Common XUD oil leaks?

[nametooshort]

My 305 seems to be leaking oil a little. It's not a major leak, and to be honest it does not lose enough oil to be of any concern yet, however I don't like leaky engines so would like to get it sorted at some point.

The oil is collecting around the bottom engine mount, in that corner around the belt-pulley end of the engine. However, as with any oil leaks, it's notoriously hard to tell where it's actually coming from, since oil wicks its way around that whole corner.

I was thinking that it may be leaking either out of the bottom pulley oil seal, or out of the top cam seal and making its way down the block under the cam belt cover, or maybe its coming out of the sump to block joint, or perhaps its coming from somewhere else entirely. It's quiet hard to tell.

I seem to remember somebody saying that oil leaking in that exact area (the bottom corner of the engine on the cam belt end) is a very common problem with XUDs, however I don't remember what they said usually causes it.

Anybody know? is it indeed a very common and well documented problem? I know an oil leak is an oil leak, but is it true that this specific oil leak in that area is a notorious thing with XUDs? What causes it?

Thanks!

[DickieG]

XUD's leak from the camshaft and bottom crank oil seals especially older ones like yours, I used to change those seals every time I did a cambelt on my C15's.

[nametooshort]

Oh, I see.

Are they difficult to change?

[DickieG]

Are they difficult to change?

Not generally, the old one may be reluctant to lever out in which case carefully drill a small hole to insert a self tapper to pull from using a pair of pliers, the new ones simply push in.

[CitroJim]

The cam cover gasket too can be a notorious source. The cover needs to be tightened carefully and not too tight. Some after-market gaskets are a bit iffy too. Good ones are all soft and squidgy...

They can also leak from the cam bearing caps. If the cam has ever been out it is essential to re-seal the faces (where they contact the head surface) of the outer cam bearing caps with a smear of Hylomar. These faces are outside any gasket area and capillary action can cause oil weepage.

[nametooshort]

I see, well, since I will have to do the cam belt some time soon anyways, I will do the top and bottom oil seals at the same time.

Does anybody happen to know where a good source for these seals is? Or alternatively, does anybody know their dimensions? I usually just get generic seals from an industrial supplier, they tend to be half the price and usually higher quality (at least compared to genuine Volkswagen seals). But of course the tradeoff is you need to know their dimensions rather then just part numbers.