Thread: Oil leak goes bad, uh-oh....

As the oil (that has leaked) is high up (in the valley between the banks) my guess it would have to be rocker cover gaskets - normally leaking oil wouldn't be likely to travel up, only down, and the only thing(s) above the valley are the rocker covers.

When it's cleaned up it may be obvious where the leak is , otherwise...

If you get all the old oil off, clean it up with de-greaser or whatever, then top up the oil, and run it for a short time with you looking under the bonnet - you should be able to see where it's comming from.

Plus after it's cleaned sprinkle talcum powder over it before starting - makes it very easy to see the first run of oil leak

Thanks Ladas,

that's the plan, it's just a mongrel of a job and it's a stinking hot day......... and in that engine bay with fitted bits in strange places......
and wires and cables and.....

well.... the time has come.....

time to get hot and dirty

and I should fix the Disco as well......


GQ

Talcum powder? Thanks Ladas!

A separate question - I've filled it with oil, 5 litres is in there and I'm trying to find the leak.... but the tappet noise is worsening, not diminishing....

I'm wondering if the oil pump has given up (but that's not where the leak is...) do they die or are they a part not to worry about, if you get my drift.

GQ

Originally Posted by ladas

As the oil (that has leaked) is high up (in the valley between the banks) my guess it would have to be rocker cover gaskets

I have never seen a rocker cover gasket leak that much oil.
Last time I drove a vehicle that spewed oil out and had lost enough to be a great concern it was from the fuel injection pump located in the valley. It was actually the oil feed connection into the pump not the pump itself. This was on a 2 year old F250 V8 diesel though. I don't know if a petrol V8 Landy has something oil fed in the valley area.

The oil pump can lose prime if they're run dry or the filter's been changed and is empty.

How's your oil pressure? If you have none, get a new oil pump gasket (you need this to properly clearance the gears from the pump housing) remove the housing and fill the pump with petroleum jelly and reinstall the housing with the new gasket.

Then spin the engine with the plugs out til pressure is back up.

If you're more tech minded, remove the dizzy and drive the oil pump with a long screwdriver shaft attached to a drill until the pump has picked up oil and she's showing oil pressure. Be gentle.....

Thanks for that upto2nogood!

How do I know if I have no oil pressure? The low oil light was on but, having filled with new oil, the light is out.

Cheers, GQ

you can tell low oil pressure one of 2 ways if you dont have an oil pressure gauge...

1. the low oil pressure light will stay on
2. the horrable metal on metal clanking and grindy noise generally at idle the tappets will be noisey first.

there is a third way but since its generally indicated by the engine seizing you dont have to worry about low oil pressure any more.