Help - My ZX has started leaking oil !

Paul Thomas · Unread post by **Paul Thomas** » 28 Jun 2004, 21:53

I have a 1993 ZX 1.9TD Volcane, it has covered 119,000 miles.
It has recently started leaking oil, it runs down the back of the sump near the sump plug.
I have it booked into a garage on Thursday for it to be looked at and a MOT.
Any suggestions on what it could be ?
I am just about to sell it as well !![:(]

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 28 Jun 2004, 23:02

Sump plug? Sump gasket? Rocker cover gasket? Leaking turbo oil feed pipe or oil return pipe? Headgasket? Cracked block or head?
Its most likely the sump gasket, you'll have to have a look at where the oil is actually coming from, bearing in mind that under bonnet air flow can move oil considerable distances...

heath robinson · Unread post by **heath robinson** » 28 Jun 2004, 23:37

my zx non turbo has very slowly leaked oil for years; combination of cam cover and camshaft oil seals. my guess would be that yours will not be cam seals as these are at either side of the engine areas. when i say leaked; not to the extent that there would be a drip every time it is parked. how fast is the leak; would you be able to watch a drip form and drop say every 5 minutes?
has anything been changed/moved/serviced/stressed pre drip?
i know nothing about turbos; how easy would such a leak be to spot Kowalski?

Stuart McB · Unread post by **Stuart McB** » 29 Jun 2004, 00:20

If my old ZX TD didn't leak oil out at least every other day I knew something was up. [:D]

Unread post by **cheesesliceking** » 29 Jun 2004, 00:35

You mean Citroens arent supposed to leak oil?? [:0]

Paul Thomas · Unread post by **Paul Thomas** » 29 Jun 2004, 13:21

Cheers Guys.
I had a good look around the engine bay last night.
I can see oil forming around the glow plugs and down the side of the block from the rocker cover so hopefully that is the cause.
Is that quite a straighforward job to sort ?
Any idea of expected costs from a non-franchise dealer ?

uhn113x · Unread post by **uhn113x** » 29 Jun 2004, 13:46

Get a gasket from GSF and reserve an hour for the job [:)]

ScottFromNZ · Unread post by **ScottFromNZ** » 29 Jun 2004, 14:42

My BX TZD Turbo looked to have a rocker cover gasket oil leak a while back. When I took the intercooler off the hose clip for the breather hose was very loose and oil residue was leaking out of this and down onto the rocker cover. I could not see this until I got the I/C off though!
New hoseclip and a clean up and all has been well since.

Paul Thomas · Unread post by **Paul Thomas** » 29 Jun 2004, 15:01

Well I did have the intercooler off 3-4 months ago when I replaced the glow plugs.
Maybe I didn't do it up tight enough.

oscarloco · Unread post by **oscarloco** » 29 Jun 2004, 20:12

You should check all the rubber hoses that run across the engine carrying oil and oil fumes. Mine is a '94 ZX and recently I had to replace the sparkplugs. There where a couple of hoses that where in the way so I disconnected them very carefully and when done, proceeded to connect them. Surprise! they where very brittle and I had to replace/fix 2 of them. The others are due for a nerby change in the future since they aren't flexible anymore.

sooty · Unread post by **sooty** » 30 Jun 2004, 01:11

I had an oil leak from my ZX the other month with a pool of oil and collecting behind the injector pump and oil filler neck on the block. Found to be the rocker cover bolts to be loose, then just re-tighten them by removing the intercooler (and refitting), then wash the block down with a car wash pressure washer on one of my vists and now its ok.

Paul Thomas · Unread post by **Paul Thomas** » 30 Jun 2004, 12:46

I've had the intercooler off last night.
Quite a but of oil and much on the rocker cover, unusual as I gunked it when I replaced the glow plugs 3-4 months ago.
That said I couldn't seem to find and particular leak. There just seemed to be oily dirt all over it.
I've cleaned it up with gunk again anyway to make it easier to diagnose.
The underneath of the car is plastered with oil, all over the bottom of the sump, cross-members etc.
I had to top the oil up a couple of days ago as so much has leaked away.
Would I expect to see oil in the coolant if the head gasket has gone ?
How straightforard is it to replace the headgasket myself ? I have read through the Haynes manual and while it is obviously not a 5 minute job it looks relatively simple.
Anything to be aware of or any advice when changing the gasket if that is what has gone ?

rossd · Unread post by **rossd** » 30 Jun 2004, 13:01

According to a guy on the Car Mechanics forum who is a mechanic for a Peugeot main dealer, the rear hockey stick type seal behind the flywheel tends to weep and covers the rear of the engine like this on XU engines. He says they just seal it back up with some instant gasket and all is fine.
Link to CM forum & oil leak:
http://www.carmechanicsmag.co.uk/cgi-bi ... 1087137943
Ross

Paul Thomas · Unread post by **Paul Thomas** » 30 Jun 2004, 15:07

Isn't that the petrol engine, mine's a Turbo-Diesel ?

Paul Thomas · Unread post by **Paul Thomas** » 04 Jul 2004, 02:36

OK, more information on the leak.
I have had the jetwash out and cleaned all of the underside and rear of the engine and underneath of the vehicle.
The oil seemed to appear around the bottom of the timing belt cover.
I have removed this and also carefully jetwashed this area.
The oil seems to be seeping from around the engine mounting area towards the top of the timing belt. It then runs down the block and comes out at the bottom of the timing case.
What oil seals are there in this viscinity that could be causing this leak ?
It only leaks once the enging is running.
It's obviously a very difficult area to examing as it's so close to the car body.
Any suggestions welcome.