cant be a good sign, oil leaking

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

Seems as though my SMIC is leaking what looks like oil

its dripping down onto the inside of the bumper. question is what could this be down to?? I'm thinking I need a catch can but I shouldn't have any oil in the IC anyway

285cupra-matty · May 7, 2013

Im not sure why you're seeing the oil coming out but running standard pcv you will have oil in the IC. Do you have a boost leak? This maybe pushing the oil out the joiner?

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

I might do but I have never tested it and I don't know how. I am getting a loud hissing when im on boost though?? and yeah everything under the bonnet is standard

285cupra-matty · May 7, 2013

May well be a boost leaking pushing oil past the joiner. Defo worth a check never know car might feel a bit quicker if it is.

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

so how would I test for a leak?? just listen for it??

285cupra-matty · May 7, 2013

Best thing would be a smoke test there are home made methods you could do making up some kind of bung for one end and a bung with a car tyre valve at the maf end would be best, and pump up dont pump up to much though only to around the psi ur boosting.

n11tht · May 7, 2013

If oil is leaking I would say that you definitely have a boost leak, the key is the word leak. Probably just a leaking O-ring seal on the hose

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

hhhmmm so a smoke test is probably gonna be easier are they from garages or something?
Sorry i'm total noob when it comes to this haha this is my 2nd car and my 1st was a 1.2 clio

alias · May 7, 2013

I had a similar thing on my near side SMIC (I have an LCR, hence two SMICs), an there was slight weeping from the join. It's likely just that, a weep. The oil seals in turbos are not perfect and a little gets past and into the intake circuit. If you look on the inside of the metal L bend coming from the turbo you'll see a small amount of oil in there, all natural loss.

It's definitely worth checking other lines of inquiry to make sure it's not something more sinister, but don't assume the worst.

nd-photo.nl · May 7, 2013

The sole reason I dont vent back into TIP, damn oil vapours. I like my IC how I like my women, clean

The SMIC is probably leaking where the plastic meets the aluminium.

Roach · May 7, 2013

When I fitted a fmic my nearside intercooler had oil in it when I removed it.

As said tho get it smoke tested or get a pressure tester off ebizzle.

andycupra · May 7, 2013

its not unusual to have oil in the SMIC, the leak is more of a worry id say.

csd_19 · May 7, 2013

Depends how much oil is leaking.....

Don't want to worry the OP but oil dripping from my SMIC was how I diagnosed the coldside seals had failed on my turbo. When the garage replaced it and the SMIC under warranty, they poured about a pint of oil out of the SMIC.

Really hope its not this though, and just a boost leak instead...

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

right cheers fellas I'll it leak test it first, then i'll look into a new turbo again

csd_19 · May 7, 2013

What happened to your old one? Did you clean out the boost pipework when it was changed?

There's a fair chance if it shat the seals it put a lot of oil in the SMIC, and now your new turbo is boosting properly it's found a small leak.

Whip the bumper off, get the smic off and see if you get a fair amount of oil out of it. Then clean it out with some petrol swirled round inside or brake cleaner, then make sure you get it dried out properly.

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

nah I was just looking for a new turbo where its getting a little whiney guess that's probably another symptom but yeah i'll give it a go cheers. I'm half thinking I get the uprated side mount from darkside as that has the hard pipework with it (I love my fogs too much for a FMIC)

n11tht · May 7, 2013

RaviR50 said:
right cheers fellas I'll it leak test it first, then i'll look into a new turbo again

New turbo? my 150 tdi has been leaking small amounts of oil for nearly 5 years now and the turbo is fine. It'll be a rubber o-ring that needs replacing and they're about 50p each buy a pack of them and replace everyone on the pipework. Oil in a tdi intercooler is expected

RaviR50 · May 7, 2013

well im thinking it needs a new turbo anyway....and a clutch cos that's slipping. I'll change out the o rings as well then

Just out of interest what is the best way to get to the turbo from underneath the car or by removing the inlet mani then down the back?

n11tht · May 8, 2013

RaviR50 said:
well im thinking it needs a new turbo anyway....and a clutch cos that's slipping. I'll change out the o rings as well then

Just out of interest what is the best way to get to the turbo from underneath the car or by removing the inlet mani then down the back?

i removed mine from underneath but i used a friends ramp and removed the driveshaft to make it easier

BigJase88 · May 8, 2013

They all weep oil!

If theres no boost leak then i wouldnt worry too much about it

cant be a good sign, oil leaking

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