TCubed

Active Member
All the problems come at once it seems!

I have a pipe that appears to be leaking oil, which I discovered whilst looking for the air con compressor.

I've cleaned up most of the oil and it seems to be stemming from a fluid pipe. I topped up the engine oil as it was too low, so I'm guessing this is engine not gearbox oil.. hope so anyway, otherwise that's 2 problems!

I've attached pics for the experts! :D

There's one oily pipe above the chassis which I presume is the major culprit, and another below it, which could just have been coated by the other one, or is also leaking.
The oil cooler is clean, although the pipe at the top of it is less so than the lower one.
 

Attachments

  • WP_000162.jpg
    WP_000162.jpg
    289.3 KB · Views: 381
  • WP_000163.jpg
    WP_000163.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 387
  • WP_000164.jpg
    WP_000164.jpg
    214.4 KB · Views: 355
All the problems come at once it seems!

I have a pipe that appears to be leaking oil, which I discovered whilst looking for the air con compressor.

I've cleaned up most of the oil and it seems to be stemming from a fluid pipe. I topped up the engine oil as it was too low, so I'm guessing this is engine not gearbox oil.. hope so anyway, otherwise that's 2 problems!

I've attached pics for the experts! :D

There's one oily pipe above the chassis which I presume is the major culprit, and another below it, which could just have been coated by the other one, or is also leaking.
The oil cooler is clean, although the pipe at the top of it is less so than the lower one.

The oil cooler shown in pic 3 is the gearbox oil cooler. Not the engine oil cooler you can't see that without stripping a few things off. Take it your car is a 2.5 diesel automatic. The two pipes in pic 1 and 2 go to the engine oil cooler. Looks like you have a leak in the pipes to both coolers.
 
Last edited:
The oil cooler shown in pic 3 is the gearbox oil cooler. Not the engine oil cooler you can't see that without stripping a few things off. Take it your car is a 2.5 diesel automatic. The two pipes in pic 1 and 2 go to the engine oil cooler. Looks like you have a leak in the pipes to both coolers.

Yep, DHSE auto.

OK, so job is to replace the pipes? I will look in RAVE!
 
The problem is if the pipes have corroded themselves to the oil cooler fittings you might end up stripping the threads and needing a cooler as well......:eek:
 
Hmmm OK, I might pop over the road and get a garage quote first then, see how it compares to the price of a cooler :p
 
Hmmm OK, I might pop over the road and get a garage quote first then, see how it compares to the price of a cooler :p

When the gearbox pipes corrode onto the cooler they do it well. Even professionals may well struggle so you might end up replacing the cooler with garage labour charges, and don't forget the cost of replacing the lost ATF.
 
I needed a new cooler because of this. (Why the hell does it do it, dissimilar metal corrosion and inadequate protective treatment I guess?) Then I had another pain in the neck as the fitter used a dodgy o-ring in the joint, it split after a few days and sprayed oil everywhere. Fortunately I spotted it quickly, called AA out to work, he didn't have the right size o-ring so he made one out of fuel pipe, asked me to replace it asap. That was 3 yrs ago and I've not done it yet!
 
It is possible to remove even badly stuck pipes from coolers engine or transmission. BUT. You have to saw through pipes to remove cooler with nuts still attached. Then saw through nut square about 1/8" into flat (NO MORE) of nut at end pipe goes in. Then with a pad saw junior hacksaw blade VERY carefully saw a slot along length of nut. Then with a sharp screwdriver or chisel placed at front of nut along it's length carefully tap to expand the slit until nut cracks. It can then be removed. Clean threads and cooler is saved.
 
Just replace the hose..

Its 5/8th oil line, I used rubber, you need about 2m and 8 hose clips.

Use a disc cutter to cut off the lines behind the old compression fitting.

Clean it all up, small amount of ptfe on the hard line, slide hose on and clamp..

Does a great job, looks fine and takes about an hour...

Simples
 
Is the gearbox oil red?

I have thoroughly cleaned everything with oil on it, so will now wait a couple of days and the culprit should be obvious so I can identify it :) (Should also stop the 1 drop of oil per day onto driveway!)

Was just wondering, if it leaks at a join, can you just coat it in Vaseline or something similar, or does that not work/cause issues?

Thanks for that advice Langley, I may well do that if it shows to be just the hose that is the problem :)
 
Is the gearbox oil red?

I have thoroughly cleaned everything with oil on it, so will now wait a couple of days and the culprit should be obvious so I can identify it :) (Should also stop the 1 drop of oil per day onto driveway!)

Was just wondering, if it leaks at a join, can you just coat it in Vaseline or something similar, or does that not work/cause issues?

Thanks for that advice Langley, I may well do that if it shows to be just the hose that is the problem :)

Yes and transfer box and power steering oil too you've done the best thing clean watch and wait:)
 
Do a leak of test 6 clear bottles should have the same amount in each bottle you need to do it at idle and revving it up .if you buy bottles plastic with measuring increments in.
That will solve your problem .
You have to seal them to insure your not drawing in air
 
Auto gear box pipes can show signs of weeping and then suddenly go and lose all your oil . I know this it happened to me as i was taking the car to get the pipes replaced had new ones in the car ready for fitting.Had to get a flatbed to take the car 1 1/2 miles as the company would not tow it.
 
So 2 days of use later and there's a little line of oil droplets stemming from the lower oil cooler pipe. Since the leak seems to be very slight I've put some grease around the seals for now until I have time to replace it fully; hopefully that will hold for a while :)
 
So 2 days of use later and there's a little line of oil droplets stemming from the lower oil cooler pipe. Since the leak seems to be very slight I've put some grease around the seals for now until I have time to replace it fully; hopefully that will hold for a while :)
I can't see grease holding back hot oil for long:eek:
 

Similar threads