it does, looks like its been blanked off

 

[F2 Stu]

lol

thats me told... still looks like something used to be there thou!

The semi circle 'thing' is a rubber wedge to seal off a gap where the head has been machined for the Inlet camshaft from factory - they're all like it.

Not told as such, just enlightend

 

[truCido]

cheers Stu

 

[AlpineWhite]

Given as those in the know are reading this, can anyone tell me what the round plastic part with a plastic X on it is? Down and slightly right of the rubber wedge in the rocker cover gasket?

Cheers,
Anthony

 

[F2 Stu]

Its a blanking plug.

 

[truCido]

bought a large container of gunk degreaser and a nice stiff brush earlier, will get on the cleaning case tomorrow (day off work ) and hopefully found out whats causing this mess!!

 

[AlpineWhite]

Its a blanking plug.

Cheers stu

 

[truCido]

had the car up today on the jack and had a good look underneath. Looks like the sump nut is leaking, will get a new one and seal.

However the entire underside of the car is covered in something, havent seen it on previous cars is this normal?

Sorry about the size of the pics!!

 

[Pantygirl]

looks like you have lost a sh1t load of oil from your plug and has sprayed all over the subframe etc.

do u have to top up often?

also check your pipes etc incase any are off and oil is getting sprayed out as you drive.

it defo looks like engine oil!