Club 80-90 Forums

Hi ive got a 88 1.6 n/a diesel. last weekend I changed the oil, in order to drain the oil quicker I removed the drain plug completely (this may have been a big mistake). During the week I drove to work, and the oil pored out of the bottom of the engine, once the engine had warmed up. The leak isn't coming from the filter so I assumed it must be coming from the drain plug. Thinking that I must have lost the copper oil seal. I ordered a new one. This morning I took the drain plug out, but the oil seal won't fit as in fact the hexagonal end is smaller than the threaded part. it would appear to be too much of a co-incidence for a huge leak to start straight after I've done the oil change, but at the moment I'm at a loss to know what's gone wrong.

Anybody got any clever ideas?

Are you sure you havent stripped the threads?
dont think a missing washer would cause massive oil loss
fill it up and run it while you watch where its leaking

Coincidences do happen could be something else

Thanks itchyfeet,

it isn't the drain plug, as far as I can see either the water pump or the crank end seal

Get a pic up of the area and somebody will tell you what it is

Any chance you could have over filled the engine with oil? How much did it take?

it's possible I over filled it, it took about 5 litres, however I did it in stages and kept checking the dip stick. I certainly isn't over full now! The oil is now dripping off the silencer, when I put a rag inside the crankshaft pulley ( with the engine off), it's definitely very oily. it's difficult to see with the silencer in the way and engine running. Looking from above the pulley on the end of the water pump, appears to be wobbling when the engine is running.

Sounds like the crank pulley seal has popped then, possibly due to the overfill. The water pump seal would just leak coolant, so it wouldn't be that.