1.6 HDI persistent oil leak...

[Bill Mac]

Hello!
First, an apology for going straight to it in my first post.

I've about given up, and thinking of trading the car in. I'd rather not if I'm honest, we've only had it for 6 months, and we like it a great deal, but the smell of oil is a real annoyance now, and of course, there are the health aspects too!

307 1.6 HDI SW 2006 with the oil pooling around the injectors, and running down onto the exhaust manifold. Valve cover has been replaced 4 times now, no change. So I guess that can be ruled out. Injectors weren't leaking, but I had the seals replaced for good measure anyway. but I guess the injectors have nothing to do with the oil I'm losing. Full service history, and I've changed the oil twice in around 4000 miles with the correct low ash etc. New o ring on the breather to air intake pipe, the oil doesn't appear to be coming from here.

The oil leak is heaviest at the gearbox side of the car, clean nearly other end, ruling out the timing chain eating it's way through the cover I would imagine.

Can I kindly ask if anyone has had this problem and put it right? I was thinking the inlet manifold oil seals, but I don't know the engine and it appears to be quite an involved job if I'm barking up the wrong tree. Any pointers in any direction would be GREAT!!!

Last attempt at a repair before we say goodbye.

Thanks in advance...

[xantia_v6]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.

I know nothing about your engine, so can't help directly, but it might be worth posting your query over on the Citroen sub-forum, as the same engine is used on C5s etc, and there tends to be more expertise on that side.

[Bill Mac]

Hi, Welcome to the forum.

I know nothing about your engine, so can't help directly, but it might be worth posting your query over on the Citroen sub-forum, as the same engine is used on C5s etc, and there tends to be more expertise on that side.

Thanks Xantia_v6!

I'm beginning to think it's the cylinder head weeping, but I have no other symptoms so can't be sure...

Thanks again...

[Bill Mac]

I think it's the cam cover! Does that sound possible? I think it's called that I don't know the engine. The part below the rocker cover...

[citroenxm]

Theres no timing chain on these engines they are cam belts.. so if theres a leak that end it will seep out at the bottom rear corner and could be cam shaft seal. The 4 injectors sit in tubes that go down into the top of the cylinder. The 4 tubes have an oil seal at the top of each one. They can be a pig to to fit if they needed swapping but the seal out the injector tube from the inside of the rocker assembly. Is it all oil wet around the injector clamps at the top of the injectors?

[drew]

Hi old thred!
i have the same problem with 110000km on the clock, leaking oils pooling around injectors.
i have changed the injector seals top and bottom, injectors where spotless very clean not leaking from there. changed rocker cover 3 times now, also changed inlet manifold orings 8 in total only thing there was far left front white plastic sleeved section which holds oring in place is a bit loose but does not seen to be a oils seal, still leaking same as always after all the new pieces, everything else is good not leaking oil pipes ect, its 2010 model so last one , any other suggestions?

drew

[jimmymarsbar]

We've got the same model and year car for work, and there's always a pool of oil around the injectors.

It seems to be coming out of the head unit, and the turbo always looks a bit oily too. As we're getting rid of the car, we're not bothering with fixing it, but on ours it seems it's the head unit that is culprit.

[Bick]

as about is the oil filler cap weeping - i say because ive seen this before

[Tonys]

Hi looking at the oil around injectors posts. It seems to be that most of the threads push towards the injector seals but you may find this is not the initial fault. In my experience it is the cam box. As this is made in two parts upper and lower casting it also has two gaskets upper and lower. If you have liquid oil I would check the upper gasket at the back of the box with a mirror. Remove the sir box first. More often it is this. This is why when you do the injectors the oil reappears.

[clydeowenp]

I had this on my Xantia Hdi, oil pooling in the webs of the manifold. This only happened after a motorway run, if I cleaned it off and ran around town it was dry. After a motorway run the oil pools had returned. Car was under warranty so took it to the Citroen dealer, twice, and they couldn't find a leak. Told them it only happened after a motorway run so they had it in again and kept it for a week. They cleaned the engine then sprayed a leak detection spray around the area and found it was the injector pipes leaking. I was surprised because it was more like the consistency of oil than diesel, probably because it had been cooked, got the car back and no more leak! There was a recall for leaking injector pipes and I took my car in to be checked and was told it was ok, leak must have developed after.
Please don't feel around the pipe with your finger with the engine running, the pressure is very high, same as a water jet machine which uses high pressure water to cut metal. Diesel can be injected through the skin into the blood stream which will cause blood poisoning. If untreated this will lead to extreme pain, gangrene and amputation. Mechanics at Citroen dealers are not allowed to work on Hdi systems until they have attended a safety course, assume its's the same for Peugeot mechanics.
Unless really bad this type of leak is very difficult to find, engine needs to be cleaned and leak detection fluid sprayed around the area. This dries to a white powder and shows up any leak as a damp patch. This type of work is best left to a dealer or diesel specialist for safety.
This may not be where your problem lies but may be worth considering after all other options have been explored, hope this helps.
Regards
Clyde

[myglaren]

I wonder if that was what was happening to my C5?
Always oil in the depressions around the injectors. I put it down to a fine mist from the induction/turbo feed. Never did get it fixed, just soaked up the oil with blue roll then cleaned with gunwash before the MOT.

[jayflame2004]

Persistent oil leak after motorway drive, no leak when doing shop runs.
Devolution fault and limp mode (>3K revs) with engine light on after motorway run.

So two separate mechanics in, both pointing at cylinder head gasket needs replacing at more cost than to replace car.

Found on YouTube, a vid on replacing injector seals.



What caught my attention was the mention of oil on top of engine and crystalisation of cooked engine oil around injectors.
This looked like oil covered grit that I thought was thrown up from the road.

Both paid mechanics overlooked this and replaced rocket cover gasket with extra sealant, another replaced turbo O ring.

After opening and checking injector seals, which were replaced only 2 years previously (1st since new in 2006) by same mechanic who suggested head gasket, found a badly fitted oil seal around one of the injectors.
Cleaned and refitted with extra sealant and oil leak is gone.
Performance increased also, little touch on accelerator and she wants more and more.

Replacement injector seal kit on back order and will clean whole lot and replace as required.

Signs to look for if you have an oil leak that can't be pinpointed;
Grit looking oil crystalisation around injectors.
Constant pooling of oil on engine head and around injectors
Oil sprayed across to battery housing

[GiveMeABreak]

Cause also detailed here:
viewtopic.php?p=650153#p650153

[citroenxm]

KEEP ON TOP of the injector clamps. Check them frequently.. Use a 8mm Allen key.

I have done this on our 207 1.6 16v and we're now on 184k. I recently changed injectors because of a rough start and that cured it. Uf never had a, seal blow and still on the same. Turbo too...

Rocker top all dry. There's also oil seals between the injector tubes and rocker cover too.. We had an oil leak and. It was the oil cooler. So really pleased we have a nice dry engine..

[R Stables]

I had the same problems, after I did all you have done l found the oil was coming from a failed seal ( o ring between the head and vacuum pump) at the right hand side of the engine. An easy fix but the o ring is expensive from Citroen, try elsewhere.
Good luck.
R Stables