Finding my oil leak (1.6 TD)

[Llamapup]

Hello All

I'm currently running-in a recondidtioned VEGE 1.6TD engine that was fitted about 10 Months ago. I had the turbo replaced at the same time. I had the garage put the same oil pan back on as I was trying to save money. But I have recently had my oil drain plug re-threaded using some process called Hellicoil. The threads were a bit stripped from the previous owner and there was an occasional drip of oil coming from the drain plug which seemed to only barely screw on tight enough to keep the oil in. Having had this work done, I presumed that my oil leak problems would be fixed. Unfortunatly this is not the case and I need to do some further investigation. The plan is to remove the bottom engine cover and give everything a good clean to see if I can find the source of the leak. I have a few questions:

1) If I take the bottom engine cover off can I drive around like this for a while while I'm sorting out the oil leak. The bottom engine cover doesn't provide any sort of cooling benefit like a VW Beetle heat shield does it?
2) What are some options for cleaning the bottom of the engine area? Products, methods etc?
3) I don't really know where to begin looking for an oil leak and am completely unfamiliar with the layout of the engine. Any suggestions about where to look?

Many thanks

Llamapup

[protexblue]

1) Drive without bottom engine cover? Yes, you will find not many vans have got them anymore anyway I didn't even know they existed til a few months back.

2) I find best thing for cleaning off oil is paraffin, with a stiff paint brush and rags.

3) Usual suspects for leaks rocker cover gasket, oil filter, sump, everywhere Just lay a large piece of cardboard under the engine overnight.

[Llamapup]

Okay.... I've got the engine cover off. Man was that a pain in the a***! The insulation material on the inside was completely saturated with oil. It was quite a mess. I have had a quick look and can't spot an obvious oil leak. I'll need to try the cardboard on the ground overnight thing.

[t3trooper]

Take it off, it hides any leaks you may get I took mine off both vans. As you said it collects all the oil and crud over the years and as little advantage in the long run, any leaks or problems can be spotted at a glance then.

[Llamapup]

Well it looks like at least one of my oil leaks has now been fixed. My garaged brazed a long crack in my oil filler neck which seems to have been the cause of much of the leaking. Its frustrating though that there is at least one more leak.

Keep in find that is a reconditioned VEGE engine and brand new turbo that were fitted just 11 months ago. I had this engine fitted in a bit of an emergency while on holiday last summer. The garage that fitted the engine did so with very little time and under a degree of pressure to get me back on the road. They were not completly unfamiliar with T25s and expressed no particular concern with the technical challenges of swapping an idential engine. They even said to give them a ring if there were any problems and rang me a few days after driving home to confirm that everything was okay. Its been leaking all winter though. I really would have expected the garage that fitted the engine would have taken a bit more care and should have told me if there were any broken parts. I may need to write them a letter to express my concern.

A cracked oil filler neck and a leaky sump plug should have been enough. The fact that further leaks remain is just shocking. I. After a year of topping up the oil thankfully the engine has now run in great and has never fallen below the appropriate level. It does not appear to be leaking from the cylendar head or the sump. But there are drops of oil on the bottom of the turbo and some oil closer to the very back of the engie as well. There are two distinct spots of oil on the floor from leak(s)coming from left side of the engine bay.

I'm prepared to have the odd drop every now and again, but I'm determined to ensure that I don't have any significant leaks. Where should I look next to find the source of my oil leak? Any more suggestions?

[peasant]

The turbo has its own oil feed there and back. The pipes and connectors thereof are prime candidates for small leakages

[pocolow]

The turbo has its own oil feed there and back. The pipes and connectors thereof are prime candidates for small leakages

Mine leaked from there until I replaced the Turbo oil feed pipe(brickwerks)..still drips oil from other places though.. Diesels do seem prone to it..

[Llamapup]

The turbo has its own oil feed there and back. The pipes and connectors thereof are prime candidates for small leakages

Mine leaked from there until I replaced the Turbo oil feed pipe(brickwerks)..still drips oil from other places though.. Diesels do seem prone to it..

I found the pipes on Brickwerks. They look like good quality. Do these turbo oil pipes tend to leak from the threads then?

Thanks

L

[belgianbill]

The one thing nobody has mentioned is the oil pressure switch. They have a habit of leaking between the plastic and metal bits - mine spurted a little drop every so often which ran down the block and dripped off the sump drain plug. Sod to find but worth it to cure the nuisance value. Clean up with Holts brake cleaner - wonderful stuff and we use it at work!

Change the switch for a genuine VW one - about a tenner but far better than the aftermarket rubbish

Bill

[noggintom]

Hi,

I have a very high kilometre'age JX and yes it has oil leeks too The first thing I would say is now much is it leaking?

I was very worried about mine when I first bought it and was always hunting for the culprits (most of which I have found, turbo oil feed and return being the main ones). Even so, after seven or so hours trips on Scandinavian motorways it 'eats' about half the dipstick mark levels (500ml?). This is manageable and therefore I have not rushed to change the turbo feeds (even though I have the parts). I have moved onto to studying other things I do not understand to add to my to do list

I guess my point is first convince yourself it is not a disaster, then go about fixing it - taking time to carefully explore the problem. Otherwise you can end up replacing the wrong things and causing more problems.....

Let us know how you do - I always like to learn about the JX! I think I will need a Vega recon eventually

Tom.

[Llamapup]

I found this on German ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.at/VW-Transporter-T3-Ol ... 0425929051

Do you reckon this would fit on my 1.6TD?

Thanks

Llamapup

[noggintom]

Hi,

Not sure what that is! Could be a solid pipe turbo oil return line (rather than the braided steel ones)...??? But looks a bit odd to me. Doesn't look like anything I have on my engine feeding oil anywhere.....but...

Maybe someone who speaks a little German can confirm what it is.

Tom.

[dave friday]

Looks like the right oil filler tube to me.

[camper]

The ebay item is the oil filler pipe which bolts on to the sump.Its the same as the one you had repaired.

[noggintom]

Now I have had another look and tilted my head I see the plastic extension bit I have definitely got one of those