Oil in engine bay.

Hello all.

I went into the garage today to collect something and I noticed a few spots of oil under the car in a few different locations but all under the engine at the front of the car. The garage until now has been unmarked and they are still wet. A drip has suddenly started from the sump plug while it has been dry since I did the oil change about 2 months ago.

Due to this I though that I would check the oil level and upon opening the bonnet I immediately noticed that my nice clean engine bay was oil covered! It does look like it has flown out of the dipstick tube as the bonnet at this location has oil on it yet the dipstick is perfectly in place....:scratch:

I have done a bit of reading and apparently it could be pressure build up in the crank due to a blocked breather, would you guys agree with this even though the dipstick is still in place? If so how would I go about unblocking it?

The oils level has fallen to just below minimum now by the way...

Would have blown the dipstick out or moved it, no splits in any hoses? Or rad?

I'd pull off the breather system and give a good clean, whilst at it somthing may become apparent.

I would have to admit that I have not checked all of the hoses yet but a split one is most probably the answer.

Probably a stupid question but I guess another oil drain and change is in order as I need to pull hoses off!!

No, it's only breather pipes, don't pull any oil hoses off just check them. ;)

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Originally Posted by JRP

No, it's only breather pipes, don't pull any oil hoses off just check them. ;)

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:agree: I will check tomorrow. Thank you.

Right, I got the car out today to investigate the oil in the engine bay and the drips on the floor. I cleaned it all up and checked all of the breather pipes and they all appear to be intact.:scratch:

I run the car up to temp just to see if anything leaked and there was nothing at all, not even any drops on the floor! It does look greasy around the dipstick area and there was oil on the bonnet above this area which leads me to think that under load there is pressure that makes the oil come out even though the dipstick is in place. Is this at all possible? I mean could a small blockage in a breather be enough to leak oil out of the dipstick tube with out dislodging the dipstick??

It appears to me that the drops on floor are just due to this as like I said there was nothing on the floor when I ran it up to temp....

If you're pressurising the crankcase to the point it overwhelms the breather system, it'll blow out anywhere it can, ie the dipstick (thats the most common anyway).

Clean it up as best as possible, take it for a bit of a boost around (if its going to pressurise the crankcase it'll be when under boost) then stop and check for leaks straight away.

I like to ziptie a bit of rag over the dipstick itself so I can see if it's blowing out of there...if it is the rag will be oily but the oily splatter would be very localised/contained to there only.

I would do a compression test and go from there

Thanks for the replies guys. :agree:

I will take it for a blast next week with a bit of rag around the dipstick. I have no idea how to do a compression test....

Would it not be worth taking off all of the breather hoses to check for any build up in the mean time..

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Originally Posted by Rob1980

I have no idea how to do a compression test....

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Dead easy job. Worth a google.

The tool is cheap. EG. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255216

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Originally Posted by Guybrush

Dead easy job. Worth a google.

The tool is cheap. EG. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255216

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Thank you Mr Threepwood. I assume that the results(pressure readings) of this will tell me if I have a blocked breather or not?

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Originally Posted by Rob1980

Thank you Mr Threepwood. I assume that the results(pressure readings) of this will tell me if I have a blocked breather or not?

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Well the results will be potentially interesting, but personally i'd struggle to interpret them to point to the breather system.

Comp. test has been my go-to each time i've thought the head gasket has let go.
Brigsy's recommended it, so if i were you i'd get the tool, do the test and post the results.

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Originally Posted by Brigsy

I would do a compression test and go from there

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I have absolutely no reason to think the HG has gone. There is no Mayo and no water mixed in with the oil etc and the temps are all spot on. It's just a very small confusing leak....:scratch:

I will buy that compression tool when I get a chance, thank you to those who have suggested that I do that.

Do you guys on here seriously think its a HG problem?? I honestly can not see that at all unless I am missing something.. Will a compression test tell me anything other than if I have a HG problem?

Thank for all your input so far guys, much appreciated. :agree:

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Originally Posted by Rob1980

Will a compression test tell me anything other than if I have a HG problem?

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Just to quote from that link i gave you

"Diagnose faults in valves, pistons, piston rings, cylinder bores or head gaskets
Measure and recording the pressure created by the piston in each cylinder" :wasntme:

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Originally Posted by Guybrush

Just to quote from that link i gave you

"Diagnose faults in valves, pistons, piston rings, cylinder bores or head gaskets
Measure and recording the pressure created by the piston in each cylinder" :wasntme:

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:D yeah I did read it.

I will buy a kit tomorrow or get a cheaper one off eBay!:wasntme:

Just to set my mind at ease though, can any of the things listed that you quoted cause the oil leak that I have been describing? The car is up for sale and I am obviously not going to sell it with this issue...

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Originally Posted by JRP

I'd pull off the breather system and give a good clean, whilst at it somthing may become apparent.

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Did you do this?

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Originally Posted by Guybrush

Did you do this?

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I did not pull them off but I cleaned them in situ and checked them over. This was on my list to do this week when I got a free moment but then the compression test was mentioned so I thought that this would be more important to do....

Right then I will first pull off the pipes and throughly check them inside and out.
Secondly I will do a comp test if required and post the results.

I may be a bit slow as I have an 8 month old at home so I'm struggling for a free moment.

Thanks for your advice and patience. :agree:

I suggested comp test to check for bottom end problems - sounds like its breathing heavy, indicating possible ring wear or maybe piston damage.

These engines dont hoy oil out of the breathers for no reason. You should have 140 psi per cylinder on a healthy engine.

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Originally Posted by Brigsy

I suggested comp test to check for bottom end problems - sounds like its breathing heavy, indicating possible ring wear or maybe piston damage.

These engines dont hoy oil out of the breathers for no reason. You should have 140 psi per cylinder on a healthy engine.

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I will order a kit now. :agree:

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Originally Posted by Rob1980

I will order a kit now. :agree:

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Will come round to help Rob...

Make sure you set the valve clearances before the compression test is done :)

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Originally Posted by Penfold aka The Dealer

Will come round to help Rob...

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Cheers Mate. :agree:

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Originally Posted by Andy M

Make sure you set the valve clearances before the compression test is done :)

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:confused: Is this easy to do?? Hopefully Penfold knows a bit about this!:goodJob:

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Originally Posted by Rob1980

:confused: Is this easy to do?? Hopefully Penfold knows a bit about this!:goodJob:

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Not too hard of a job matey, more of a chore than anything else! It's detailed in Haynes on how to do it. Few basic tools needed along with a set of feeler gauges.

Fairly sure Chris will know how to do it :)

Out of curiosity, what happens if you do not check the clearances??

any luck mate?

The compression test showed that the engine is fine. :agree:

There is a very small leak (and I do mean small) coming from somewhere. It will have to wait until after xmas now before I investigate further.

I did tie a piece of rag around the dipstick before I took it for a drive and that stayed clean:scratch:

I am going to take off all of the breathers and tighten all of the oil feeds but like I said, this will have to wait until the new year now and Xmas is a very busy time.

Rob I think your over worrying....

The oil leak on your garage floor is nothing... And the oil that was in your engine bay was most likely **** you split.

I was also there when compression test was done (I actually got my hands dirty), Rob allowed me to drive the car after (faultless), engine was punchy as it was when I had the car....

Who ever buys this/owns it will be a very lucky person

Crank/sump half-moon seal is another place to check for leaks.

If you suspect the dipstick is a bit loose, squeeze the top of the tube slightly to help it 'grip' the dipstick better - That should stop any oil escaping, unless excessive crankcase pressure is present.

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Originally Posted by Mart

Crank/sump half-moon seal is another place to check for leaks.

If you suspect the dipstick is a bit loose, squeeze the top of the tube slightly to help it 'grip' the dipstick better - That should stop any oil escaping, unless excessive crankcase pressure is present.

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Thank you for the reply.

As Penfold says I did spill a lot of oil when I did the oil change a few months ago:ashamed: (The wfe was bending my ear about working on the car!) I completely forgot about this and I had never opened the bonnet since.

It appears that there is a very, very slight leak somewhere. Possibly a loose oil feed or something.... Nothin Major at all and the oil level is staying constant. A tiny patch appears only when the car is left standing for a period of time, nothing can be see from the offset.