oil leak

Post Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:43 pm

I've provisionally sold my Sport to Ritesh, but he has a few worrys about the oil that is down the side of my block. He's been advised by a technician that it 'could' be a "sign of a hairline crack in the head (and possibly the gasket too)"

I think this is a bit of a severe diagnosis... The car doesn't leak oil onto the ground while standing, or use any oil while running. It also doesn't use any coolant or have any 'mayo' in the system.

Can anyone assure him that leaks like this are very common on M20's and that there's nothing too much to worry about and there's PLENTY of your cars that have leaks MUCH worse than this. Please!

Pics are here to look at.

Cheers...

Giles.

Post Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:45 pm

leaks like this are very common on M20's and that there's nothing too much to worry about and there's PLENTY of your cars that have leaks MUCH worse than this.

HTH

Post Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:52 pm

Yep,plenty of leakes in that area on the M20.They are fine unless they leak enough to drip.

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:35 am

anyone advise where this leak starts from..is it the cam seal that is blowing oil back onto block or is it from the head gasket

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:42 am

Still looks cleaner than mine

and mine uses NO oil

tbh think the comment about a hairline crack in the head is probably a bit strong-surely it would exhibit other symptoms

like oil consumption, coolant loss etc?

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:31 pm

Cheers guys. Like I told him, if I thought it was serious, I would have got rid of the evidence so there was nothing to see... :lol:

Just normal M20 mini-leaks...

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:51 pm

Thanks geeman for posting the pics!

I feel much more reassured!

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:53 pm

cam seal, mine is doing it at the mo

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:01 pm

mine had a seep, after cleaining it all up i found it was only the valve cover gasket, but mine never noticably lost any oil

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:39 pm

Jim... yours is a new engine!

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:36 pm

He thinks that's a bad oil leak?!? Tell him to look under the bonnet of a 10 year old Vauxhall and then come back and see if he's worried about that tiny weep on the Beemer block.

I'm of the opinion that if an old engine isn't leaking something then there's something wrong.

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:04 pm

Folks Folks Folks,

I get the message.

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:17 pm

Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:37 pm

Yea I lost the gasket

had to use some instant-gasket stuff.

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:34 am

IIRC, that leak is just where the oil travels up to the head. It's a minor weep from the head gasket.
Definitely not from a cracked head. Several places where M20 heads crack, but thats not one of them.

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:39 am

that pic is identical to the engine in mine, same everything and i dont have any probs with oil use or coolant contamination.

but i thought it was the oil filter seal was giving me the prob, coz i swear i read it on here

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:00 am

Ritesh wrote:Folks Folks Folks,

I get the message.

Geeman is a top bloke, and Very honest,but you were right to get it checked out-better safe than sorry

Good luck with the car anyway

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:22 am

Yes Geeman has been a top bloke to deal with...very patient...and very cooperative!

He's dealt with all my nagging questions too, which has been nice of him!

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:27 am

Brianmoooore wrote:IIRC, that leak is just where the oil travels up to the head. It's a minor weep from the head gasket.
Definitely not from a cracked head. Several places where M20 heads crack, but thats not one of them.

You say: "It's a minor weep from the head gasket." from where the oil travels upwards.

So is this minor weep anything to worry about?

Can it be sorted without any extensive damage to the wallet?

I would like to get it sorted thats why.

Cheers.

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 5:53 pm

your all going on about gasket leaks and head leaks could it not just be where sum 1 has filled the engine with oil and dripped sum down the side i know i do it every time with a full bottle of oil????????????????????????

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:54 pm

It's an M20. M20's leak oil from every place it is possible to leak oil from. Fix one, and you'll probably cause two more.
An M20 without an oil leak probably doen't have any oil in it.

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:26 pm

Brianmoooore wrote: An M20 without an oil leak probably doen't have any oil in it.

Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:52 pm

My car has,for the 3 years I've had it,pissed out oil at a frightening rate,even by my standards.

The car runs great,has good compression,and has no anomlities (sp?).

Plus,if you got a leak,your always topping up with fresh oil,which ain't no bad thing.

Only down side is,it leaves a bit of mess whereever I park it

Post Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:56 am

Jesus325iTouring wrote:My car has,for the 3 years I've had it,pissed out oil at a frightening rate,even by my standards.

The car runs great,has good compression,and has no anomlities (sp?).

Plus,if you got a leak,your always topping up with fresh oil,which ain't no bad thing.

Only down side is,it leaves a bit of mess whereever I park it

It's just marking its territory, so lesser estate type cars dont try and muscle on on its "right hand of God" status :lol:

Post Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:18 pm

very true indeed...gotta leave a mark when you're cruising around in an E30!