help: my TD5 developed a nasty oil leak out of nowhere today

[jbe]

As the title says, my TD5 developed a nasty oil leak out of nowhere today.
I think, I lost about 0.5 of oil with the oil level being just below the low mark when I pulled into the driveway.

The oil leak is to at the top rear left hand side of the engine. And it is clearly limited to this area.
Thee oil itself appears to come from the top of the aluminium oil filter housing where it is bolted to the engine block.
There is no oil above there and on the manifold which I think, rules the rocker cover gasket out.
I topped the engine oil up, cleaned the side of the engine block as good as possible and briefly ran the engine. There is a constant oil flow from the area, I described.

What I think is the turbo oil return line which is at the front of the turbo (aftermarket VNT) doesn't show any oil either.

There is also no oil running down the oil filter cartridge which makes me think that it can be excluded as well.

The car didn't smell of burnt oil, nor did I see any smoke. I tried to google for similar issues, but I don't think anything matches my scenario.
I'm completely baffled and any help would be welcome.

Cheers Joachim

[Blknight.aus]

IVe seen a couple of instances of this where the bolt(s) securing the cover for the centrifuge filter has stripped out and the cap has lifted letting it leak.

Ive seen the oring torn and fail from bad install practices including 2 orings and no oring.

Ive seen one instance where repairing the stripped out thread has cracked the casing and its been leaking from the crack.

[jbe]

Hi Dave

Thanks for your response.
I'ts not the centrifugal filter, I'm talking about. It is near the filter below the turbo.
Cheers Joachim

[jbe]

Just double checked and I'm pretty confident that there is no spill coming from the centrifugal filter. The source of the oil leak seems to be just below the no. 3 cylinder exhaust port opposite to the turbo.

[justinc]

Check the centrifugal filter housing o ring for failure where the .housing bolts to the oil cooler housing.

Jc

[jbe]

Thanks, will do. That looks like major surgery. So, I have to undo the drain pipe flange at the bottom of the housing and then undo the three bolts that bolt the centrifuge housing to the oil cooler housing and I should see an o-ring between?
Sorry for asking dumb questions. I'm new to this engine (more used to Patrol 4.2 s)

[bushrover]

Check for cracks here......this is why I have a spare

[Blknight.aus]

Depends on your definition of major surgery.

if you're new to the engine and vehicle do yourself a favor and grab a rave CD.

[justinc]

Just to clarify The o ring in question just becomes hard and unable to seal.

Jc

[justinc]

http://pl.b5z.net/i/u/6064257/i/ec/oil_cooler_td5_a.JPG

The o ring is number 8

Jc

[jbe]

Thanks for all your help. I'll go an get all parts needed and see how I go.
Great forum and great help :):)