Spot the Oil Leak Suspect...

Woody3 · Mar 16, 2011

While the front propshaft is removed, I thought it would be a good idea to find the source of my stoopid oil leak that as been messing up the drive way for the last 6 months.

Anyway, there are some photos below to show the area soaked in oil. Please note that it isn't the rocker cover gasket.

I've taken photos of both top and bottom of the engine. It is coming from the Drivers side/Offside area, towards where the lift pump is mounted to the engine. The bottom of the oil filter also drips oil, but no oil seems to be seeming from the top of the oil filter.

Slightly off topic, while under the 90, I noticed that between the gearbox and bellhousing, there seems to be holes in the gasket (see pics below). I'm guessing this isn't right. I don't think the oil is coming from here, because I have taken the wading plug out and everything seems to be bone dry inside.

Any help would be much appreciated

lynall · Mar 16, 2011

Clean the worst of and test drive it looking at the little tell tale hole on the botyom of the lift pump you can see the hole in your pics

Lynall

Woody3 · Mar 16, 2011

Thanks Lynall,

Only problem is...I can't see the hole that you speak of. Haha...where is it? I've studied the photo for the last 30 mins and none the wiser lol

Cheers

Woody3 · Mar 17, 2011

Anyone?

[JP] · Mar 17, 2011

dont know either!!

but my mate 300tdi has an oil leak exactly there! just about where the lift pump is... its all caked everywhere....
I thought it could be the cyclone breather, but its dry, so the leak is coming from further down....

maybe along the gasket? never seen one leaking there though... is that where your leak is coming from? engine gasket?

Station House · Mar 17, 2011

My 300 Tdi (Defender 90, 1994) also has oil dripping off the oil filter which doesn't appear to be running from the top!

Haven't had the time to fully investigate yet, so hoping you find the answer first so I can copy!

tottot · Mar 17, 2011

Mine was leaking under the servo vacum pump above lift pump.

stevo88 · Mar 17, 2011

if its a 300Tdi it could be the vacuum pump? had a few like that over here...

Woody3 · Mar 17, 2011

Whoops...apologies lads...it's a 200tdi

I've cleaned the area up, but I'm still none the wiser. I've tightened up the lift pump bolts a tad to see if it was leaking from around there.

Planning on doing an oil change today as well...hmmm more head scratching to be done!

[JP] · Mar 17, 2011

well, let us know your findings as I would be interested where to start tackling my mate problem

philvy · Mar 17, 2011

I have the same on my 200tdi, though it looks like on your photos it's very little oil on the drive. Much less than the gearboxes.

You could argue it's to tackle corrosion. You know, it's not a bug, it's a feature...

lynall · Mar 17, 2011

Underneath the top of the lift pump at the back.
Im trying to highlight it in a pic but i cant find how to on this imac:doh:
Inside the lift pump is a seal that stops engine oil escaping the pump lever shaft goes through this seal, the fuel has a diaphragm as the seal and the breather/tell tale hole show which is leaking, almost everyone replaces the pump mounting gasket and its not this.
Pic is of of the pump of my old 2 litre, the circle in the middle is the oil seal the shaft comes up though this and connects to the diaphragm the area above the seal should be bone dry, this is covered in oil as im a messy bastard!
But i cant see the vent hole and this is the best pic i have

Lynall

Woody3 · Mar 17, 2011

Got ya...I think I know where you mean now.

Well oil is draining off at the moment. I seem to have one ring seal and one washer on the sump plug for some reason. Surely there should only be the one ring seal?

Anyway, thanks everyone, I'm going to have a look at tht hole now and see if it is seeping through there. Might as well buy a new lift pump for what they cost (if that is the suspect).

Cheers again

lynall · Mar 18, 2011

Best seal for sump washers is a dowty washer which is a steel washer with a rubber insert kin brilliant

Lynall

lynall · Mar 18, 2011

Best seal for sump washers is a dowty washer which is a steel washer with a rubber insert kin brilliant

Lynall

Woody3 · Mar 18, 2011

Lynall - you are right.

Looks like the lift pump is leaking. I'm going to order a new lift pump instead of messing around putting a new seal in it. Hopefully all will be sorted then

Thanks matey. Much appreciated!

Spot the Oil Leak Suspect...

Woody3

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[JP]

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