gregved05 · Jun 26, 2016

Hi there

We've bought a 300tdi engine for a defender from a land rover breakers. We fired it up and sounded really good considering it hadn't been used for over 6 months. But we noticed it had a oil leak were the block meets on the timing belt assembly (not the timing belt cover gasket if that makes sense, think it's called the timing chest) with further inspection we noticed as we.lifted the dipstick it was blowing slightly when on tick over and got a lot worse when reving the engine as did the leak on the gasket.
If we take the oil filler cap off and rev the engine both the leak and the dipstick don't leak or spray, so it's almost that's releasing the pressure. We've inspected the 2 breather pipes on the rocker cover that are on the left of the engine and they seem ok as if we hold our thumbs on them there is a release of pressure once off. So it's almost like the breathers are either not working propley or worse piston rings....
just wondering if it was normal/common for the dipstick to sprinkle out oil when reving or if there any way to increase the breather to release the pressure off and to repair the gasket (as long the excess pressure didn't cause the leak in the 1st place or cause it again in future or we'll try get our money back).

Many thanks

Marmaduke · Jun 27, 2016

In a word no it shouldn't blow from the dipstick tube regardless of the engine speed, the black plastic breather on the side of the rocker cover is most likely to blame and they only cost a few quid. As for your leak a picture might help because there is a gasket between the timing cover and the block as well as the head gasket, both of which could cause an oil leak. Personally I've just bought a replacement engine and have replaced the head gasket, timing belt, water pump and lift pump just for peace of mind

chrisstdt · Jun 27, 2016

You can flush the cyclone breather out but they arent expensive

The problem could be a blocked breather or blow by on the pistons but as always start with the cheap easy stuff first

gregved05 · Jun 27, 2016

Thanks for the reply guys, OK well clean the breather on the side this afternoon and make.sure the pipes are clean. So is there only 1 breather on the engine?, and is there any other points I shud clean /check in regards to ventilation?

I'll send a photo of were the leak is, engine starts half a turn, runs really well, just them couple points as above were concerned about, but as we rev the pressure seems to increase to the point it leaks from gasket and when dipstick off sprays a bit. Not sure if it's normal for it to spray out of dipstick and if it's a coincidence about the leak.

Many thanks

Marmaduke · Jun 27, 2016

Gut feeling would say head gasket, under no circumstances should any oil be blowing up the dip stick tube. Are the radiator pipes pressurising at all or any bubbles in the header tank?

chrisstdt · Jun 27, 2016

Clean cyclone breather and run it without the pipe if you still have pressure in the crank case its not good thats the only breather on that engine

Kwakerman · Jun 27, 2016

gregved05 said:
Thanks for the reply guys, OK well clean the breather on the side this afternoon and make.sure the pipes are clean. So is there only 1 breather on the engine?, and is there any other points I shud clean /check in regards to ventilation?

I'll send a photo of were the leak is, engine starts half a turn, runs really well, just them couple points as above were concerned about, but as we rev the pressure seems to increase to the point it leaks from gasket and when dipstick off sprays a bit. Not sure if it's normal for it to spray out of dipstick and if it's a coincidence about the leak.

Many thanks

I agree with Marmaduke that it could be a head gasket issue as IIRC the oil feed to the valve gear is in that corner of the head / block.

Huddy84 · Jun 27, 2016

Does the dipstick have a little o-ring at the top to seal it when it's pushed home? Mine didn't and used to spray oil, as soon as i fitted it i didn't have a problem.

Something like part number 532387 on the na engine

Marmaduke · Jun 27, 2016

Huddy84 said:
Does the dipstick have a little o-ring at the top to seal it when it's pushed home? Mine didn't and used to spray oil, as soon as i fitted it i didn't have a problem.

Something like part number 532387 on the na engine

Rubber o ring or not a 300tdi shouldn't breathe heavy enough to spit oil out the dipstick tube with the engine at any speed

gregved05 · Jun 27, 2016

Right, we cleaned the breather, makes no diffrence, we left the pipe going Into breather and we even left one of the pipes going turbo off and it still spits at a high rev, and leaks at the gasket (cam chest) but soon as we take the filler cap off (pipes reconnected) there no leak/spitting out of dipstick.
So I take it's obviously got too much pressure for the breather to handle and making its way out some way. It's strange it's not blowing any smoke and runs really good bloody shame.
So if we were (probably won't be) too fix gasket which is a bit of a job is this pressure issue likely to show up same place/sum where else?

jamesmartin · Jun 27, 2016

try setting tappets before a compression test

gregved05 · Jun 27, 2016

Thanks for the replies. So james Martin, would I find out by doing a compression test to see if the piston rings (or whatever is causing it) is causing it? Or could something as simple as tapets be the cause?

chrisstdt · Jun 28, 2016

The tappets being out of adjustment wouldnt push oil out of the dip stick but it may give you a false compression test

Best to check them so you get a good idea of how good the piston rigs are sealing

gregved05 · Jun 28, 2016

Thanks guys

jamesmartin · Jun 28, 2016

chrisstdt said:
The tappets being out of adjustment wouldnt push oil out of the dip stick but it may give you a false compression test

Best to check them so you get a good idea of how good the piston rigs are sealing

its not unkown for the valve cap to break up ,it can create greater pressure as exhaust is restricted and delayed

Marmaduke · Jun 28, 2016

If it comes to it an elring head gasket is 12 quid from Craddocks and could be fitted quicker than it would take to swap the whole engine, as I've just found to my cost there's no guaranteeing the quality of used engines

chrisstdt · Jun 28, 2016

jamesmartin said:
its not unkown for the valve cap to break up ,it can create greater pressure as exhaust is restricted and delayed

Every days a school day james

gregved05 · Jun 29, 2016

If the valve caps are damaged, wouldn't the engine run rough/effect it? As the engine starts half a turn, sounds nice, no smoke etc.

Many thanks

Marmaduke · Jun 29, 2016

It would still start and run but would be more noticeable at higher engine speeds, it's only three bolts to check but my money is still on the head gasket

Magicgrotto · Jun 29, 2016

Marmaduke said:
head gasket

+1

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