TD5 engine oil leak

[Ardo92]

Hi guys,
I've noticed a leak in my disco coming from the engine.
2 days ago I've cleaned up the area and now I can see better the leak but I can't understand if that is from the sump or whatever is over it...
Can you help me ?
Here is the pic...
Cheeeeers guys :)

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[joel0407]

Here we have pictures of a Land Rover in it's natural state.

[bob10]

Oil can be travel far from its source, by the air pressure of normal travel. First up, pressure clean, or better steam clean the entire engine. Then have another look. I was having oil from the sump gasket back to the transfer case. Turns out it was the two bolt flange under the power steering pump. Bob

[discorevy]

Hard to say without running an eye over it but common leak from that area is an O ring where the rotor filter housing bolts to the oil cooler.

[Ardo92]

Here we have pictures of a Land Rover in it's natural state.

Hahaha true

[Ardo92]

Oil can be travel far from its source, by the air pressure of normal travel. First up, pressure clean, or better steam clean the entire engine. Then have another look. I was having oil from the sump gasket back to the transfer case. Turns out it was the two bolt flange under the power steering pump. Bob

Bugger... I haven't a steam cleaner... Any other option?

[bob10]

Bugger... I haven't a steam cleaner... Any other option?


Water pressure cleaner, Bob

[bob10]

At the least, a garden sprayer filled with de greaser, then garden hose off, Bob

[Ardo92]

Water pressure cleaner, Bob

Isn't it dangerous or "unhealty" for the electrical of the car?

[discorevy]

Isn't it dangerous or "unhealty" for the electrical of the car?
No more dangerous than oil leaks,
If you have compressed air you can blow out the connectors after
Otherwise buy a can of brake cleaner and remove the oil with that

[bob10]

Isn't it dangerous or "unhealty" for the electrical of the car?


I do it as part of my service routine. Part of the service routine is also disconnecting each electrical connection I can find, and hitting them with MAF cleaner. The MAF and the ECU [ oil in the loom ] get a clean up as well. Have to say, I can't remember finding moisture in any connection after pressure cleaning. I also recommend as part of your routine, take off all plastic covers under the vehicle, get a good torch, and have a slow, close look under the vehicle from front to back. This is how I found a leaky hub seal, on the left rear, fixed it before it got bad. I also get the pressure cleaner, and give underneath a real good clean, from front to back, up each side of the engine. Take it for a good drive,[ with the covers off] get it up to temp., then get under again. That's how I found the oil leak on the small flange under the power steering pump. I thought I had a leak around the gear box, or sump pan. The oil was blown back over the vehicle from the PAS. Replace lower covers, you're on your way! Bob

[PhilipA]

My first question is when did the leak start, just after an oil change?
If so is the spin on oil filter tight and are the centrifugal oil filter bolts tight enough, which is not very tight.
Have a look at the simple things first.
Regards Philip A

[Ardo92]

My first question is when did the leak start, just after an oil change?
If so is the spin on oil filter tight and are the centrifugal oil filter bolts tight enough, which is not very tight.
Have a look at the simple things first.
Regards Philip A

I bought the car only a month ago so I'm not sure about when the leak has start... I'm going to do the service next week and I was asking me if was better to fix the leak before to do the service...
I'd like to specify that I'm going to do the complete service, changing every single oil in the car.

[Ardo92]

I do it as part of my service routine. Part of the service routine is also disconnecting each electrical connection I can find, and hitting them with MAF cleaner. The MAF and the ECU [ oil in the loom ] get a clean up as well. Have to say, I can't remember finding moisture in any connection after pressure cleaning. I also recommend as part of your routine, take off all plastic covers under the vehicle, get a good torch, and have a slow, close look under the vehicle from front to back. This is how I found a leaky hub seal, on the left rear, fixed it before it got bad. I also get the pressure cleaner, and give underneath a real good clean, from front to back, up each side of the engine. Take it for a good drive,[ with the covers off] get it up to temp., then get under again. That's how I found the oil leak on the small flange under the power steering pump. I thought I had a leak around the gear box, or sump pan. The oil was blown back over the vehicle from the PAS. Replace lower covers, you're on your way! Bob

Thanks for the advices, I will try in that way

[Ardo92]

No more dangerous than oil leaks,
If you have compressed air you can blow out the connectors after
Otherwise buy a can of brake cleaner and remove the oil with that

Is the brake cleane corrosive for rubber or others?

[discorevy]

Is the brake cleane corrosive for rubber or others?

Some may think so , personally I have never seen any damage to rubber components after using it for years, mainly around brake components ( surprise:-) also to find oil leaks while on the hoist , it tends to evaporate before doing any damage ,also imagine the liability involved if rubber brake caliper components were damaged due to the use of brake cleaner. Oil left on rubber for a while will eventually do damage

[Roberto]

Ardo

I've had mine down at Car Lovers and used the high pressure soap throughout the engine bay without adverse consequences. I use the yellow degreaser first, then high pressure soap, then rinse. It brings the engine up a treat. I don't direct the stream directly at wiring, but everything gets pretty wet.

Bob

[ramblingboy42]

May I suggest you have a feel under the turbocharger oil return line , WHEN IT IS COLD

There is (or sometimes isn't) a small convoluted or wave washer/gasket that leaks and it makes it a terrible mess.

You will feel an oil droplet if it is leaking.

The gasket(washer) costs about $1.50 and two small screws , I think 8mm hex head ,secure the flange.

Lift the pipe away gently , replace the washer and bolt it back up.

Little bit fiddly but not hard.

[simonmelb]

And if it's still leaking after this, use 2 washers, back to back (ie ripples facing up and down) which will take up the space if the pipe flange is warped (which it usually is by this age).

This trick stopped my long term leak here.

[schuy1]

I am having a leak problem with the spin on filter housing,where it bolts onto the cooler housing. Is making me a little annoyed, have replaced gasket twice now! So that is a possibility in that area also.
Cheers Scott

[Tombie]

Some may think so , personally I have never seen any damage to rubber components after using it for years, mainly around brake components ( surprise:-) also to find oil leaks while on the hoist , it tends to evaporate before doing any damage ,also imagine the liability involved if rubber brake caliper components were damaged due to the use of brake cleaner. Oil left on rubber for a while will eventually do damage

The rubber in brake components is substantially different to the rubber elsewhere on the vehicle.

Brake cleaner will soften std rubber hoses, oil seals and orings elsewhere making them break apart..

[discorevy]

The rubber in brake components is substantially different to the rubber elsewhere on the vehicle.

Agreed

Brake cleaner will soften std rubber hoses, oil seals and orings elsewhere making them break apart..

Only if soaked and not blown off with compressed air . as I said I have used it to find oil leaks while on the hoist , maybe should have said it was followed up with compressed air , fwiw the seals around that area are already leaking 9times out of 10 . I don't spray it near coolant hoses and know quite a few other mechanics ( even good ones ) who have done the same without incident for years
cheers