Engine oil leak / weep

Big lumps of metals and spanners. Including servicing and fluids.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Post Reply
aknapper
Registered user
Posts: 78
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 13:02
80-90 Mem No: 0

Engine oil leak / weep

Post by aknapper »

Looking for some advice.  My 1.9 petrol WBX engine is running great.  But it has a wee oil leak / drip / weep that I can't diagnose.  It 'seems' to be coming from  underneath the general area nearest the back bumper - under the alternator.  I just can't see into that area very well and my vwmechanicdave said it would be a major effort to find it.  
I'm not losing a lot of oil but it seems consistent - I had to top it up this past weekend when we went down to Northumberland - first time since changing the oil last year.
I'm thinking it is likely the oil pump cover gasket or the fan belt flywheel seal? 
I'm not thrilled with the prospect of having to drop the engine as the exhaust system bolts are pretty corroded and I don't want this to grow into an expensive exhaust replacement as well.
Anyone suffer similar oil leaks from this area?

thanks
Andrew
1987 Komet Hightop DG

aknapper
Registered user
Posts: 78
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 13:02
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by aknapper »

Big fat dripImagesImageImage
1987 Komet Hightop DG

User avatar
scotttie
Registered user
Posts: 120
Joined: 11 May 2011, 09:56
80-90 Mem No: 16828
Location: East Sussex

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by scotttie »

I had some oil seeping from the base of the breather tower where it meets the engine case. I nipped up the nuts holding it down, cleaned the area and it's been fine since. Any chance it's coming from where the oil filter attaches if you've only noticed it since the last oil change?

It might be worth degreasing the area as much as you can to help you trace where it is coming from.
______________________________________________________________________
2.1DJ Syncro Reimo hightop

TONYT25T25
Registered user
Posts: 1825
Joined: 16 Sep 2013, 17:19
80-90 Mem No: 13596
Location: Hampshire

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by TONYT25T25 »

Give the whole engine a good clean as mentioned by scottie, go for a drive so it warms up, then on return put some cardboard or similar underneath, leave overnight and have a look in the morning, the stains on the cardboard will give you and idea of where to look further up the engine. The drips marks may not be exactly below the leak but you can work up from there.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX

aknapper
Registered user
Posts: 78
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 13:02
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by aknapper »

Thanks Tony and Scottie - I'll have a look at the breather tower and check the bolts.  
Oil filter and sump screw are both dry.
I'll do my best on degreasing and see if this helps to pinpoint it.
1987 Komet Hightop DG

Stesaw
Registered user
Posts: 1892
Joined: 10 Aug 2019, 23:30
80-90 Mem No: 17004
Location: Coventry

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by Stesaw »

Oil filter tight?
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
1979 LT 2.0CH Westy project

aknapper
Registered user
Posts: 78
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 13:02
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by aknapper »

yup oil filter tight
1987 Komet Hightop DG

User avatar
R0B
Moderator
Posts: 18852
Joined: 07 Oct 2005, 17:33
80-90 Mem No: 864
Location: Cheshire

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by R0B »

Did you rub some oil around the rubber filter seal?
2.1 LPG/Petrol Auto Caravelle

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits"

aknapper
Registered user
Posts: 78
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 13:02
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by aknapper »

Nope as filter was put in be vwmechanicdave.  
1987 Komet Hightop DG

Blighty8973
Registered user
Posts: 8
Joined: 15 Jan 2015, 18:43
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Engine oil leak / weep

Post by Blighty8973 »

Mine was the gasket on the dip stick pipe (hard to get at)
 
1992 2.1 (Digijet) Autohome Komet Hi top

Post Reply