Is This My Oil Leak? Mi16 Leaking

[Masekwm 2]

Hi,

 

I bought an Mi a few weeks back which drops a little oil when parked, I've searched the forum and got scared by talk of the crank seal and hockey stick seals.

 

So last weekend I took off the sump and resealed it, only for it still to leak. Tonight, I've been outside trying to track down the leak, it doesn't appear to be coming from the side of the block as there is no fresh oil, when I rub it with tissue. However, on the back of the spacer plate is this...

 

 

Now whilst it doesn't look much, it's a definite ridge and I can run my fingernail into it. It's at the end of the sump where the oil is dripping from (rear/flywheel).

 

Although such a small piece, would this be imperfection be enough for it to leak?

 

Thanks

Keith

[yorkshirekowboy 19 1 Cars]

Hi,

 

I bought an Mi a few weeks back which drops a little oil when parked, I've searched the forum and got scared by talk of the crank seal and hockey stick seals.

 

So last weekend I took off the sump and resealed it, only for it still to leak. Tonight, I've been outside trying to track down the leak, it doesn't appear to be coming from the side of the block as there is no fresh oil, when I rub it with tissue. However, on the back of the spacer plate is this...

 

 

Now whilst it doesn't look much, it's a definite ridge and I can run my fingernail into it. It's at the end of the sump where the oil is dripping from (rear/flywheel).

 

Although such a small piece, would this be imperfection be enough for it to leak?

 

Thanks

Keith

 

 

looking at it, it does look ok, but did you make sure the surfaces were clean of oil and junk? also did you torque the bolts up. Im assuming you got the right order for the bolts, if not you maybe have put a "bigger bolt" in where the flywheel is causing it to leak.

[Masekwm 2]

Yeah surfaces clean, bolts nipped up (my TW only goes from 28), bolts in correct place unless they wern't in the right place to start with. It still just leaks from the same place.

 

I've an extended oil pick up, spacer with gti6 winged tray and sump in the loft, should I just change them over?

[Masekwm 2]

How difficult is it to remove the oil pimp to fit the extended version? I think I need a pro for this job

[dcc 855]

I dont think you need to mess about with a new oil pump, that engine runs perfect as it is!

 

I think you need to look through the engine and find the highest point of oil, then you will be closer to your leak!

 

Check all the Filler/breather hoses, some of them tend to split over time, also check your oil breather setup, if you have a breather feeding vapour into the engine bay, this will cause a build up of oil where ever the vapour is coming into contact.

[JeffR 51]

I went through this issue a fortnight ago.

 

Since I was replacing gearboxes (with a hybrid close ratio one for the track), & having removed the sump & resealed it previously with no success, it wasn't much more work to remove the clutch & flywheel.

 

I used talcum powder all around the #1 main seal, left it overnight to pinpoint the leak. I figured if that wasn't where the leak was from at least the engine bay would smell nice!

 

But I digress.

 

Sure enough it was the hockey sticks which were leaking. Not a big job once you have access & will make you feel a whole lot better having beaten it.

 

Good Luck.

 

PS. Buy yourself a second TW in the smaller settings. You don't want stripped threads to add to your problems.

[Masekwm 2]

I dont think you need to mess about with a new oil pump, that engine runs perfect as it is!

 

I think you need to look through the engine and find the highest point of oil, then you will be closer to your leak!

 

Check all the Filler/breather hoses, some of them tend to split over time, also check your oil breather setup, if you have a breather feeding vapour into the engine bay, this will cause a build up of oil where ever the vapour is coming into contact.

 

The only reason I considered the pump change is that I have the bits to do it, but I'm going to go for the easy option and try another sump/spacer. I'll then sell on the gti6 bits that I have

 

I've been round the back of the engine looking for oil and I'm 90% sure it's the damaged part of the spacer as shown above.

[Masekwm 2]

Talc works!

 

We see oil leak along the spacer and in the damage above!

 

[kyepan 291]

so, ive been having leaky sump issues for ages, it's been resealed about 3 times and recently had an extended pickup and xu10 sump on...

 

Recently resealed with atv sealant but it still leaked, really fast. had to wind up the torque on the bolts to get it to seal, then whack a great big dawb on the back.

 

mine leaked at bottom of the spacer, but sounds like the same thing.

[Masekwm 2]

This is really annoying me now, as it's leaking still from the same bloody place!

 

So, I'm going to try new bolts, gasket and try and get a new sump and spacer from somewhere.

 

Does anyone know what quantity of bolts I'd require though, as there are three different sizes/part numbers

 

0000692174

0000692128

0000692127

[dcc 855]

let the engine run up to temp, turn it off, drop all the oil, drop the sump, spacer plate and clean (effectivly the bottom of the block, as well as the spacer plate on both sides and the sump surface itself) thoroughly with white spirits (i used a blade to get ALL the previous sealant off).

 

put a nice thick ammount of rtv along the bottom of the block, fit the spacer (2 bolts), put some more nice and thick rtv along the spacer plate, and personally I tightened up the bolts so they were hand tight and then a little turn with the ratchet and job done. Done this on sevral engines, not had a single one with oil leaking from the sump.

 

You need to take care witht he rtv, if you get some down the bores of the botl holes, then you get an air lock and possibly hydrolic pressure causing a crack in the block. it can also mean that bolts you think are tight, are not really tight, and can come loose.

[Masekwm 2]

Thanks DCC, I decided to do that tonight.

 

I also decided to place a straight edge or the chopping board as my Mrs calls it on both the sump and the spacer. The sump seemed fine and the paper gasket had sealed to it perfectly but where the oil was leaking from the spacer the damage shown above held the edge a mm or so off the spacer. I guess this is the problem and only replacing the spacer plate will resolve the leak.

 

I also spoke to the Technical helpline at Loctite and they advised to use their black sealant rather than the copper stuff, also to get bolts into the sump within 15 minutes to prevent the outside edges of the sealant from starting to turn.

[Masekwm 2]

Well, the sump is no longer leaking, however, the oil pressure sender is and I still get oil building up and dripping from this edge of the gearbox

 

 

It's got another gearbox on since the photo was taken as the gearbox was leaking box oil, but still oil builds up on that corner. It smells like engine oil rather than box oil. Where is it coming from? Crank seal?

[Masekwm 2]

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

[luggy 13]

Had a similar issue on my MI, replaced the gearbox on the weekend and replaced the crank seal which has sorted the problem out.

[tidypug 5 2 Cars]

I had the same leak, I had 2 sumps on and resealled it god knows how many times. Ended up being the hockey seals that have been mentioned already.