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[Murph]

As some may recall I've had coolant leak issues with my 2.5 and had narrowed the likely cause to either the head gasket or a core plug in the head.
I had a feel down the back and the leak seems to be lower than the core plug so yesterday I started ordering the parts for a head gasket change.

However today when I moved the car off the drive I found this...


That's oil - and alot of it!
It seems to be dripping of the front of the sump and also more so from the subframe crossmember.  It looks like the leak is from above the sump somewhere but I cant be sure.
If it's the head gasket then no problem - I'm gearing up to replace them anyway. But if it's not then I just dont see how this car will survive.
The main suspect for me would be the sump itself as it did bottom out on the driveway the other day - not hard but you never know..  The question is... what will a replacement sump cost?
I really dont have any more money to spare as I live on a very tight budget so I can't keep throwing more money at it, and as you all know these cars just arent worth alot these days - especially with engine issues.
So if I cant sell it and I can't repair it I will just have to remove the few useful parts I can use/sell quickly then weigh it in.

Rant over... for now!
 

[tunnie]

Replacement oil sump should be pennies, plenty available through breakers here I should imagine.

[albitz]

Check the alloy sandwich plate between the bottom of the block and top of the sump. Awkward bugger to fix if its leaking from there.

[doz]

Murph is that a 2.5 petrol? If so before you right it off check the oil pressure switch at the front of the block just above the sump. I've noticed a few now where the switch is leaking in fact my current car has a mucky oil stain around the switch.

[Murph]

It is Doz, so I will look into that, cheers.

The plan for tomorrow is to bung in some old oil then run it and see where the flow is coming from.

If it's fixable It'll be getting new oil anyway.

[dbug]

Thats only a minor oil leak mate - have you checked oil level?

Could be cam cover gasket, or as doz says, leaking oil pressure switch.

Cleaned your breathers lately?  If not crank seal?

[Murph]

Nothing on dipstick.
Oil level warning on the dash.
Breathers cleaned 2 weeks ago.

Seals and gaskets being checked tomorrow.

[SMD]

Replacement oil sump should be pennies, plenty available through breakers here I should imagine.

Oil will cost 7,000 pennies in that case tunnie. Can't see many people wanting to sell oil sump off a perfectly good engine. Easy to change though if that is the problem.

[car5car]

Do not do any work until you diagnose a problem. Spend as much time as needed or pay somebody you trust.

[noel]

have you checked the sump bolts for security, i had a weep from the sump a while ago and on checking bolts a few where found to be loose

[kevinp58]

That is not a huge amount of oil it must have been losing oil because if you had lost most of the oil out of sump it would be a hell of a lot more on the floor    is there any oil along the bottom of the car under the floor pan if so then there must be a problem with it coming out from somewhere you just need to follow it back to where it stops and hey presto  you bet it will be somewhere nice and easy to get to though

[Murph]

Unfortunately we didnt get a chance to do much with mine today due to commitments, but I did have a quick look underneath.
Most of the floorpan and exhaust is a lovely shade of brown and the entire sump is wet.

There is some signs of oil on the O/S near the exhaust manifold so but not enough to cause the amount of leaking I've had.

She'll stay off the road for a while I think.   

[car5car]

Put it on jack stands, remove bottom plastic cover and wheels. Get a flash light and mirror on stick.
If leak is really bad, you'll find it w/o washing engine.
Have fun!
I spent a few hours and 5 bottles of brake cleaner to find out, that I forgot to tighten clamp on p.s. hose.

[Murph]

If it's something that simple I'll be made up! 

[2woody]

I have a sump if you need.....