Oil Leak from Multiple Places
Discussion
I have a Skoda Superb Estate 2012 which has oil leaks coming from multiple places.
The garage replaced the leaking parts, but after about 50 miles on the motorway, the leaks are back, coming from multiple places again.
Different garage performed an oil system flush; renewed the oil sump; and renewed the turbo return pipe. But after about 50-100 miles of driving, the low-oil senor came on again and there is oil leaking from multiple places again. I think the leaks are mainly while the car is driving, although still some oil leaking afterwards when I stop.
The components of the turbo charger were then replaced, basically everything except the housing, but again - leaks from multiple places after 50-100 miles of driving.
The other observations to make are:
1. There does seem to be quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust
2. There was work that was done to replace the timing chain before I got the car, and I'm not certain of the quality of that work
Anyone got any ideas about what might be causing the oil leaks? I wondered if it was something related to the oil pressure and the oil just leaks out of the weakest point in the chain because of it? Also wondered if there was something related to the timing chain that could be causing it? This is well beyond my knowledge in terms of how cars work. I want to pass any ideas to the garage.
The garage replaced the leaking parts, but after about 50 miles on the motorway, the leaks are back, coming from multiple places again.
Different garage performed an oil system flush; renewed the oil sump; and renewed the turbo return pipe. But after about 50-100 miles of driving, the low-oil senor came on again and there is oil leaking from multiple places again. I think the leaks are mainly while the car is driving, although still some oil leaking afterwards when I stop.
The components of the turbo charger were then replaced, basically everything except the housing, but again - leaks from multiple places after 50-100 miles of driving.
The other observations to make are:
1. There does seem to be quite a bit of smoke from the exhaust
2. There was work that was done to replace the timing chain before I got the car, and I'm not certain of the quality of that work
Anyone got any ideas about what might be causing the oil leaks? I wondered if it was something related to the oil pressure and the oil just leaks out of the weakest point in the chain because of it? Also wondered if there was something related to the timing chain that could be causing it? This is well beyond my knowledge in terms of how cars work. I want to pass any ideas to the garage.
Others more qualified than I will be along shortly, I'd think, but from what you've described, it sounds like excessive crankcase pressure, which is probably coming from piston blow-by.
The smoke from the exhaust suggests that the pistons are letting oil past the rings, especially if the turbo has been reconditioned properly. A garage should be able to perform some rudimentary tests to check valve/piston leaks and/or get a borescope in there to have a look at the state of the pistons and bores.
If it's petrol powered, access through the plugs might be good way to get a borescope in, diesel might be a bit more work and, depending on the design, perhaps removing the sump might afford a better view. Might also be interesting to take a look at the general state in the sump looking for metal filings or shavings and decide next steps after that.
The smoke from the exhaust suggests that the pistons are letting oil past the rings, especially if the turbo has been reconditioned properly. A garage should be able to perform some rudimentary tests to check valve/piston leaks and/or get a borescope in there to have a look at the state of the pistons and bores.
If it's petrol powered, access through the plugs might be good way to get a borescope in, diesel might be a bit more work and, depending on the design, perhaps removing the sump might afford a better view. Might also be interesting to take a look at the general state in the sump looking for metal filings or shavings and decide next steps after that.
Thank you. Really appreciate the reply! I think I follow your suggestion.
The smoke from the exhaust is only slight though. I don’t see it in the mirror while driving, but if I rev it a bit while stationary then (I think) it doesn’t look quite right. Garage said they suspected something related to the smoke too; but (I think) the main loss of oil is through the leaks rather than it being burnt up.
Only other bit of info I can think of is that the Oil Temp Warning also came on when the oil was low. I put that down to being a side-effect of it being low.
Any of that change anything?
(It’s petrol, by the way)
The smoke from the exhaust is only slight though. I don’t see it in the mirror while driving, but if I rev it a bit while stationary then (I think) it doesn’t look quite right. Garage said they suspected something related to the smoke too; but (I think) the main loss of oil is through the leaks rather than it being burnt up.
Only other bit of info I can think of is that the Oil Temp Warning also came on when the oil was low. I put that down to being a side-effect of it being low.
Any of that change anything?
(It’s petrol, by the way)
Had the 'oil leaking from all sorts of interesting places' on my 3.5EFi Range Rover Classic.
Main breather on that is a hose from an oil separator on top of the right hand rocker cover which goes to an inlet pipe on the plenum & then into the engine to be burnt as part of combustion.
I realised there was no suction from the inlet pipe when the engine was revved.
Blocked breather passageway in the plenum was the problem. By blocked I mean blocked solid & needed poking out before a good aerosol blast of solvent to rinse it all out.
Main breather on that is a hose from an oil separator on top of the right hand rocker cover which goes to an inlet pipe on the plenum & then into the engine to be burnt as part of combustion.
I realised there was no suction from the inlet pipe when the engine was revved.
Blocked breather passageway in the plenum was the problem. By blocked I mean blocked solid & needed poking out before a good aerosol blast of solvent to rinse it all out.
Be a bit more specific than "multiple places"....where exactly ?
And does it drive fine otherwise ? IS there any history to this ? Has it been filled with 5 litres of oil or 50 litres ?
Have the morons who fired the parts cannon actually tried to diagnose ?
It could be excessive crankcase pressure, whether an engine issue, PCV issue, plumbing issue, or other, shouldn't be too hard to diagnose with the car in front of you, and certainly without replacing turbo parts etc.
First step would be to measure crankcase pressure....which no doubt has not been done.
And does it drive fine otherwise ? IS there any history to this ? Has it been filled with 5 litres of oil or 50 litres ?
Have the morons who fired the parts cannon actually tried to diagnose ?
It could be excessive crankcase pressure, whether an engine issue, PCV issue, plumbing issue, or other, shouldn't be too hard to diagnose with the car in front of you, and certainly without replacing turbo parts etc.
First step would be to measure crankcase pressure....which no doubt has not been done.
Thanks.
Yeah - it starts and drives really well. You wouldn’t know there was a problem without the oil light coming on (and the little bit of oil on my driveway).
I’m not aware of any history of this on the car; although the car hasn’t been mine for very long.
When oil is added, the oil level is correct, and it’s the correct oil for the car. I guess it leaks / burns through about half a litre in 50 miles of motorway.
Nope, the morons with the parts-cannon didn’t try to diagnose. I’m obviously switching to non-morons who will diagnose - but looking to get any ideas to help myself or them in advance.
It’s hard for me to say which places it’s leaking from exactly. There is oil on a lot of stuff (much of which I don’t know the names of) and the first job at the garage might be to steam it and try to work that out. It was different places the two times before.
I appreciate the help!
Yeah - it starts and drives really well. You wouldn’t know there was a problem without the oil light coming on (and the little bit of oil on my driveway).
I’m not aware of any history of this on the car; although the car hasn’t been mine for very long.
When oil is added, the oil level is correct, and it’s the correct oil for the car. I guess it leaks / burns through about half a litre in 50 miles of motorway.
Nope, the morons with the parts-cannon didn’t try to diagnose. I’m obviously switching to non-morons who will diagnose - but looking to get any ideas to help myself or them in advance.
It’s hard for me to say which places it’s leaking from exactly. There is oil on a lot of stuff (much of which I don’t know the names of) and the first job at the garage might be to steam it and try to work that out. It was different places the two times before.
I appreciate the help!
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