300TDi leaking sump still!!

hi guys and gals,

I have problem that is making me want to set fire to this damn thing.

I had a small leak on the sump at the back and had been putting off repairing it for a while. I finally grew a pair and did it. only now it is leaking from the front! I used this sealant

http://granvilleoil.com/product_info.php?prod_id=46

I was assured that its if fool proof and sticks like sh1t to a blanket. I made sure that the 2 surfaces were clean and dry, cleaned them both off with IPA once I got to bare metal. and left it for a week to set (only because I was too busy to refill it) and now I have a leak at the front!!!! much worse than before

can anyone recommend a better sealant? this stuff seamed very thin?

Did you put a bead of sealant round and let it go off or did you put the bead on and refit straight away ?

I put the bead around the inside edge and then fitted it straight away.

Some say that's ok, others say to let it go off first ....
Did you check that the sump itself is not distorted as it is only a tin can and sometimes if it has been removed with too much force ...
I'd let it go off first ...
the front edge can 'wipe' when re-fitting as it's a bit tight, unless you jack it up and put it on stands on the chassis rails, so the axle hangs down, giving you more room ...

hi,

I have a 2" lift on the car so all I had to do was drop the ARB and there was enough clearance, I was especially cautious when putting it back in and had the misses under the front of the car guiding it in so it didn't touch anything. I read a method where you only finger tighten the bolts and leave it for a while and then nip them up. this allows adhesion to both surfaces and then you get the compression afterwards. this is a compromise between what I did and what you are suggesting?

in all honesty I didn't check the see if the pan wasn't warped other than looking down the lines. I think when I take it off again I will clean it all up and then see if there are any low points between the 2 surfaces. but I was really really careful when removing it using a really thin blade and no force on the lip.

I had a look from above to see if I could see anything other than the sump and I don't know if it was kind of weeping up or what but it seemed to be coming out of what looks like where the front of the engine bolts to the center part if that makes any sense??? there is join but I have no idea of its name or how to explain it better.

Sounds like your now unsure that it is the sump seal that's faulty, and going by the care u took in refitting I for one would expect it to be a perfect seal...... take a photo of the area that u now believe is the issue after you have cleaned it up of course

ok I cleaned it up today with the jetwash and just had the missed holding a torch while I took some photos, I will upload them in the next post and try to highlight what I am talking about. I am hoping someone will tell me that it is impossible for it to leak from there.

that photo is looking from the drivers side down past the fuel pump and oil filter. the oil filter is the blur on the left of the photo and the part in focus is the sump and the bottom of the block. the line down is where I think it is leaking from