Oil accumulation C5 Hdi

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 18 Feb 2010, 15:45

Hi guys,

decided to have a proper look over the under bonnet area today and everything is extremely clean except for one part.

I am guessing this is an EGR? there is oil covering it and pooling in the cavity below it. Its not flowing and looks like its accumulated over time..

Any ideas?

Rhys

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Feb 2010, 18:10

That's odd - I'm sure I don't have one of them there.
Is yours a series 2 C5?

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 18 Feb 2010, 19:00

Nope mk1 52 plate LX Estate

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Feb 2010, 19:36

Sorry, I was mistaken, there is indeed such a gubbins right there, never taken much notice I suppose.

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 18 Feb 2010, 19:55

And so poses the question, what is it and why is mine covered in oil? and furthermore how can i sort it out??

Unread post by **myglaren** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:10

My guess would be the swirl valve actuator, I'm sure the EGR is attached to the exhaust manifold. I have been wrong before though and I'm sure Wheeler will put us straight when he looks in.

Pull it off and clean it and the pipes attached, replace any that are split or hardened.

marsalek · Unread post by **marsalek** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:17

Hi, it is not swirl - that is fitted only on the 2.0 16V HDi engine. The one on the picture works togeher with the EGR valve as it (partly) closes the air inlet, when the exhaust gases should be recycled.

But the oil sea you see in the cavity is probably not coming from the valve. Have seen another HDis without that valve but also spilled with oil the same way. It must come somewehre from under the plastic valve cover

So do not worry about!

Karel

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:36

If you look closely at the picture the actual sensor/valve is coated in oil aswell so it looks like this is the origin of the leak

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:42

marsalek wrote:Hi, it is not swirl - that is fitted only on the 2.0 16V HDi engine. The one on the picture works togeher with the EGR valve as it (partly) closes the air inlet, when the exhaust gases should be recycled.

Thats quite correct, the item in question is the EGR throttle butterfly which is there to assist the actual EGR valve by strangling the incoming air. Its vaccum operated via one of the three electrovalves.

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 18 Feb 2010, 20:45

Thanks for confirmation Wheeler!

Any ideas what would cause this oil build up and do i need to replace the part?

Also any ideas on where i can source this part or a price at least online?

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 20 Feb 2010, 19:50

Anyone got any ideas before i have to resort to taking it a main dealer to be ripped off??

Rhys

marsalek · Unread post by **marsalek** » 20 Feb 2010, 20:08

If I were you, I wouldn't take care of it. You can just clean it a bit and watch, from where exactly it comes. As long as the engine oil is not disappearing too fast, it is fine

The butterfly valve is a bit moist, as the inlet air after the turbocharger always contains some oil. No turbocharger is 100% tight!

Karel

kaostheory · Unread post by **kaostheory** » 20 Feb 2010, 21:35

The whole outside of the butterfly is caked in the stuff.. if you cpmpare my pics and the other one further down the post you'll see the diff its pretty massive

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Feb 2010, 22:12

It's quite often you see a lot of caked muck on those after a few miles. I could take a picture of the similar thing on one of my Activas. An otherwise clean engine but the breather looks like it's wearing an oily fur coat... Diesel ones seem even worse.

Give it a good clean and watch it as Karel suggests. It carries a lot of oil vapour and mist and what you're seeing is just condensate.

It's almost normal. If the connections to it are reasonably tight and the engine otherwise runs fine, just clean it every now and again and worry not.