Where's my oil leak coming from?

[Arese]

Hello

My wife's Alfa GT 1.9 JTDm has recently developed an oil leak. My mechanic is currently on holiday, so I put a couple of hours aside today to get underneath and take the undertray off to try and see what I can. Can I bks get the undertray off. Four bolts and four Torx screws, one of the bolts keeps turning and turning (I can't get my hand to the other side to see if there's a clip of sorts), and two of the Torx screws are so rusted that I can't get my bit to grip. Oo-er.

Anyway, if you're lay under the car with your feet to the front, the oil seems to be coming from the right-hand side. I've taken a couple of pictures whilst I've still got a bit of light to see if anyone on here can see anything amiss.

This first picture is me looking to my right. The oil seems to be coming from that pipe/join but I guess it could be dripping down onto it from somewhere. Is that radiator thing an oil cooler?



This picture is me looking to my left. That big black pipe has oil on it, but I suppose that could have happened when the car has been driven? I guess the oil would collect in the undertray and swish around as you drive. We're not using the car at the moment obviously, since we noticed the leak.



Any ideas anyone? I'm struggling a bit because (a) I'm not great with things this complicated (b) I only have a trolley jack and axle stands, and (c) I'm getting tired and cheesed off!

Cheers all.

Edited by Arese on Saturday 4th September 18:02

Edited by Arese on Saturday 4th September 18:52

[NiceCupOfTea]

In the first picture is that an oil cooler? Could be that, or a fitting on it...

[Arese]

NiceCupOfTea said:

In the first picture is that an oil cooler? Could be that, or a fitting on it...

That's what I'm wondering. I don't know if that's an oil cooler or not. I'm not even sure if the car has an oil cooler.

I'm currently fighting with a Torx screw using my Dremel. fking thing.

[maniac0796]

How many miles has the car done? Does it blow blue smoke when the turbo comes on?

[Arese]

maniac0796 said:

How many miles has the car done? Does it blow blue smoke when the turbo comes on?

It's a 2006 car with 66k miles and is usually spot on. It's never been known to blow blue smoke. What are you thinking?

[MarkK]

Look like the banjo connection on your oil line has rusted through where it meets the hose and is now leaking. Get a new set and replace or get a company such as Pirtek to make you a quality set. Shouldn't be a problem to sort out.

[maniac0796]

Arese said:

maniac0796 said:

How many miles has the car done? Does it blow blue smoke when the turbo comes on?

It's a 2006 car with 66k miles and is usually spot on. It's never been known to blow blue smoke. What are you thinking?

Just wondering.

I can't believe that's the oil cooler on one of those. It's either the perspective of the picture, or somthing, because that's a massive oil cooler, if it is one.

But it looks like that joint is leaking. Problem with oil is it goes a long way, but it'll also blow back when rad fans cut in and from general driving.

[Arese]

MarkK said:

Look like the banjo connection on your oil line has rusted through where it meets the hose and is now leaking. Get a new set and replace or get a company such as Pirtek to make you a quality set. Shouldn't be a problem to sort out.

Nothing worse than a rusty banjo, eh?

If I could get the undertray off and get the car on ramps, do you think it's an easy job? I've cleaned and eventually replaced an EGR valve before, but that's about as mechanical as i've got.

maniac0796 said:

Arese said:

maniac0796 said:

How many miles has the car done? Does it blow blue smoke when the turbo comes on?

It's a 2006 car with 66k miles and is usually spot on. It's never been known to blow blue smoke. What are you thinking?

Just wondering.

I can't believe that's the oil cooler on one of those. It's either the perspective of the picture, or somthing, because that's a massive oil cooler, if it is one.

But it looks like that joint is leaking. Problem with oil is it goes a long way, but it'll also blow back when rad fans cut in and from general driving.

The 'oil cooler' is situated, as you look at the front of the car, to the left-hand side right down in the corner. From what I can see, it's probably about 8" wide.

[Chiswickboy]

Arese said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

In the first picture is that an oil cooler? Could be that, or a fitting on it...

That's what I'm wondering. I don't know if that's an oil cooler or not. I'm not even sure if the car has an oil cooler.

I'm currently fighting with a Torx screw using my Dremel. fking thing.

That's definitely an oil cooler.

The fitting looks a bit wet. Possibly that is leaking but it could be the cooler itself. If it is then it is not worth trying to repair. Get a good quality replacement from someone like Think Automotive rather fhan OE.

[Arese]

Chiswickboy said:

Arese said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

In the first picture is that an oil cooler? Could be that, or a fitting on it...

That's what I'm wondering. I don't know if that's an oil cooler or not. I'm not even sure if the car has an oil cooler.

I'm currently fighting with a Torx screw using my Dremel. fking thing.

That's definitely an oil cooler.

The fitting looks a bit wet. Possibly that is leaking but it could be the cooler itself. If it is then it is not worth trying to repair. Get a good quality replacement from someone like Think Automotive rather fhan OE.

Ok, replacing the oil cooler is probably more than I can do myself to be honest. I think I'll wait for my mechanic to get back.

Thanks all for the replies.

[Arese]

Hmm, considering this is the same engine as in many Vauxhall and Saab applications, would they use a different oil cooler?

I've just spotted this on Ebay and it looks nothing like the item in my picture.

[Arese]

Any more thoughts folks?

[Chiswickboy]

Arese said:

Hmm, considering this is the same engine as in many Vauxhall and Saab applications, would they use a different oil cooler?

I've just spotted this on Ebay and it looks nothing like the item in my picture.

There is four situations in a vehicle where where a heat exchanger is used:

Cooling an engine, Cooling the engine oil, Cooling gearbox/transmission fluid and cooling the cabin(ie Air Con).

For engine cooling and A/C it is usual to use a liquid to air radiator which requires a fan for when the car is slow moving or static. This is not what appears in your picture.

For engine oil or transmission fluid then the choice is a "radiator" with air passing through it or a fluid/fluid system such as that shown in the link.

The unit on your Alpha is clearly not an engine or A/C radiator as it is too small, incorrectly positioned for this function and does not have a fan. That leaves engine oil or transmission cooler as the only alternative and it is definitely a fluid to air radiator and has the type of hose and fittings used on these.

[Dr.Doofenshmirtz]

MarkK said:

Look like the banjo connection on your oil line has rusted through where it meets the hose and is now leaking. Get a new set and replace or get a company such as Pirtek to make you a quality set. Shouldn't be a problem to sort out.

This is what I'm thinking.
My bike had exactly the same problem - when I took the banjo off the hose pretty much fell off due to rust.

[MarkK]

At the very least you'd have to drain some / all of the oil so you'd have to be compentent enough to do an oil and filter change. Replacing the lines and/or the cooler "should" be straight forward as it'll only be a few bolts and the banjos once you have access.

I say go for it!

[Arese]

Chiswickboy, thanks for the clarification, I appreciate it!

Mark - Cheers. I'll have another look in the morning and if I'm feeling brave I think I'll have a go! We're only using one car at the moment so if the GT is off the road for some time it doesn't really matter.

Thanks all.

[finlo]

They look more like aircon pipes,does your aircon still work?

They look on their last legs anyway (looks like you've been parking in the sea!)

[MarkRSi]

Arese said:

Any more thoughts folks?

Its an Alfa, I thought they were supposed to leak oil...?

[Scootersp]

finlo said:

They look more like aircon pipes.........

or power steering ones............i'd follow the pipe with the leaky joint back to its source and tell us what that is!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Scootersp said:

finlo said:

They look more like aircon pipes.........

or power steering ones............i'd follow the pipe with the leaky joint back to its source and tell us what that is!

That's what I thought initially, but they seem to be going to that radiator. My money's still on it being an oil cooler.