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[dbug]

There's still some on my driveway. I'll let you come and lick it though.

I remember having a feel in the bottom of the bellhousing as we initially wondered if it was the TC seal. It was dry in there IIRC, making the rear crank seal less likely. I think you would have noticed that when you had the autobox off too.

Another option is to touch it with something hot I.E. a soldering iron. If there's water content it will fizz as the water boils off. If it's all oil it will just smoke.

Kevin


Kevin

Might be better than licking it off the drive :-/

[maria]

doesn't taste sweet, and no coolant loss. The oil, coolant, ATF levels are all spot on and not dropping. PAS has lost about a quarter of the reservior over the last couple of thousand miles, but WHAT is dripping off the bellhousing - unless it's getting swept backwards?  :-/

Just to add there is no tray under this engine.. .never was...

[Andy B]

I have smelt it... I can't smell sweet coolant in it, and I'm not losing coolant either  :-/

You wont be able to smell it.....taste it!

Exactly what I did to the trail of, what turned out to be coolant, from my car when darn sarf.
Stick your finger in the liqued on the floor & then lick your finger.  

[The Cambelt Kid]

I have exactly the same kind of leak.  I did the rocker seals a while back so i don't its coming from there.  I have my eyes on either the cam shaft 'o' seals or the crank oil seal.

But after reading this thread, i'll go out and start licking the driveway  

Good point about the soldering iron  trick, although if i'm seen licking the drive tonight and then soldering the the drive tomorrow i may well be on my way to Rampton secure unit!

Cheers
M

[Chang]

Check the Crankshaft position sensor (next to the oil filter). I replaced mine with one that has a plastic ring which the O ring goes around. I suspect the oil is passing under the ring. It should be able to be sorted with some silicone sealer.

[Kevin Wood]

doesn't taste sweet, and no coolant loss. The oil, coolant, ATF levels are all spot on and not dropping. PAS has lost about a quarter of the reservior over the last couple of thousand miles, but WHAT is dripping off the bellhousing - unless it's getting swept backwards?  :-/

Just to add there is no tray under this engine.. .never was...

Oh, James, you didn't get Maria to taste it for you, did you?  

 

Kevin

[sophos9]

I've got the same thing with what looks like engine oil going down the passenger side of the block (from oil cooler unions etc)

When stopped, you can smell it burning - stinks! Changed cam cover gaskets, no leaks - thought it was head gasket giving in. I can also see oil running down the bell housing and slowly dripping from the two male torx bolts...

Will read this thread with interest!  

[Marks DTM Calib]

I've got the same thing with what looks like engine oil going down the passenger side of the block (from oil cooler unions etc)

When stopped, you can smell it burning - stinks! Changed cam cover gaskets, no leaks - thought it was head gasket giving in. I can also see oil running down the bell housing and slowly dripping from the two male torx bolts...

Will read this thread with interest!  

Yours sounds like somebody has changed the oil cooler and taken the short cut of bending the pipes which tends to loosen the oil cooler pipe to block unions.

[sophos9]

Yours sounds like somebody has changed the oil cooler and taken the short cut of bending the pipes which tends to loosen the oil cooler pipe to block unions.

I changed the oil cooler and yep, bent the pipes. I've since checked over the unions and tightened (crowsfoot bit). The oil is coming from above the unions which is why I was think HG?!?

[JamesV6CDX]

Thing is, it's the water jacket which is on the edge - so if the HG failed, it would leak into the coolant, not the outside?  :-/

[sophos9]

Thing is, it's the water jacket which is on the edge - so if the HG failed, it would leak into the coolant, not the outside?  :-/

I really hope you are right! If the HG is FUBAR then I'll have to break the car  

[Martin_1962]

Thing is, it's the water jacket which is on the edge - so if the HG failed, it would leak into the coolant, not the outside?  :-/

I really hope you are right! If the HG is FUBAR then I'll have to break the car  

Change them - can't be that bad

[Marks DTM Calib]

Thing is, it's the water jacket which is on the edge - so if the HG failed, it would leak into the coolant, not the outside?  :-/

I really hope you are right! If the HG is FUBAR then I'll have to break the car  

I assume the seal around the oil cap and the base of the filler neck are ok?
Consider this.

There is one very small high pressure oil way through the head gasket (close to the cam belt end) which is way inboard of the edge of the head.

There are many cooling points in the headgasket (at pressure of course) around all the combustion chambers and a further one at the front and rear (close to the stat and coolant bridge).

There are then two oil return passages (front and rear) which are less than atmospheric pressure (as the engien is kept at some level of vac by the breather setup.

When you consider the above.....how likely is it to be head gasket?

[sophos9]

First thing - sorry if I'm thread hijacking  

Whatever is happening is only resulting in a minimal loss of oil, I've not had to top up in about 6k miles.

When the car is up to temperature when you stop, burning oil smell enters the cabin.

I've check, replaced then checked cam covers again - no leaks.

Oil is visible coming from above the oil cooler unions (on the block) and coming down over the crank sensor. Oil also visible on the bell housing

From the engine bay, there is no visible oil leak above the exhaust manifold


Need to check
I will need to check the neck to cam cover seal (in case a small bit is leaking)
Also degrease whats on the block and see what returns (old oil from failed cam covers - have done 400miles since replacing)

Mark, in response to your question - I guess HG is not probable?

[Banjax]

when i had the car serviced he said to me "just keep an eye on the ******* - these things are notorious for dripping oil from them"

if only i could remember what he said (i was just glad it only cost £100 to service and wasn't paying attention - stupid dumb tinker that i am!)
next time i see him (soon) - i'll get him to show me!!

but sounds like that - tiny oil leak - i'll get back to you