oil leek somewhere on the top??

[Timmo]

Hi guys, clambered under the car yesterday to sort a couple of exhast issues and also to look for the oil leek that the mot flagged up,
lookint from the back of the engine up, (laid under the car, feet poking out the front) there was definiately a leek on the left hand side of the block up the top, the manifold had some oil on it and looks like its dripped through, certainly a leak on that area, its been dripping down and onto the back of the cog box/diff area,

looking from the front on the right of the lump is the vacumn thingy (dont you just love my descriptive words!!!) which looked a smidge oily when we got the car, i gave it a wipe over and hasnt got overly oily since, would the leak be most likely to be Rocker cover gasket??
be nice to sort it out as then its another job ticked of the list!!!

Ta muchly in advance!!!

[Xaccers]

Most likely the rocker cover seal.

[CitroJim]

I'll second that Xac... The rocker cover gasket needs to be fitted carefully and not tightened down too tightly... Also, if the cam has ever been out it's essential to put sealant (such as Blue Hylomar) on the outer cam bearing caps to prevent oil seepage from them. If you don't do this then it'll never be oil-tight.

Mr. Haynes explains it fairly well in the BoL.

The Vacuum pump has two O rings on it's sealing face. One is at full oil pressure and this can harden and leak.

[Timmo]

Thanks guys! thats great!! i'll get a rocker gasket and some O rings, - are they specific O-rings or just general ones????

[Gibbo2286]

Check the breather system, these engines run at a negative crankcase pressure and it doesn't matter how good the gaskets and seals are if the breather's not set up and working properly it will still blow the oil out, especially from under the rocker cover.

[Timmo]

ta muchly! will do!!!

[Dommo]

Check the breather system, these engines run at a negative crankcase pressure and it doesn't matter how good the gaskets and seals are if the breather's not set up and working properly it will still blow the oil out, especially from under the rocker cover.

What exactly do you check to see if the breather system is working properly?

Cheers.

[Timmo]

That you get a nice oily breather pipe shaped ring around your lips when trying to blow through them?? .