Head Gasket question possible leak..

[StuHERTS]

Hi all,
After replacing a few oil pipes i knew that were leaking, I'm smelling burning oil again..
Oil Pressure is ok, Temps are fine,
I'm not losing any coolant but very worried with what i see today..

I attached a pic of the engine where i can see fresh Oil leaking from the head..
It only seems to be the O/S front end leaking, not that it matters but what do you think?

Any tips advice ?

Thanks :confused:

[THE MASTER]

could be just a leack from rocker gask or dizy ... the oil feed (preasure) to rocker shaft is on the other end of head flywheel end

clean off and see were the oil is comming from:smokin:

[THE MASTER]

opps forgot to add filler cap seal :ashamed:

[Brigsy]

I have had coolant leak from that part of the headgasket before. Clean it up and see where its coming from

[Romil Davda]

Just as a hint/tip, I have found oil leaks from the following:


Oil feed to turbo - had to tighten oil feed going to turbo
Oil return pipe - At bottom of turbo
Oil pressure gauge feed - Had to tighten
My dip stick kept popping out - previous engine had issue with head!
I know this is not related to your pic but still! Also could be left over oil burning off the manifold!

[Jonny5]

I had this with mine. Its most likely the dizzy drive seal mate.
I watched mine when running, the oil came up the side of the dizzy drive gear then ran along that edge before dripping off the timing cover.
Simple job. Get the gasket from Renault or mike, its only a thin gasket paper ring but def needs to be there.

[StuHERTS]

Wallace just popped round,
Checked Coolant for oil, oil cap for mayo, Temps are fine though i do have slight kink in the pipe that runs from water pump to bottle as its now so close.

He's lending me his torque wrench,
ill get the rocker cover off, check-tighten head bolts incase its come a bit loose.

I'll clean excess oil and check to see where it coming from when running.

I got my Carb off Marky and its been running so lovely since, a little rich but fine, starts 1st time at 4am in the morn so ive been taking it to work.

But just this poxy burning oil smell after 30mins and as you can see from attached pic, its covered all down the front, .

Cheers guys...

[StuHERTS]

I had this with mine. Its most likely the dizzy drive seal mate.
I watched mine when running, the oil came up the side of the dizzy drive gear then ran along that edge before dripping off the timing cover.
Simple job. Get the gasket from Renault or mike, its only a thin gasket paper ring but def needs to be there.

What do i ask for mate? Dizzy drive seal gasket?

[Jonny5]

What do i ask for mate? Dizzy drive seal gasket?

Yup :agree:

[Tony Walker]

id say a burning oil smell would be unlikely to be that side of the head, it would need to be on the manifold or turbo to be burning and smelling a noticeable amount.
Not 100% but i think your problem is elsewhere.

[StuHERTS]

id say a burning oil smell would be unlikely to be that side of the head, it would need to be on the manifold or turbo to be burning and smelling a noticeable amount.
Not 100% but i think your problem is elsewhere.

Just cleaned replaced downpipe, turbo, inlet & braided hose pipes..,
N/S of Gear box is now spotless, no oil there at all...
Oil appeared on the Engine, directly in front of Rad. around base of Dipstick etc..

Garage now has a new fairly small pool of oil on the floor..

Im baffed mate.. all i can do is trial & error..
Clean Excess Oil, Check head bolts etc until its gone..
Embarressing! Got flagged down by a bloke yesterday on the way to footy, telling me how much he loves R5's etc etc, i had to pull away before he got a wiff of the black stuff lol

[Romil Davda]

Stuart, have you taken off the oil feed banjo thingy? Runs block to turbo. Or have you taken off the oil pressure gauge sender? Is the dip stick fully in? and check if it is loose (dip stick)?

Also, just recheck for any splits in the oil feed pipe to turbo and check the bolt holding on the banjo is tight.

[Brigsy]

Check the oil cooler sandwich plate is tight on the block, also check the seal isnt split.

[StuHERTS]

Stuart, have you taken off the oil feed banjo thingy? Runs block to turbo. Or have you taken off the oil pressure gauge sender? Is the dip stick fully in? and check if it is loose (dip stick)?

Also, just recheck for any splits in the oil feed pipe to turbo and check the bolt holding on the banjo is tight.
Hi Romil,
No i havent taken the banjo itself off, but the long Nut thing which is attached to the feed pipe.. I had that done by pirtek a few weeks back..

Dip stick is a bit loose i noticed it dont get properly jammed in its hole, but the oil seems to be all along the front end and is fresh, i cant see how it would splash behind the dizzy..

Wallace has lent me his Pressure tester and torque wrench.
ill take rocker cover off, tighten bolts (75-80 newt)?
Check Dizzy for leaks
Check piston pressures.. 110-130psi?
i need to degrease it all aswell because it sticking out my car and seeings as we've got crap weather, ill have a few weeks to do it..
Was hoping to hit the Ace cafe french night coming up for the first time soon :(

Feel free to pop down and help :p

[StuHERTS]

Check the oil cooler sandwich plate is tight on the block, also check the seal isnt split.

Sorry mate, I will but where is that located?
:cartman:

[Slammed 66]

Possibly it's just muck but, is that black silicone sealant between the head and block?

If so that might be the cause?

A bodged H/G repair or similar possibly but the head and block should have had clean faces if the headgasket was replaced. If not seated properly oils could blow through the sealant lobbing oil down the block.

Just a thought.

Ross

[Wallace]

Possibly it's just muck but, is that black silicone sealant between the head and block?

If so that might be the cause?

A bodged H/G repair or similar possibly but the head and block should have had clean faces if the headgasket was replaced. If not seated properly oils could blow through the sealant lobbing oil down the block.

Just a thought.

Ross


This is what I suspect! After all u never really know what's what unless you've done it yourself:agree:

Stu's done the right thing previously cleaning things up and getting a good base to begin with, we have had a 'quick' look at the other areas suggested, but everywhere else seems nice and clean/dry of oil.

After he's done a retorque & compression test,if alls well then I suggest we get a load of brake cleaner on the block - get it spanking clean,then just look whilst up to temperature and hopefully spot it seeping out

I'm not convinced its head gasket to be honest,but I could be wrong

Good luck tmrw mate:agree:

[Romil Davda]

I think Ross is on to something...

Oil filter on tight enough? If it was the rocker cover gasket, you'd see the oil everywhere. Might be split? have a check.

As Wallace says, clean it up, run it and see if you can spot where its coming from.

If the car drives, pop over to the next Ace cafe meet and you'll have a few peeps to look over it.

[Romil Davda]

Check the oil cooler sandwich plate is tight on the block, also check the seal isnt split.

Behind the oil filter

[StuHERTS]

Thanks Guys, Romil, i am hoping i can make the next Ace cafe meet in a few weeks i think?..
would love to shoot down with Wallace..

Took the rocker cover off and with torque wrench set at 78n, i got a pinch on a few of the bolts.
I cant see sealant when its zoomed in. but it looks as if Oil is seeping out, (Look at Leak3,4 &5 pics)..

Someone mentioned about Dizzy Seal leaking oil?
I doubt it but it could be a leak from somewhere around the Dizzy toadstool thing (leak1 pic) and trickling along the Seem of the H.G But i cant see where to get that ToadStool off and it isn't listed in the Haynes..

Need to do compression test to see if its blown anything..
So rocker & Dizzy back on, all Plugs out, Disconnect HT Main lead.. screw tester in and turn engine over yea?

Thanks Guys :)
*added 2 more macro pictures..

[GTphil]

don't forget the open the throttle fully while cranking for a comp test;)

[GTphil]

Also my block looked a little like that when my head lifted, are the correct washers in place on the headbolts?

[Romil Davda]

Whats your postcode? Incase someone is local and can pop by to have a look. OR come and see me, i'll be near High Wycombe working on my car this weekend!

[StuHERTS]

Also my block looked a little like that when my head lifted, are the correct washers in place on the headbolts?

The 3 on top of the rocker cover
Yea they were ok, the rocker gasket seems ok at the front.

Just ordered my R.C gasket from CGB,
Can i just use the original one to test compression then stick the new
One on when it arrives..

[StuHERTS]

Whats your postcode? Incase someone is local and can pop by to have a look. OR come and see me, i'll be near High Wycombe working on my car this weekend!

I'm 5 mins from Jnc25 of the M25 mate, not sure if I should risk a drive..

[Romil Davda]

I'm 5 mins from Jnc25 of the M25 mate, not sure if I should risk a drive..

If it starts and ticks over.... Drive it ;) I'm J13 (Staines) off the M25 usually but in Wycombe as that where the cars broken down... a bit of a distance from you

Or save it untill the Ace cafe meet, which will be on 21st Jan, if you can wait that long!

[Slammed 66]

Stu, Phil means the washers one the actual headbolts not the rocker cover bolts mate.

Ross

[StuHERTS]

I didn't check the washers,. they're 17mm Bolts.
Ill get it all back together and take it for a slow drive to Ace cafe i think..?

[GTphil]

Under the headbolts their needs to be a thick cast washer, if said washers are not correct this will cause the head to lift under boost.

i used thin normal type washers and they actually mushroomed upwards, giving me the exact same looking block as in your pics, it's an easy check just take the rocker cover off and check them;)

one more thing to rule out:agree:

[StuHERTS]

I'll check mate, covers off so no probs..
I'm assuming it's the washers under the 17mm bolts I've just torque wrenched
I'll add a pic

[GTphil]

That's the ones;)

[StuHERTS]

Finding myself stuck with this one..
The Engine actually runs lovely, no tapping knocking, nothing.. Purrs like a cat.
Several people have commented on the fact it runs so quietly smooth..
BUT..
i'm not sure of next step to take,
Actually a bit upset really as the ****tards before me let this get in such a state!

I know i cant use any flush system, but what would you suggest?

I'm thinking to use an "Oil Flush" which i have a few litres of,
fit a new oil filter, run it for 30-45 mins on high idle then drain it whilst its hot.
Another new Oil filter then Fill with my mobil super 2000?

I'm tempted to clean it or hoover some of the ****e out but look at the pic,,,
:mad:

[GTphil]

wow! Lord knows what all that crap is:disagree:

[Slammed 66]

Looks like it went a long time without an oil change at some point.

[StuHERTS]

Apparently it was left 5-7 years sitting in someones garden under cover..
What would you suggest?
lol

[Slammed 66]

I really don't know stu. A good detergent like Gunk degreaser would shift it but you'd get some going down the oil ways.

This is one for the experts mate. Which I'm not.

Maybe leave it for now until you know whether the head has to come off or not. If it does the clean it on the bench.

Ross

[Brigsy]

Leave all that gunk on the head. If you start disturbing it they will be particles of it floating around the oil system which could damage the bearings, turbo etc. if it aint broke dont fix it!?

Id only clean it up if you take the head off.