Thread: So where do we think my oil is going

It is possible to replace the valve stem seals with the heads on the vehicle, a bit of lateral thinking and an air compressor to keep the valves up. So worth a try.

Your observations about smoke puffs when accelerating and changing gears sound pretty normal to me.

Also all/most diesels throw out some particulate matter that forms a bit of a haze in the rear view mirror when there's headlights shining behind. Even my little Hyundai i30 does that.

From what you said about the half teaspoon of oil dripping over a 24 hour period, it sounds like that's where your problem lies, not in the valve stems.

How about giving the engine compartment a good degreasing and keep going with the detective work to find the source of the oil leak.

Originally Posted by bee utey

It is possible to replace the valve stem seals with the heads on the vehicle, a bit of lateral thinking and an air compressor to keep the valves up. So worth a try.

The other is to take out the spark plugs, then put some thin rope in the piston pot (Just enough to jamb & hold) then turn the piston up against the head ... The rope holds the valves up while your changing the stem seals //

Have some one hold the crank in position while changing stems & you can only do one at a time
& remember to have the "end of the rope" hanging out the plug hole so you can retrieve it

Mike

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

The other is to take out the spark plugs, then put some thin rope in the piston pot (Just enough to jamb & hold) then turn the piston up against the head ... The rope holds the valves up while your changing the stem seals //

Have some one hold the crank in position while changing stems & you can only do one at a time
& remember to have the "end of the rope" hanging out the plug hole so you can retrieve it

Mike

[quote]1998 300TDI Discovery. 140,000k's, auto.
Head reworked 130,000 (18 months ago)[quote]

[quote=neffo;1242878]

1998 300TDI Discovery. 140,000k's, auto.
Head reworked 130,000 (18 months ago)

[quote]1998 300TDI Discovery. 140,000k's, auto.
Head reworked 130,000 (18 months ago)

Originally Posted by gozzie

1998 300TDI Discovery. 140,000k's, auto.
Head reworked 130,000 (18 months ago)

I need thicker glasses??



Oh well tiss a good handy hint "get me outa trouble" for petrol stuff ...

Originally Posted by mike 90 RR

The other is to take out the spark plugs, then put some thin rope in the piston pot (Just enough to jamb & hold) then turn the piston up against the head ... The rope holds the valves up while your changing the stem seals //

Have some one hold the crank in position while changing stems & you can only do one at a time
& remember to have the "end of the rope" hanging out the plug hole so you can retrieve it

Mike

Sparks??? TDi don't have spark plugs. I suppose you must know by now.

Originally Posted by gozzie

Apart from a normal puff of dark smoke on start up I think I am pretty good. I have seen a small puff of black when accelerating and changing gear (auto) but again no visible sign of any smoke.

One thing I have noticed is at night looking in the rear mirrors is that there is almost a fog behind the car in the following car head lights.

In my opinion, smoke out the back is generally related to fueling not oil burning.

A puff of the black stuff on startup is normal.
When accelerating, depending on how your injection pump is set, you may get none, a little, or alot of incompletely burnt diesel causing black smoke.
Again this is quite normal.

Seeing no smoke during the day, but smoke in headlights at night is also normal.
It is like the sun shining through a window into your house and showing up all the dust particluates in the air; they're probably always there, you just can't see them until they are lit up by the light.

Originally Posted by gozzie

...now only have a small drip, equating to about 1/2 a tea spoon over a 24 hour period.
My problem is from full on the dipstick to low only takes approx 10 days / 500 K's.

Where is this drip coming from?

It sounds like this is your oil leak, which probably speeds up when driving, thus using approximately 1L in 500km.

The leak is coming down the rear of the sump and down the front face of the bell housing. I had the sump re sealed about a year ago, but at that stage their were so many other leaks that I believe they were all running into one another. Now this is the smallest amount on the garage floor, yet I am left with the biggest consumption. I have a gut feeling it is the sump still leaking, but I am also looking into any mechanical posibilities too.

I have cleaned off all the oil and degreased back in November and I am not picking up any trails from higher up the engine.

Gozzie