Intermittent oil leak / gush !
Posted: 05 Sep 2007, 23:39
Took my new van out tonight for it's first lengthy spin at sustained speeds and ended up being recovered home 
It was very odd, I checked the oil before I left as the van's new to me and the level was fine, up to the notch on the dipstick. I did about 5 miles of lanes to the dual carriageway and then about 25 miles at about 60mph before pulling into a layby for a cig. 5 minutes later jumped back in the van and started the engine. Oil light stayed on which it hasn't done before in the week I've had it so I jumped out and looked under the van and oil was literally pouring out of the engine around the oil filter area. I turned the engine off and phoned the RAC. 45 minutes later RAC fella turns up and I start the engine to demonstrate the problem and oil light goes straight out and no oil leak!
If it hadn't been for the puddle of oil under the van I doubt he would have believed me. I ran the engine for a while for it to get hot and still no leak. I turned it off and the started it again and still no leak. The only way to replicate it was to get the engine warm and then wait about 5 minutes then restart the engine. Even then it didn't gush out only a slow drip and the light went out after about 10 seconds. Obviously the engine would have been hotter after the run so I'm guessing this is why it was worse before.
The oil was still 3/4 on the dipstick so I'm pretty confident that it wasn't leaking when I was going along and it hasn't dropped any oil on the drive before. He didn't really have any idea what was happening so offered me the option of driving home or being recovered so I went for the recovery just in case.
The only thing I can think of is that there is a seal somewhere that's contracting quicker than it's surroundings when the engines cooling down.
The engine is 1980 LHD T25 1970cc Aircooled.
Any ideas? I was thinking of replacing the oil filter and going from there but any suggestions would be very greatfully received...
Cheers,
Rob
It was very odd, I checked the oil before I left as the van's new to me and the level was fine, up to the notch on the dipstick. I did about 5 miles of lanes to the dual carriageway and then about 25 miles at about 60mph before pulling into a layby for a cig. 5 minutes later jumped back in the van and started the engine. Oil light stayed on which it hasn't done before in the week I've had it so I jumped out and looked under the van and oil was literally pouring out of the engine around the oil filter area. I turned the engine off and phoned the RAC. 45 minutes later RAC fella turns up and I start the engine to demonstrate the problem and oil light goes straight out and no oil leak!
If it hadn't been for the puddle of oil under the van I doubt he would have believed me. I ran the engine for a while for it to get hot and still no leak. I turned it off and the started it again and still no leak. The only way to replicate it was to get the engine warm and then wait about 5 minutes then restart the engine. Even then it didn't gush out only a slow drip and the light went out after about 10 seconds. Obviously the engine would have been hotter after the run so I'm guessing this is why it was worse before.
The oil was still 3/4 on the dipstick so I'm pretty confident that it wasn't leaking when I was going along and it hasn't dropped any oil on the drive before. He didn't really have any idea what was happening so offered me the option of driving home or being recovered so I went for the recovery just in case.
The only thing I can think of is that there is a seal somewhere that's contracting quicker than it's surroundings when the engines cooling down.
The engine is 1980 LHD T25 1970cc Aircooled.
Any ideas? I was thinking of replacing the oil filter and going from there but any suggestions would be very greatfully received...
Cheers,
Rob