Engine Oil Leak

[reb78]

Hi,

I have an oil weep that may well turn into a leak. Its a 200tdi defender engine.

First noticed as oil was dripping from the bottom of the fly wheel housing. My first thought was the crankshaft oil seal - looking through the flywheel drain hole, its bone dry in there and the oil isn;t dripping from the hole. Its coming from much higher up, seeping down the offside of the engine and dripping from the lowest point. The top of the flywhel housing is covered in oil and the small section of headgasket that you can see at the back of the head (nearest the bulkhead) also looks soaked in it. The leak seems to originate in the area of the lifting eye thats bolted to the block near the bulkhead - perhaps just above this.

Are there oil channels from head to block at the back of the engine that may be leaking through the headgasket? The Rocker cover gasket may be leaking, but there doesn;t seem to be much oil that high up. Its not losing any noticeable amounts of oil, but this may change.

Any thoughts? What else is at the back of the engine that might leak oil?

[Les Henson]

There's a semi-circular seal at the front and back of the rocker cover - under the rocker gasket. A favourite place for a high oil leak.

Les.

[reb78]

There's a semi-circular seal at the front and back of the rocker cover - under the rocker gasket. A favourite place for a high oil leak.

Les.

Thanks Les,

I hope its as simple as that!

[western]

Could be a damaged rocker cover gasket, it's a pre-formed rubber seal.

[AndyEvans]

if its a metal laminated head gasket it could be leaking round that.