Oil leak

[Boo]

I have a bit of an oil leak in the engine and quite a loud tapping noise. Now I think the tapping noise are the tappets and I have adjusted them and know they need replacing soon. The oil leak has me baffled. I have oil over the clutch housing, under the cambelt housing, drivers side wishbone and the sump tank underneath. I cannot locate where its actually coming from. Im thinking replace the sump gasket/seal if there is one but, I didt think that the Arosa had a gasket on the sump ? Anyone else got any ideas ?

 

[Simon Audi]

Hi GG,

As for the tappets - If you have already adjusted them then they must be manual adjust not automatic adjust as i expected. - That said Manual ones should not need to be replaced unless they are damaged, they do not really wear to a point that they can not be adjusted by screw, shim or bucket (depending on the design).

With Automatic tappets - oil filled, they can normally be stripped, cleaned or all oil, decoked and refitted.

As for the oil leak, it would seem that there is a lot, is there traces inside the Cam Cover at the top or only the bottom?

It its at the top also, could be a rocker cover, cam shaft seal, possibly a head gasket (depends on where the oil gallery is located) or the sump gasket.

I am unsure if there is a Gasket as such, but one way or the other there will be a seal, whether its moulded to the sump, a press in place gasket on the sump, a metal frame gasket or RTV (silicone) there has to be some form of seal.

As you have oil both sides of the engine, it must be a large leak, pressure wash it off, and look again after a short drive to see if you can locate the culprate.

Is there any other strange noises, or are you down on power?

Ciao

Simon

 

[Boo]

Thanks pet, Im going to give the engine a good clean over the next few days to see if I can locate where the majority of the oil is coming from. Forgot about the head gasket, that probably needs doing too so thats a good point. They are hydraulic tappets, when I said I adjusted them I did clean them out. They were pretty mucky and I did what I could but, Im also putting alot of the noise down to there not being enough oil going around the engine due to this leak ?? Could be wrong Think my week off is going to be spent under my car and cleaning my engine bay.

 

[Simon Audi]

Hi GG

As far as the leak goes, do the clean and let us know what you can see.

As for the tappets, as they are hydraulic, you probably took off the rocker cover to clean them previously? This gasket could be leaking.

If the oil level is OK, then the leak unless its a very big leak (>0.25 pints a minute) should not cause the rattle.

How long ago did you clean the hydraulic tappets? - Did you strip them, or just clean the outside?

How often do you do an oil change? and what oil do you use?

It is also worth checking the engine breather system to ensure its not blocked. - These are the pipes that vent to the air filter, normally they come from the sump or just above, and go through a filter or valve. - My reason for saying this, is this is what controls the pressure in the low pressure oil side of the engine that affects sump gasket, rocker cover gasket and most oil seals. If this is blocked, and you have Piston Gas Bypass (all engines have some - this typically gets worse as the engine gets older) then they could be seeing much more pressure than they were designed for and hence the leak.

As for the head gasket, changing this is only necessary if its leaking - typically this is accompanied by oil in the water and water in the oil, loss of power, strange noises (like a back fire) or excess smoke or steam from the exaust. This should not be changed as a routine thing, they are designed to last the life of the car, and do so in most cases. - Changing this is a 4 to 8 hour job, depending on if you decoke etc. and is a major cost job.

Ciao

Simon

 

[Boo]

Tappets were cleaned - not stripped as I was a little out of my depth and couldnt find a garage that would look at it, just did the basics really. Oil is changed every 4 months and I used 10/40 part synthetic magnatec oil as recommended by my local VW dealers. Had a look a bit further today and the oil pressure switch was full of oil. Im presuming it shouldnt be like this though ? I need to change the rocker box gasket not the head gasket so thats cool and easy enough to do.

 

[Simon Audi]

If the oil pressure switch is full of oil, then that could be your leak, I have seen that before.

Its an easy cheap change, so worth doing before you do anything else.

As its connected to a main oil gallery, a small leak soon causes a lot of oil loss due to the pressure!

With the oil changed so frequently, I am surprised you have trouble with the hydraulic tappets.

If you do need to change the rocker gasket, it may be worth further cleaning the tappets, including a full strip.

Let us know how you get on.

Ciao

Simon

 

[Boo]

Thanks for your help Simon. Im going to order a new oil pressure switch, rocker gasket and some sump sealant just to cover all bases. Will need some new overalls at this rate too !

 

[Simon Audi]

Hi GG,

Glad to see your such a handy lady!!

Ciao

Simon

 

[Boo]

Took the rocker cover off today and replaced the gasket. Replaced the oil pressure switch.

The manifold gasket was a little more difficult to get off as the existing one had split (it has 2 layers pressed together) was rusted and cracked - a wee bit knackered really. Put the new one on and my car is lovely and quiet. Took it for a run and it seems (and I say 'seems') to be ok. Will leave it overnight and see if its leaked any oil in the morning.

If it has leaked oil looks like Im spending the next 3 days cleaning my engine bay to find where this poxy leak is coming from

 

[Simon Audi]

I take it you changed the exhaust gasket, and this was the two layer steel embossed gasket?

Glad thinks SEEM better at the mo.

Ciao

Simon

 

[Boo]

I take it you changed the exhaust gasket, and this was the two layer steel embossed gasket?

Glad thinks SEEM better at the mo.

Ciao

Simon

Exhaust manifold gasket yes - I need to be more specific. Will see if its leaked tomorrow and then its time to get cleaning