22 replies to this topic

[Porker]

Hi all, I've enjoyed my VX hassle-free this season, it's performing lovely. Yet, as it has an unusual appetite for the black stuff, I decided to remove the bottom plate, to see that my engine is completely covered in oil, it seems to come from above, on the left side. What could be the cause? I'll book it in at Opel next week, but I'd love to know what diagnose to expect. Is this a common problem?

[SteveA]

Cracked breather return pipe and turbo oil return seal are both worth checking.

[Porker]

Cracked breather return pipe and turbo oil return seal are both worth checking.

I'll check the first one, as the second one might be hard to find (it's an NA)

Thanks for the tip, hope it's something small as you suggest.

[techieboy]

Is it definitely engine oil? Do you have a gearbox breather mod done on your gearbox to prevent it venting oil? Is the CV boot okay and not leaking grease? If it's on the left hand side of the engine, it'll either be from the oil filter housing or the oil cooler/pipework. Chances are it's the oil filter housing though. Quite possible that whoever did the last oil change didn't replace the two metal oil seals either side of the cooler sandwich plate (or damaged one in the process) of tightening everything back up. You may be able to stop it by tightening the filter housing up a fraction but having had it happen to mine after a service (and losing 2 litres of brand new oil ), I replaced the all of the seals and carefully did the housing back up and have had no further problems.

[Porker]

Is it definitely engine oil? Do you have a gearbox breather mod done on your gearbox to prevent it venting oil? Is the CV boot okay and not leaking grease?

If it's on the left hand side of the engine, it'll either be from the oil filter housing or the oil cooler/pipework. Chances are it's the oil filter housing though. Quite possible that whoever did the last oil change didn't replace the two metal oil seals either side of the cooler sandwich plate (or damaged one in the process) of tightening everything back up. You may be able to stop it by tightening the filter housing up a fraction but having had it happen to mine after a service (and losing 2 litres of brand new oil ), I replaced the all of the seals and carefully did the housing back up and have had no further problems.

It's most definately engine oil, I have the gearbox breather mod done, no problems there.

I doubt it'll be the oil filter housing, as it's been 'consuming' litres of oil since I've had it, it's not just since the last oil-filter change. My engine has always been covered in oil on the left side, but not as much as it is now. I'll try to take a picture.

Thanks for your help!

[Porker]

Is it definitely engine oil? Do you have a gearbox breather mod done on your gearbox to prevent it venting oil? Is the CV boot okay and not leaking grease?

If it's on the left hand side of the engine, it'll either be from the oil filter housing or the oil cooler/pipework. Chances are it's the oil filter housing though. Quite possible that whoever did the last oil change didn't replace the two metal oil seals either side of the cooler sandwich plate (or damaged one in the process) of tightening everything back up. You may be able to stop it by tightening the filter housing up a fraction but having had it happen to mine after a service (and losing 2 litres of brand new oil ), I replaced the all of the seals and carefully did the housing back up and have had no further problems.

It's most definately engine oil, I have the gearbox breather mod done, no problems there.

I doubt it'll be the oil filter housing, as it's been 'consuming' litres of oil since I've had it, it's not just since the last oil-filter change. My engine has always been covered in oil on the left side, but not as much as it is now. I'll try to take a picture.

Thanks for your help!

Drops on the bottom plate

[techieboy]

Looks even more like the oil filter housing to me, judging by where most of the oil is and where it's dropping down to. Like I said, it's most likely one of the two metal seals between the sandwich plate and the filter housing. Nobody who services these cars seems to bother replacing them but, they are easy to pinch/nick when screwing the housing back in (especially as the oil filter cap and the oil cooler adaptor tend to come out as one). I've had this happen twice now, though the last time was much worse) and replace them every time I change the oil. Last time everything on the block below the filter housing was soaked in oil, the sump, the gearbox, undertrays, everything.

Buy two new seals (item 5 here), change the oil and filter and refit carefully with the two new seals and I'll bet your leak stops.

[Porker]

Looks even more like the oil filter housing to me, judging by where most of the oil is and where it's dropping down to. Like I said, it's most likely one of the two metal seals between the sandwich plate and the filter housing. Nobody who services these cars seems to bother replacing them but, they are easy to pinch/nick when screwing the housing back in (especially as the oil filter cap and the oil cooler adaptor tend to come out as one). I've had this happen twice now, though the last time was much worse) and replace them every time I change the oil. Last time everything on the block below the filter housing was soaked in oil, the sump, the gearbox, undertrays, everything.

Buy two new seals (item 5 here), change the oil and filter and refit carefully with the two new seals and I'll bet your leak stops.

Well it can't hurt to give it a try! I hope this is the cause, I was preparing for much worse...

Many thanks!

[Porker]

A friend mentions the oil comes from higher up - too high to come from the oil filter - what would be your guess assuming the oil comes from high up?

[techieboy]

There may be some residual oil around from the filler cap where somebody has been a bit messy with topping up the oil. Assuming you haven't got a hole in the cylinder head, then the only place that is higher is the rocker cover gasket. Rocker cover gasket isn't subject to high pressure, so would likely only weep. Clean the engine up, otherwise you're unlikely to spot any leak. Replace the seals in the filter housing (and a new filter all for under £10) and then run the engine up to temperature and check for leaks. Then check the tightness of the filter housing cap again once it's cooled. My money is still on the filter housing being where the leak is. The oil is under full pressure at that point and floods out when you have a leak.

[Porker]

There may be some residual oil around from the filler cap where somebody has been a bit messy with topping up the oil. Assuming you haven't got a hole in the cylinder head, then the only place that is higher is the rocker cover gasket. Rocker cover gasket isn't subject to high pressure, so would likely only weep.

Clean the engine up, otherwise you're unlikely to spot any leak. Replace the seals in the filter housing (and a new filter all for under £10) and then run the engine up to temperature and check for leaks. Then check the tightness of the filter housing cap again once it's cooled. My money is still on the filter housing being where the leak is. The oil is under full pressure at that point and floods out when you have a leak.

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!

[Mangham54]

If it is not the oil filter housing I will buy a hat and eat it! If you search my forum name and oil leak you will see identical pictures! Just be warned once you have fixed the leak you will need to waits while for all the oil to drop to the undertray

[Porker]

If it is not the oil filter housing I will buy a hat and eat it!

If you search my forum name and oil leak you will see identical pictures!

Just be warned once you have fixed the leak you will need to waits while for all the oil to drop to the undertray

My car's engine block will be cleaned tomorrow to trace the oil leak more easily, as it apparently takes 2 weeks for those oil-filter seals to arrive, I want to make sure this is where it's coming from.

Is there a quicker way to get a hold of those seals (note: I'm located in Belgium)

[techieboy]

Give AutoVaux a call and order a handful and I'm sure they'll be with you within 3 or 4 days (usually in stock there and takes a day or two to the UK). I'd send you a couple but I've only got two left at the moment due to recent forced oil changes.

[Mangham54]

Give AutoVaux a call and order a handful and I'm sure they'll be with you within 3 or 4 days (usually in stock there and takes a day or two to the UK). I'd send you a couple but I've only got two left at the moment due to recent forced oil changes.

Another thing to possibly try would be to run some flange sealant round the two mating faces as that is what P4cks did with his and I get the impression that it worked well.

[Porker]

If it is not the oil filter housing I will buy a hat and eat it!

If you search my forum name and oil leak you will see identical pictures!

Just be warned once you have fixed the leak you will need to waits while for all the oil to drop to the undertray

No need to eat your hat, it was indeed the oil filter housing.

I'll try and get those seals from Autovaux, it takes the local dealer 3 weeks to get them...

[techieboy]

Excellent. Glad it turned out to be as simple as that.

[Porker]

Excellent. Glad it turned out to be as simple as that.

Are you guys sure I only need item 5, and not item 14 aswell?

http://speedster.net...lter/index.html

http://www.speedster...oses/index.html

[techieboy]

The seal (part 14) may or may not come with the oil filter, I've received one with some filters and not others. Order a few of them if you want but whenever I've tried to change the oil filter with the engine in the car, I've never been able to separate part 12 from part 13.

[Porker]

The seal (part 14) may or may not come with the oil filter, I've received one with some filters and not others. Order a few of them if you want but whenever I've tried to change the oil filter with the engine in the car, I've never been able to separate part 12 from part 13.

Last time it came with the oil filter. Regular Z22SE-filter, not VX220-specific and the seal didn't fit... Anyway I'll order one too!