oil leek help urgent now with pics of leek

1. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

   #1 31st January 2011, 20:48

   was driving of the drive today and seen an oil patch on the drive.had a look under neath and the oil was all over.i have tried to show a pic from were the oil is coming from.it is coming from near the alternator,and cambelt cover were the red circle is on the pics.it is running down from behind were the circle is,the top end of the engine is all bone dry cam covers ect.any help thanks ste
   
   
   
   
   
2. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

   #2 31st January 2011, 20:51

   Headgasket
3. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

   #3 31st January 2011, 20:52

   As above, the infamous TU head gasket leak. Time to skim the head and fit a new gasket.
4. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

   #4 31st January 2011, 20:56

   its had a full top end rebuild with steel multi layer gaskets so it should never need doing again
5. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

   #5 31st January 2011, 21:11

   "Should never" been the operative words......
6. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #6 31st January 2011, 21:18

   Leaking oil from where the head meets the bottom end is likely to be head gasket as above. Was the head rebuild done when you owned the car?
   
   Get a compression test done to be sure mate. It 'could' be something other than the gasket but the odds are against you
7. toju Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2010 bradford Posts: 380 citroen saxo vtr 2003,black.

   #7 31st January 2011, 21:18

   as above mate
8. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

   #8 31st January 2011, 21:19

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by devilsadvocate Leaking oil from where the head meets the bottom end is likely to be head gasket as above. Was the head rebuild done when you owned the car?

   the rebuild was done before i bought it.only a few months ago forgot to add that when i stop at lights ect and dip the clutch the revs drop and it cuts out
9. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #9 31st January 2011, 21:21

   Do you know the person who did it? How can you be sure it was actually done....or even done properly?
   
   Not doubting it mate, just thinking out loud.
   
   Does the engine overheat at all?
10. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #10 31st January 2011, 21:25

    Was the head skimmed?
    
    Steve.
11. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

    #11 31st January 2011, 21:34

    the guy i bought it off was a mechanic and when he bought it the cam belt was snapped so he said he rebuilt the top end and buy the looks of it he did as the top end is all clean and it has gasket sealer all over likes its been done proper.and he said he fitted a steel multi layer gasket and it will never need a head gasket again,it does not over heat use any water and still pulls like a train,will have to take it to a mates garage tomorrow and find whats up.by the way how much would it cost about if it is the head gasket.thanks ste
12. user_31412 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 ★ West / North Yorkshire ★ Posts: 1653

    #12 31st January 2011, 21:39

    Depends on the quality of the gasket (or brand more to the point).. £30 to around £100 for the kit (head gasket, other seals and new bolts). £30 for skimming if you get that done, then add 4 to 5 hours labour if your not doing it yourself.
    
    That bottom corner is the main oil feed up to the galleries under pressure, that's why it commonly leaks from there.
    
    Lesson learned; never trust anyone's word 100%.
13. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

    #13 31st January 2011, 22:31

    pics up now of the leek as just went to jet wash and it looks like its coming from behind the cam belt cover and it is coming from near the top of the engine aswell cam belt side.dont look like the head gasket but then again i dont no.thanks ste
14. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #14 31st January 2011, 22:34

    its quite probably THE most common oil leak on TU engines, also if the engine has gasket sealer all over it as you say, it wouldn't indicate a quality job TBH, its should be used very sparingly,if at all
15. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

    #15 31st January 2011, 22:43

    but on one of some of the pics of the top of the engine it looks like it is running down from the top behind the cam belt cover,the rest of the engine has no oil coming from were the head meets the block.ste
16. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #16 31st January 2011, 23:06

    From your later descriptions it sounds like the camshaft sprocket oil seal. a much easier job. But if it was done proper your mechanic would have chucked a new one on anyhow.
17. drivs Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2010 lancashire Posts: 251 saxo vts

    #17 1st February 2011, 10:50

    took the car to me mates garage and its the camshaft oil seal,not the head gasket,thank god