Member Since: 19 Jan 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 32
Evening all, sadly I am still chasing my engine oil leak.... I have thoroughly cleaned the engine and jacked it up, removed the heat shielding and inspected all turbo connections - all seems dry. I have also checked the filter housing and put a cable tie deep into the v of the engine and both seem good and dry. I took the vehicle for a very short drive (not even half a mile) at no more than 30mph, but when I stopped to check underneath, it was already soaked at the rear of the engine/bellhousing connection, it’s just not obvious as to where it is coming from! I cannot get it to leak when stationary with revs applied. I have also done my best to check the upper rear of the engine and can’t see/feel anything obvious though access is very limited. Does anyone please have any further suggestions for me to look at before I have to bite the bullet and send it to a garage to look at. I’m so gutted about the whole things, a fortnight of ownership and I have had nothing but problems, have had no enjoyment out of it at all yet! Thanks in advance.
2nd Feb 2020 12:36 am
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4651
Other than getting it on lift there's not much else you can do beyond what's been said already. It's always possible the crank seal is fubared but it's rare. Don't lose faith yet, just get it in the air for a report and nothing else until you have a confirmation on the leak yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
2nd Feb 2020 12:48 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20731
Small inspection camera, poked into the bellhousing will show if that's where its coming from My D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 19 Jan 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 32
Evening all, I have had one last look at the oil leak before I admit defeat. I have put a camera through the hole in the bottom of the gearbox. It’s definitely leaking out from here. Rev it about 1500-2000 rpm and oil will constantly drip out of the engine to gearbox mating faces. It doesn’t look like it has come from the crankshaft oil seal as the very bottom it is dry, the RH drivers side of the bell housing is where the oil seems to be running down from somewhere higher up. I am fairly sure my cooler is good as I couldn’t see any oil in the v with the camera and a cable tie as far as I could reach didn’t show any signs of leakage. Could it be a cam seal? Would this leak out of the bell housing rather than down the outside?
4th Feb 2020 7:41 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4651
If its on the right side it could be the brake vacuum pump has sprung a leak. You're best option is have it looked at on a lift!yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
4th Feb 2020 8:22 pm
OvalAutos
Member Since: 28 Dec 2018
Location: Cradley Heath
Posts: 382
Small camera or mirror on a stick to check the turbo oil feed pipe above the gearbox. It connects to the driver's side head at the rear by means of a 'tee' connector.
We had one a few years ago that was chewed by a rodent. It is covered in metal braiding. Rare, but possible.Joe
5th Feb 2020 9:55 am
19sam90
Member Since: 19 Jan 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 32
Thanks all for the replies, would the above mentioned faults, cause the leak to be coming out of the bellhousing though? No oil on the outside of the housing
5th Feb 2020 11:48 am
19sam90
Member Since: 19 Jan 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 32
Evening all, the discovery has now been with a Land Rover specialist since Friday. After having just spoken to them they are still unsure as to where the leak is coming from and said that next step is to remove starter motor and look in there for any hints which I’m told will take 4 hours to remove? He also warned that if that wasn’t much help - the body will have to come off which will take a full working day! I was lead to believe that a trained garage should be able to do it in half as much time or am I wrong? Just don’t seem to be making any progress, I hope i don’t get billed for a full days labour, just to tell me know more than what I already found out myself...
10th Feb 2020 7:27 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20731
It's not 4 hours to remove and refit a starter motor
It's also not a day's labour to remove a body off a D4
Member Since: 27 Feb 2016
Location: Perth
Posts: 204
Maybe not such a special specialist?
12th Feb 2020 2:58 pm
19sam90
Member Since: 19 Jan 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 32
Update on the discovery....been to see it with the body at long last removed. The guys at the garage are now saying it’s not rear crank seal but is leaking from the rear of the drivers side rocker cover and the passenger is also weeping slightly. They want to replace both rocker covers as they say their is an updated part to prevent any further issue? My thoughts where rear cam seal but he seems to think regardless of it is that, the best shout is to replace covers at £3000 approx. What is different with the updated rocker covers? If it is a just cam seals, is it just as expensive job labour wise? Do I just bite the bullet?
18th Feb 2020 8:11 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4651
Did the garage say what the issue was with the rockers/manifolds ie are they cracked or gasket failure?
There is a modified manifold available but iirc it was to replace the originals which cracked on the induction side allowing unmetered air into the engine and reducing performance.
Is the £3k for the whole job inc body off? It seems a little excessive to me as the manifolds are about £450 for both, even if you add in the rear belt and other bits required.yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
18th Feb 2020 10:01 pm
19sam90
Member Since: 19 Jan 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 32
They just said it was definitely leaking from there but weren’t sure exactly if it was an o-ring, rocker gasket etc. Until they actually strip it all down to access the covers. When you say originals, would this affect mine as a early 2011 build?
£3k was an approximate figure he said. I am supposed to be hearing from them tomorrow with the official quote. That figure should be for body off and repairs to both covers. £275 each is the price he gave me for them. I want to prevent future failure, but if there is no sense in changing the covers then I would rather do what I can get away with, but otherwise accept certain things should be done whilst body is off
18th Feb 2020 10:43 pm
PROFSR G
Member Since: 06 Mar 2017
Location: Lost
Posts: 4651
Yes 2011 cars are affected but it seems not all. I am surprised though this couldn't have been confirmed without having to resort to taking the body off. Make sure they replace all seals / gaskets now as you don't want to be revisiting this again.yµ (idµ - eAµ) ψ=mψ
18th Feb 2020 11:36 pm
2Springers
Member Since: 12 Apr 2012
Location: Surrey
Posts: 109
I had the rear cam seal done by Groombridges in East Sussex and they know their stuff.
I think you are in Wiltshire but might be worth giving them a call as they are really helpful and. They do courtesy cars if you need to be mobile.
I was quoted £1700 by a Main Dealer for leaking N/S Cam cover gasket cam cover back in 2017 and it turned out there wasn't a leak when Groombridges looked at it ! My issue was the rear cam seal but obviously yours might be different.
Tbh I had two indies and a main dealer diagnose my oil leak immediately so I hope yours has been diagnosed correctly.
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