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for the last 6 months I've had an oil leak appear under my 1.8tddi engine ( 2002) which manifests as an oil film area all round the sump area and wherever it's blown when travelling at speed ,with the occasional drip staining whatever is underneath when parked up. I have jetwashed to try and ascertain the source but it's proving difficult to identify with any accuracy ( it's not the plug btw ) . I thought of trying an additive but seems that's frowned upon and may cause more problems than it will solve . Otherwise I presume my only option is to change whatever gasket/seal is weeping ( if i can work that out). I do wonder if it's the sump gasket itself ....should that be straightforward/easy/inexpensive to change myself ? As you may tell I don't do much work on cars ..preferring two wheels both motorised and leg driven versions !If anyone knows any tips/tricks or can offer general advice it would be much appreciated.thanks in advance.Bill
Could be the sump gasket but more likely to do with bearing seals on driveshaft or one of the moving parts
If it is sump gasket it is a doddle (usually) no harder than an oil change.
Drain in the usual way, unbolt sump, clean, apply new gasket, refit (bolt sequences and torqs in the Haynes book if you want to do it properly) 30 min job to replace damaged sump on my Transit. Neighbour's Panda has three of the sump bolts hidden behind the gearbox, might be harder...
http://andrewhowett.blogspot.com/2015/04/its-not-bike-race-without-van-incident.html?m=1
Erm, this.....
But it must be an old roll that the edges of it are slightly peeling away and the glue is sticky and attracting all sorts of fluff and detritus..
No need the fank mi
Sumps can be a PITA to remove. Depends on the configuration but sometime requires the removal of a lot of other parts just to gain access, like suspension sub-frames, steering racks etc. But once you've got access should be easy.
I track down leaks by putting a clean sheet under the car after giving the underside a good clean which tells you where the drip is coming from....you might have to trace it a bit if it's run down a hose or something, but it's clear where it drips off the underside of the car.
Had a tiny leak on the rocker cover on of my scoobs, I lived with it.
The main problem with a leak at the bottom of the engine is that it could be coming from anywhere above it. Weeps from things like oil filter pedestals, rocker cover gaskets, oil temp sensors, heat exchangers, head gaskets, crank seals etc can all drip down and appear to be fairly innocuous leaks at the sump.
If it is sump gasket it is a doddle (usually) no harder than an oil change.
Bwahahahaha, what?! That's a pretty bonkers sweeping statement!
I've never, ever had a car where dropping the sump could be considered 'easy'. Let alone anything like as easy as an oil change! Although I guess, being charitable, actually dropping the sump is usually incredibly easy, it's the things like removing driveshafts, exhausts, subframes, engine mounts etc that are the tricky bits.
Clean and locate the leak, then decide if you want to tackle it.
Sump gasket (or sealant), sump porosity, oil temp/pressure sender, crank seal, rocker cover, oil filter housing etc etc. Anywhere there is oil behind a connection is a potential leak.
Some sumps are a straight unbolt job, some require dropping the subframe etc.
Also bear in mind if you cause a loss of oil pressure you can trash the engine (I stripped an engine that somebody had re sealed, they got a bit carried away with gasket sealant and it clogged the oil pick up and wiped out the oil pump, main bearings, big end bearings). Not saying not to get stuck in, just make sure you know how to do the job properly.
Some leaks are a pita to find as they can track from further up and only appear lower down.
Great advice thanks to all..looks like more detective work needed first.Anyone had any success with the additives to stop small leaks or are they best avoided at all costs?
An additive to the lubrication system designed to stop it flowing through gaps? What could go wrong?!
I'd really, really advise against.
As any Land Rover owner knows it’s when it stops dripping that you have to worry!! 😂
I had a £250 diesel 106 that had a small oil leak. I cable tied a small tray lined with a rag under the car. Fixed 😎
Sounds a great idea...!
I had a £250 diesel 106 that had a small oil leak. I cable tied a small tray lined with a rag under the car. Fixed 😎
How did that fix the problem? External combustion?
They contain seal swelling additives , this softens and swells the oil seals and can be a short term fix , as the seals soften when treated like this they can wear faster , rubber gaskets will also swell and may seal up. If you over dose the seals fail under high load.
Sometimes sump bolts loosen , depending entirely on specific engines , so it might be worth checking the bolts are not loose - usually small so torque wrench if you are a thread stripper.
Usually its known/typical oil leaks per engine type so its worth a google to find out.
Ignore it and try not to park on your girlfriend's parents' driveway too much.
Might be an easy fix, but more likely to be a nightmare to fix.
On those engines I've done, in no particular order, vacuum pump seals, breather pipes, sump joint, ladder frame to engine block joint, crank timing pin plugs, cam shaft seals, injection pump to timing cover gaskets, and injection pump sprocket seals.
Check the oil pressure switch. They are prone to leaking on those engines. Sump removal can be a pain. If its tin , then they can distort and never seal properly again and will need a replacement pan. For the sake of another pair of knowledgeable eyes, perhaps get it on a ramp at a local garage and find it. It maybe a cheap seal or gasket that can easily be fixed.
All your suggestions (well nearly all!) are very much appreciated..thanks everyone.
you need to fix it before MOT or its an instant fail, eg any loss of oil or fluids from a leak,
Are you sure about that??
Leak needs to be "excessive" in order to be a fail.
If it is sump gasket it is a doddle (usually) no harder than an oil change.
Bwahahahaha, what?! That’s a pretty bonkers sweeping statement!
I’ve never, ever had a car where dropping the sump could be considered ‘easy’. Let alone anything like as easy as an oil change! Although I guess, being charitable, actually dropping the sump is usually incredibly easy, it’s the things like removing driveshafts, exhausts, subframes, engine mounts etc that are the tricky bits.
OK, yes, sweeping statement. Based on 100% of my sample of 3, which I accept is very small sample... Had to replace a damaged sump on my Transit (hit a tree stump) That was really easy. My Mondeo had a seized sump plug, just used to pop the sump off for the oil change. The one on my 306 never had to come off but didn't look hard. I just assumed they were all nice and easy like that, until my neighbour was on about a wee crack in his and the fact that three of the bolts were hidden behind the gearbox (Panda 4x4)
OP, is your car a Ford? Guess so from the 1.8 ttdi engine? Hopefully as easy as the Transit/Mondeo (if indeed the problem is the sump)
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Glow plugs also really easy on the Tranny, just pop the air inlet off and there they are. On a Rover 25 2l diesel three are really easy, the other involves removing the timing belt. I guess not all designers think about maintenace. Was it on here I read about having to lift the engine to change an LED headlight bulb on an XC90?
Pretty much as you're doing, hunt for the highest point.
Is it a particularly concerning volume? Had cars that would burn 1l every 1000 miles, would have been concerned if that was being lost to a leak.
Been hunting a leak on one of the tractors at work for about a year, not much, but a little oil goes a long way with some water. All we're certain of is that it tastes like hydraulic oil. Hard to trace as the thing is used at all sorts of angles and is a birds best of hoses and pumps.
It's unlikely to be the sump. More likely to be if your lucky the cam cover gasket, the oil filter housing or if your unlucky the crank shaft oil seal. Sumps very rarely just start leaking unless they have had a knock on a sleeping policeman.
My car has a minor leak (no drips) from the ”upper sump" - whatever that is.
To fix it involves removing the engine and costs £6k. So sump leaks are not always an easy fix!
Warranty job thankfully.
Thought about taking it to a garage so they can have a proper look underneath it?
After a thorough clean I now suspect it's coming from the area behind the lower large pulley round which runs the auxiliary? belt(same as water pump) so without getting the manual out I presume that's the crankshaft seal? It's not a bad leak ..just an occasional drip at the mo so will keep an eye on it.Yes it's on a ford focus btw.Cleaned up and retightened some oily turbo related hoses above which may be contributing.