Incontinent Xantia

Unread post by **RichardW** » 09 Nov 2004, 12:51

Aye aye, what's that big wet patch under the car outside work last night. Hmm, engine oil. With it up on the ramps at home, there is oil everywhere underneath the car, but eventually find the oil dripping off the back O/S corner of the sump - looks like the front crank oil seal has let go[:(!]
No corresponding oil patch on the drive where it stood on Sunday night, so it has gone and leaked a load of oil in the 30 miles to work. Have put some stop leak in, but very much doubt this will help. No time / inclination / garage space to fix it at the moment, so it will be getting taken elsewhere if it needs changing.
Don't know why it has suddenly let go - just one of those things I suppose - unless the oil pump pressure relief valve has got stuck. I did put about a pint of 20/50 oil in it 1500 miles ago when I changed the oil, but I can't see this causing it.
On the up side, at least it's not the head gasket at the back O/S corner that I thought it might have been first off [8)]
Update 09/11.. Had a look tonight and located the leak under the injection pump (well that's where it's making itself seen anyway!)

Theres a piece of cast alloy next to the block under the injection pump and the oil is dripping from here. A lot of it[:(]
Any ideas[?][?]
I can't see it being the cam oil seal, but I could be wrong. Cracked block, fractured oil gallery? No sign of any oil above the bottom of the injection pump.
Anybody want a leaky Xantia with a slightly dodgy clutch.....[:(!]

G4EIY · Unread post by **G4EIY** » 09 Nov 2004, 14:45

Hi Richard,
I very much doubt if it is the crankshaft oil seal.
Idealy you need to clean that area with a preasure washer, then run the engine and with the aid of a strong light, you will then locate the source.
My guess it will be the camshaft oil seal...
Best of luck

beezer · Unread post by **beezer** » 09 Nov 2004, 14:59

Did you mean 'camshaft' there G4EIY? Or were you talking Citroenese?

beezer · Unread post by **beezer** » 10 Nov 2004, 03:57

That is very close to where the oil pump hides out. Looks like you will have to remove the injector pump and mounting bracket. It should be clearer where exactly it is coming from once you have done this.

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 10 Nov 2004, 04:11

You're having some bad luck with that one Richard, I would have said head gasket for sure, thats the very area that the oil feed crosses from the block to the head.
Oil seal's don't let go in that fashion they gradually leak worse and worse with increasing wear.
Dave

Unread post by **RichardW** » 10 Nov 2004, 13:01

'Thanks' Dave [:D]
I was beginning to suspect this - I'm going to take the cam belt covers off tonight and see what's what. Unfortunately, I'm a bit short of garage space and time, so this one might have to go now [:(!]
There's a really nice sounding BX TD for sale in Manchester though [:p]

Unread post by **Jon** » 10 Nov 2004, 13:46

I agree with Dave.
One of my ZX TD's had a similar, raipd leak. It was the H/G. [:(!]

tomsheppard · Unread post by **tomsheppard** » 10 Nov 2004, 14:00

If the BX is still available,buy it. Once you have become used to the rather lighter construction, you will really enjoy the performance and the reduced fuel consumption.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 10 Nov 2004, 14:42

Tom,
I had 2 BX TDs which covered about 85k miles between them. I really miss the performance.... I am very tempted by the Manchester one (apparently only 68k miles!) but getting there is going to be a bit difficult as we have visitors next 2 weekends. Mind you, I can't get to work without a car, so perhaps I'll have to take Monday off to go and buy it. Given the clutch probably wants doing soon in the Xantia, and the matrix is on Forte sealer borrowed time, I'm not all that inclined to rip its head off. I think it's going.
BX TD here we come?????

Unread post by **Jon** » 10 Nov 2004, 15:08

Another convert to the BX cause ?!!

G4EIY · Unread post by **G4EIY** » 10 Nov 2004, 15:10

Hi
The way that I check the Camshft oil seal for leaks is as follows:
Get a peice of thin bendy wire "old cycle spoke or thinner", attach a thin strong piece of material to one end, then thread the wire under the cam wheel at the gap close to the head, secure the wire so it's out of the way of any moving parts, then run the engine for a while, stop engine remove the wire and cloth, inspect the cloth for any oil saturation.