Thread: 300Tdi - oil leak from Head Gasket?

A very common source of oil on the passenger's side of the engine is a split inlet manifold gasket.

A small amount of oil inevitably makes its way through the intercooler and if the manifold gasket is split, it leaks out there.

It's an easy fix if that is your problem.

Originally Posted by vnx205

A very common source of oil on the passenger's side of the engine is a split inlet manifold gasket.

A small amount of oil inevitably makes its way through the intercooler and if the manifold gasket is split, it leaks out there.

It's an easy fix if that is your problem.

thanks, that would mean then that oil is burnt in the engine too yes? My car isn't smokey, but yes it does seem to be around the manifold, u r right, of course i didnt think it could come from there so i thought it must be head gasket, so how does the oil get in the induction air? or is it supposed to, via some pcv valve, is this the crankcase vapour that should be burnt up?

bye

My understanding of exactly why it happens is a bit limited.

I do know that the amount of oil is actually very tiny, so it would not be noticeable as a smokey exhaust.

From the number of threads about cleaning the oil out of the intercooler, I had assumed that all 300Tdi engines have at least some oil passing through there. Some have more than others.

the oil will most likely be from the breather on the drivers side of the motor alongside the rocker cover. The pipe from the breather goes to the turbo inlet and small amounts of oil build up over time and get forced through the intercooler and then the inlet manifold.

There is also an oil pipe to lubricate the turbo but unless the turbo seals are stuffed its most likely the breather is the source as this is considered normal.

Cheers

Mark

Originally Posted by vnx205

A very common source of oil on the passenger's side of the engine is a split inlet manifold gasket.

A small amount of oil inevitably makes its way through the intercooler and if the manifold gasket is split, it leaks out there.

It's an easy fix if that is your problem.

x2

Thanks Mark,

So what would be the fix for this? Still inlet manifold gasket? Or is the connection at the turbo inlet the likely problem?

Originally Posted by Discomark

the oil will most likely be from the breather on the drivers side of the motor alongside the rocker cover. The pipe from the breather goes to the turbo inlet and small amounts of oil build up over time and get forced through the intercooler and then the inlet manifold.

There is also an oil pipe to lubricate the turbo but unless the turbo seals are stuffed its most likely the breather is the source as this is considered normal.

Cheers

Mark

Yep just the manifold gasket. It is a single gasket for both manifolds, not a difficult job to replace.

yes no doubt, just more and more work, oh well, id rather the roof leak was single gasket