200tdi who knows this oil leak

[manic]

Under my car today I got oil on my back.

I've had this leak around the engine for a long time, I just keep ignoring it because I cant figure it out. I've asked twice at a service for them to diagnose as a side note but both times no clear answer (I doubt they even looked at it).

The oil drips after a run and then maybe a drop here and there when sat for a while.

Here are the two bolts on the engine side of the bellhousing from which the oil drips. It drips no where else, no oil comes from the wading plug hole. It is 100% engine oil, not diesel.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/07/547.jpg


The head gasket is good, the rocker cover gasket is good, there is no oil on the back of the C.head and the top of the bellhousing behind the cylinder head shows no evidence of a leak that I can see.

So has anyone had these two bolts dripping oil and found where it came from?

I'm tempted to remove the fuel lift and vacuum pump to replace the gaskets just in case its those. But I find it odd that both bolts on either side are equally supplied with oil. If it was a leak on the fuel pump side you would think the oil would make its way to ground on one side only.

Any ideas welcome. I tried degreasing quite a while back to trace the path but so much is obstructed from view, I only found that I do not like lying on my back spraying degreaser!

I'm hoping someone else on here has had the same drips of those bolts and figured it out?

[justinc]

Take out that wading plug, I have just replaced a clutch in a Disco because it developed a leak and was just filling the belllhousing.....:o

My guess is the rear sealant at the block brace, or rear main seal.

JC

[manic]

Take out that wading plug, I have just replaced a clutch in a Disco because it developed a leak and was just filling the belllhousing.....:o

My guess is the rear sealant at the block brace, or rear main seal.

JC

I take out the plug frequently to check for leaks.

Where is the block brace? Wouldnt the rear main seal leak through the wading plug hole?

[justinc]

The block brace is the ally sandwich housing between the block and the steel sump pan. It seals on 2 planes, horizontal and vertical at the rear of the engine against the bellhousing. It is a source of annoying leaks and unfortunately a biggy to rectify. Bellhousing/ gearbox out, sump pan and brace off, etc etc.

JC

[Blknight.aus]

3 likely suspects.

1. the rear main
2. the "T seals" on the rear main journal block
3. the back of the sump seal above those bolts.

[manic]

Ok so the block brace sounds like the kind of job where I ignore the leak a while longer.

The rear main involves dropping g-box or raising engine right? I thought that was the one that came out the wading plug hole ... shame I cant rule that one out. It also sounds like something I would put off doing until clutch or something urgent.

Are the T seals difficult?

The sump seal, I just need to drop the sump and replace gasket? Perhaps that would be a good start - I would like to have a look at the big end bearings.

So maybe start as simple as possible... reseal sump, replace gaskets on fuel lift, vacuum and any other block attachments that are simple/cheap to reseal. Wash up the sump and side of engine whilst I'm at it. See how it goes from there.

If it still leaks after all the cheap and simple attempts, I'd be tempted to carry on ignoring it whilst the leak remains minor.

[Blknight.aus]

all the repairs for those leaks require removal of the engine.

[manic]

all the repairs for those leaks require removal of the engine.

damn :( ... the dribble drops are irritating but not worth engine out.

I'll get an engine crane one day, replace the whole thing!