D4 2.7L Oil leak from back of engine

[LiamO]

I've got an oil leak around the bellhousing (see attached) which is definitely engine oil not auto coming from the off side rear of the engine and dribbling down the bellhousing. There seems to me oil on the nearside around the same area and oil spray/splash. I power washed all the oil off, took her for a spin down the M5, checked again and the oil is still dripping out. The oil filter was changed recently but oil seems to be flowing slowly down rather than a spillage. Any ideas?

[Fitzy2011]

I'd be checking the seal on the oil filter, sometimes it doesn't seat properly.

[LandyAndy]

I'd be checking the seal on the oil filter, sometimes it doesn't seat properly.
Or the spannerman failed to tighten it correctly;););););)
Andrew

[Nomad9]

Hi LiamO,
Might be a wild stab in the dark here, when my water outlet housing cracked initially the water leaked into the V between the heads, at some point some oil had leaked between the heads caused by over zealous undoing of the filter allowing a small amount of oil into the V. At the start I noticed an oil leak under the vehicle around the back of the bell housing, but wasn't using any oil. However I was using a bit of coolant, eventually after a couple of weeks the oil leak turned into a coolant leak. Then I found the water outlet housing cracked.

If you get about 1 meter of 6 or 8 mm clear plastic tubing and shove it down beside the oil filter and suck you might find the V full of coolant or oil. The V holds close to a litre of liquid. Could be an oil leak from the filter as mentioned above of course.

In my case the problem was a cracked water outlet housing.

Cheers Marty.

[LiamO]

Thank you for the advise. I've power washed the engine again including all round the oil filter but still leaking from somewhere. Will take it back to the LR dealer tomorrow and will post the verdict.

[Nomad9]

Hi Liam,
Have you taken the engine cover off? I am assuming you have, if you get a torch and shine it down between the heads and around the filter you might be able to see what is going on. the oil will always float on the water and leak first. A power wash might not be the best answer, personally I use a bit of de-greaser and a garden hose, then remove i.e. suck the residual water from the V and take it for a drive. Shine the torch down when you return.
If you are taking to the dealer tomorrow this suggestion is really if you want to know.

Cheers Marty.

[LiamO]

Well your diagnostic was spot on! Is seems the oil leak was a result of a loose oil filter not torqued correctly during the service and leaking onto the V. Thank you all

[shanegtr]

I noticed an oil leak under the car today when changing the fuel filter, looks to be coming from above. Most likely the oil filter housing but is there any other known points for an oil leak from the top of the engine worth looking at?

[DazzaTD5]

Yes the vacuum pump is at the back on the drivers side and the lower bolts are prone to leaking oil.

[101RRS]

Also the casting that the plastic oil filter canister screws into can crack on rare occasions causing an oil leak. I guess caused by over torquing the oil filter.

[shanegtr]

thanks guys, had a few drops on the ground and my first quick look I though it was coming from the auto trans as a quick look underneath I could see oil at the transfer case. The oil is just blowing down the line so its not that. I'll have to get in with a torch to have a decent look to see if I can find the source. Hopefully its just a filter seal