Thread: oil leak - tdi

I am almost certain that it is the manifold gasket.

The turbos push alot of oil through the intercooler and inlet manifold so it very common to see oil leaking out of the intercooler pipes and also on the passengers side of the block behind the exhaust manifold and always looks like its comming out of the head. I have had to replace the manifold gasket on both 300tdis I have owned. Its a really easy and cheap job to fix. Half an hour tops.

You would think that you could hear it but I have never been able to. hope this helps

thanks nz..I am leaning more and more to buying this car..there is nothing else around that ticks all my boxes...

I second the manifold gasket leak, they are a common replacement item in the 300Tdi....

Worst case it is an hours work. Thats if all the studs come out and you need to remove the locking nuts individually and then thread the studs back in the head first

JC

I bought my Tdi based on the service history and it also has a little oil on the passenger side of the motor visible.

It has never really been that much oil and has not caused any real problems. I did the same as you though and queried it on the forum and got the same response so I haven't put it's repair high on my to do list.

I do plan to do it though so my car will almost be leak free!... but then its not a real Landy is it?

Sounds like you have done your homework and if it looks good and has all the servicing documentation then it looks like a good car to go for.

info and experiences much appreciated!

a friend of mine thinks that this is the way to approach it..it is 1 of 3 things...1..rocker cover gasket...2....manifold gasket leak....3 head gasket leak: 1 is ok 2 and 3 are problems. He thinks that if it is a maniold leak that that could indicate that excessive oil is blowing through and this indicates engine wear..and 3 speaks for itself. But it seems that consenus here is that a 200k motor with this leak is likley to not be a particlar drama.

I will go and check it out again tomorrow...hopefully closer inspection will show it to be a rocker cover leak..then I will buy it....I may buy it anyway

is there a rule of thumb way to check for blow by...engine wear...or a way to tell if there is more than expected oil coming from the maniflod leak / or through the intercooler?

thanks all
edddo

The oil in from the turbos gets everyone. They all do it, its normal, its how the turbo is lubricated. It is in the Land Rover service scheule to remove and clean the intercooler about every 100.000ks, or there abouts, because of this. As for blow by. Take the oil filler cap off while the engine is running and check around the dipstick for a oil haze. Check that the breathers ar not to gummed up. 200.000 with good servicing should leave you with 100.000 minimum of 100,000 good trouble free ks

At 200k it should have had a cambelt done recently. If not it will need one.

I bought my 300 tdi 100,000kms ago, it also had a film of oil down the passenger side, which I was told was the manifold gasket, which I bought and is still in the shed somewhere, I haven't put it on yet and the landys been round Aus and done like I say 100,000, its never been a problem and dosen't leak enough to drip on the ground,

cheers

scottyp

Taking of the oil fill cap while its running to see if fumes come out will not prove anything...

Its Turboed.... and so it will push fumes out...

NEW a 200 and 300tdi have blow by in the rocker cover....

They dont produce Vaccum, so hence the blow by
That is also why they have a vaccum pump...... to create vaccum for the brakes.