Engine Oil Leak

[Pippin]

Disco 3 MY09 is leaving it's mark on my garage floor. Rear of engine somewhere up high not main crank shaft oil seal. What are the likely causes please.
Nick

[DiscoJeffster]

Common for the oil cooler in the middle v to leak. Typically it fails internally, leaks and fills the v before spilling over. Less common is rear cam seal.

[PerthDisco]

Common for the oil cooler in the middle v to leak. Typically it fails internally, leaks and fills the v before spilling over. Less common is rear cam seal.

During recent coolant change noticed oil gathering in front of gearbox bottom of bell housing above the sway bar.

Small enough not to drip on garage floor yet but more noticeable than last time I was underneath.

Clearly coming from above at back of engine down drivers side dripping over EGR and fuel cooler.

Suspect oil cooler or part of the engine breather system.

When changing the oil filter last time looking into the pocket with filter removed it’s pretty grimy around there.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200124/73e47b4b33d82ed27696f11cc65c26c4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200124/7961589ab7d8f0f9ff47319626501feb.jpg

[Pippin]

Disco 3 MY09 is leaving it's mark on my garage floor. Rear of engine somewhere up high not main crank shaft oil seal. What are the likely causes please.
Nick Strangely it only occurs for a few weeks after an oil change then disappears. I'm releasing the oil filter housing 4 turns to let the oil drain and there does not appear to be oil in the V. Any ideas? Nick

[theelms66]

How quickly are you pouring your oil back in. ? Could it be filling up the rocker cover and leaking oil the back? When mine leaked it dripped onto exhaust crossover and smelt of burning oil so may be different to your issue

[Pippin]

How quickly are you pouring your oil back in. ? Could it be filling up the rocker cover and leaking oil the back? When mine leaked it dripped onto exhaust crossover and smelt of burning oil so may be different to your issueI have been pouring the oil in fairly quickly so it may be part of the problem. I guess you mean via the rocker cover gasket. Thanks Nick

[Pippin]

Strangely it only occurs for a few weeks after an oil change then disappears. I'm releasing the oil filter housing 4 turns to let the oil drain and there does not appear to be oil in the V. Any ideas? Nick
It is a filter change problem. I release the filter housing 5 turns as the manual directs to let it drain but it still is dumping oil down into the V. Can anyone advise the best process for preventing this problem. Thanks Nick

[DiscoJeffster]

It is a filter change problem. I release the filter housing 5 turns as the manual directs to let it drain but it still is dumping oil down into the V. Can anyone advise the best process for preventing this problem. Thanks Nick

How soon after you’ve run it? I’ve only ever had this problem when I cracked it open a minute after running. It went EVERYWHERE. If you let it drain down for a good while I think it’ll be fine.
I suspect it’s oil cooler seals personally.

[Tombie]

If it’s only after a filter change:

Don’t crack it too soon after the engine has been run.
Wait 5 minutes and then do it.

I crack the filter loose, then go under and fit my drain line, as it starts to slow the flow I pull the filter and replace.

Be careful to keep the filter vertical as you lift it or a heap of oil will empty into the valley! Other than that you won’t drop more than a a few drops.

[Pippin]

How soon after you’ve run it? I’ve only ever had this problem when I cracked it open a minute after running. It went EVERYWHERE. If you let it drain down for a good while I think it’ll be fine.
I suspect it’s oil cooler seals personally. Thanks DiscoJeffster, the drips from the back of the engine disappear over time which may mean it is just me being too quick with my filter drain. This time I removed the oil from the valley after the change which will confirm either way the problem.

[PerthDisco]

I undo the drain plug of the still warm engine and before it’s finished crack the filter cover. There is a noticeable release of suction after a few turns and a noticeable new amount of oil that falls out the drain plug.

No need to be in a rush.

Leaning over the engine and shining a torch in the oil filter abyss it’s clear a certain amount of oil has been spilt prior and is the likely source of the oil I can see under the engine at rear of bell housing when you see the track from above.

[Bulletman]

I undo the drain plug of the still warm engine and before it’s finished crack the filter cover. There is a noticeable release of suction after a few turns and a noticeable new amount of oil that falls out the drain plug.

No need to be in a rush.

Leaning over the engine and shining a torch in the oil filter abyss it’s clear a certain amount of oil has been spilt prior and is the likely source of the oil I can see under the engine at rear of bell housing when you see the track from above.

I always undo the sump plug and drain oil first , then when its just a drip , loosen the oil filter housing but don't remove till the new rush of oil has come out the sump. The main thing after that is to make sure the spigot on the new filter lines up with the hole in the base of the filter housing.

Never had oil spill in the valley since I been servicing the car myself for about 8 yrs now.

Bulletman

[Eric SDV6SE]

Run engine 5min
Add penrite engine flush, idle 10min.
Stop engine
Suction all the oil out via suction tube
undo filter, replace element, refit
Fill with new oil, check level, run engine recheck.
Done, no chance of spilling oil in the valley etc.

[PerthDisco]

Run engine 5min
Add penrite engine flush, idle 10min.
Stop engine
Suction all the oil out via suction tube
undo filter, replace element, refit
Fill with new oil, check level, run engine recheck.
Done, no chance of spilling oil in the valley etc.

But all the trapped oil in the filter drops when you crack the filter cover. In mine maybe 200-300ml runs out the sump in a second wave. In 3.0 cars with a suction pipe you’d surely crack the filter cover before a sucking out the oil?

[DieselLSE]

In 3.0 cars with a suction pipe you’d surely crack the filter cover before a sucking out the oil?
I do. I also remove the filler plug. It works brilliantly and you barely spill a drop of oil anywhere.

[Eric SDV6SE]

But all the trapped oil in the filter drops when you crack the filter cover. In mine maybe 200-300ml runs out the sump in a second wave. In 3.0 cars with a suction pipe you’d surely crack the filter cover before a sucking out the oil?

Sometime during the suctioning process, yes, but taking the filler cap off also helps. I get 99% of the oil and no spill, and no significant amount of oil retained in the filter assy.

[DieselLSE]

Sometime during the suctioning process, yes, but taking the filler cap off also helps. I get 99% of the oil and no spill, and no significant amount of oil retained in the filter assy.
Actually, I forgot this and Eric is correct. I crack it during the suction process, not before.

[Pippin]

Run engine 5min
Add penrite engine flush, idle 10min.
Stop engine
Suction all the oil out via suction tube
undo filter, replace element, refit
Fill with new oil, check level, run engine recheck.
Done, no chance of spilling oil in the valley etc. I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for the last 1.5 years. It is likely the previous owner used mechanics to service the car who did not take these precautions as there was a 50mm build up of old oil at the bottom of the 'V' which was primed to overspill by my own spillages. I sucked and flushed it out and it appears to be remaining clear of oil now. I also use Penrite Engine Flush on every change. No more marking on the garage floor now fingers crossed. I did enough marking myself doing the auto valve body overhaul and steel pan replacement, but thats another story for when i finish therapy. Nick

[Tombie]

I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for the last 1.5 years. It is likely the previous owner used mechanics to service the car who did not take these precautions as there was a 50mm build up of old oil at the bottom of the 'V' which was primed to overspill by my own spillages. I sucked and flushed it out and it appears to be remaining clear of oil now. I also use Penrite Engine Flush on every change. No more marking on the garage floor now fingers crossed. I did enough marking myself doing the auto valve body overhaul and steel pan replacement, but thats another story for when i finish therapy. Nick

Don’t keep flushing it every change. You aren’t helping it.
Just keep the oil changes regular.

[DieselLSE]

Don’t keep flushing it every change. You aren’t helping it.
Please explain...

[Tombie]

Please explain...

Nothing sinister or otherwise

Using the flush shouldn’t be needed if doing regular changes and using quality oil.

[DieselLSE]

Nothing sinister or otherwise

Using the flush shouldn’t be needed if doing regular changes and using quality oil.
That's what I have always thought, but Penrite recommends it each time so I am confused. Like most on here I change the oil each 12,000km or so. I flushed for the first time when I changed over to Penrite at about 50,000km and again at the last change at 104,000km. So I'm having an each way bet, I suppose!

[INter674]

That's what I have always thought, but Penrite recommends it each time so I am confused. Like most on here I change the oil each 12,000km or so. I flushed for the first time when I changed over to Penrite at about 50,000km and again at the last change at 104,000km. So I'm having an each way bet, I suppose!

They are simply peddling another product☺