Thread: 300TDi oil leak - Turbo side - inlet manifold gasket?

Hi Andrew,

The inlet manifold doesn't have oil flowing to it, so it won't be that.

There's not a lot on the left side that can leak oil; rocker cover seal, or turbo feed line or the drain perhaps?

Whereabouts on the block is it generally - top, bottom, front, back?

James.

There's a very lit smear of oil across most of the passenger side of the block behind the turbo. I noticed it when I went to undo the coolant drain plug on this side of the block. It looks like it is coming down from the top. Rocker cover gasket is not leaking.

Cheers
Andrew

Should have done a search first!!! found a post from April this year detailing the same issue.

Cheers
Andrew

Yeah, it'll be a cracked inlet manifold gasket allowing oil to smear down the block.

Pretty common.

Originally Posted by 86mud

Should have done a search first!!! found a post from April this year detailing the same issue.

Are you going to share?

Originally Posted by rick130

Yeah, it'll be a cracked inlet manifold gasket allowing oil to smear down the block.

Pretty common.

What oil is running through the gasket/inlet manifold Rick? Or is it just residual oil/mist coming up from the turbo and/or crankcase vent?

James.

Originally Posted by rainman

Hi Andrew,

The inlet manifold doesn't have oil flowing to it, so it won't be that.

It doesn't have oil actually flowing there but the same oil mist that eventually gathers in the intercooler accumulates enough in the inlet manifold that it will seep out of a cracked inlet manifold gasket.

As others have said, it is pretty common.

Originally Posted by 86mud

Hi all

I have started to notice a light smear of oil slowly covering the left hand side of the block.

Vehicle is a 1998 300TDi with 230,000kms

Am I to assume it is the inlet manifold gasket? Just want to make sure before I order a new gasket.

Thanks
Andrew

About time to lift out the the intercooler and clean out the oil that pools in there, Regards Frank.

What do I clean the intercooler with?

Cheers
Andrew