Oil Leak in 16RS

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:54 am

Yes I like my lemons

Thoughts on the possible location of a Oil Leak that is spraying the firewall on the nearside ? Looked under the car but its so dirty could not locate directly.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Thu May 10, 2007 11:30 am

Check the dipstick fit - that's where my problem lay when one of mine suffered a worrying spray of oil.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu May 10, 2007 1:37 pm

Transverse engined cars can be difficult. The problem is that all oil leaks seem to come from the back - but originate on the front and the oil is blown round the block and flies off the back.

I'd start by looking at the easy bits - camshaft cover gasket, crankcase vent hoses which are certainly a problem with diesels.

Doz · Post by **Doz** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:29 pm

Nasty breather pipe gone "chewy" and holed? Cam cover gasket been a victim of bodgenometry?

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:56 pm

engine is good with 3 cylinders registering 170 psi and one on 80 psi,

Not sure on how much relevance this line in the advert had or what the previous owner said. He was not mechanically minded and they only drove it twice in the 8 months they owned it.

One turn up for the books is we thought it was unregisterd since June last year. Stuck it the windscreen holder behind it was along with every registration since 2001 was a current ticket valid until June 2nd this year

. Somehow I do not think they checked thinking it was out of date.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:13 pm

I was trying to be optimistic in my earlier post - but if there is ring/bore wear the engine will suffer from excessive crankcase pressure caused by the combustion gasses passing the piston - and then it'll leak oil everywhere especially from joints you didn't know it had.

The simple test is to remove the oil filler cap while the engine is running. If you can stand there in reasonable comfort then that's not the problem - but if you choke and run for fresh air - you've got a problem.

With one cylinder low and the rest apparently OK I'd normally be looking for a defective valve - but these engines don't seem to suffer from them.

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Thu May 10, 2007 11:27 pm

Surely a defective cylinder would show itself under heavy loading? I put under some pretty harsh braking and acceleration up some big hills and there was no hesitation or jerkyness. Even starts better than my 19TZS

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu May 10, 2007 11:46 pm

Did you measure the compression before or after the journey?

You can often hear the inequality as a slight pulse in the exhaust.

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Fri May 11, 2007 7:31 am

The intention was to get it home for parts if drivable and avoid a trailer and ruining the 19TZS.

Took it in for a check over to see if its worthwhile repairing besides the headlight, two tyres and leak in the exhaust was found (possibly fixable) but the Sub Frame is rusted. I will take a photo to show you the extent. There is also a bit of rust on the seem of the bulk head above the N/S front wheel.

The hunt is now on for a donor car for a Sub Frame, until then it looks like a polish up (Keeps the wife happy

) and park up on the side of the drive.

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Fri May 11, 2007 10:05 am

Philip chidlow wrote:Check the dipstick fit - that's where my problem lay when one of mine suffered a worrying spray of oil.

Yep mine suffered from this as well until I bought a brand new dipstick. The sealing bit of plastic underneath the handle had broken off on the old one. My HT leads stay nice and clean now

How about the distributor oil seal? I used to get a lot of oil spray on the nearside inner wing of my GSA before I got this changed.

Mark.