oil leak !

[timjohnson]

hey guys, mrs just bought a 98 vtr @ wkend , just had valeted, so engine bay was very free of old cr**y oil, and doin about 15 miles homes we've noticed a little oil leaking out , i think its down by the head, mate said they commonly leak from rocket cover, but im bit worried as done 117k!!! could it b simple?

[KamRacing]

it could be simple. Rocker gaskets rubbers perish and small amounts of oil leak out.

If the engine bay has just been cleaned you should be able to pinpoint where it is coming from

[Global_discovery]

Is there any oil in the water? Or any foam in the filler cap? Could be just rocker cover seal has gone, if so 15mins job. Or it could be headgasket, is the oil ok? Past Max mark on dipstick?

[mallboy]

most likely is the rocker gasket - mine does it all the time. ive bought a few gaskets as they always leak after a while. not a costly part so best to get one before the engine gets blacker with oil;)

[timjohnson]

thanks 4 help guys, this is what ive been told, but the rocker cover is higher up to where its leakin, gonna try & post pix, but never done it b4, the pix are on my hard drive but it asks for a URL to put pix on !? anyone know so i can show where leak is !?

[timjohnson]

ah so u have to be a premium member to post pix ?

[Lozza_vtr]

To upload pics.

Go to

http://photobucket.com/

Its free to register, then upload your picture to photobucket.

Then copy the IMG code from your picture on photobucket and post it on this thread.

[timjohnson]

rite thanx 4 all help here we go, the arrows are where its seems 2b leaking a bit, but isnt rocker cover up the top ! thats why im worried !

http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/timjohnson25/?action=view&current=saxo-22.jpg


theres 2 piccies , its bit oily further below as well .....

[Lozza_vtr]

From the pictures, that looks like a leak coming the headgasket region to me. Lets see what other people come up with.

[timjohnson]

s**t ! thats wat im not hopin , how much u reckon 2 replace ? i had old fezzy turbo years ago that was £500 to replace !

[BANG-1124]

its headgasket mate
mine was leaking from exactly the same place when mine went

[timjohnson]

bugger ! thats wat i thought, off 2 garage 2moro 2 confirm, plus has some oil on floor 2day . how much was it 2 do ?

[MaRiO89]

Mine has been leaking from there for ages, only slightly and only when cold on my car, never enough to drop the level on the dipstick though..

If its only leaking a tiny amount leave it..

Pretty much every TU engine i have seen at all ages and mileage leak there..If the car is running ok dont worry..

[timjohnson]

hmm but if its actually drippin onto floor then i think id rather get sorted, cars shouldnt leak .....and mrs is worrying, dont have this on my scooby ! ha ha

[public_enemy]

i would check the rocker gasket i thought my head gasket was leaking changed it all few weeks later there it was again, changed rocker gasket an cleaned engine hey ho presto

if like mine the rocker splits every couple months near the cam case so it runs out of the top down the side and ends where your pic is making it look like head gasket

[timjohnson]

hmm that sounds a little more pleasin 2 hear ! the oil level hasnt dropped either. is there any way 2 see if head gasket gone or should we just replace rocker gasket 1st then see if still leakin? heard they were common 2 go (rocker gaskets) but every couple of months !!!???

[Lozza_vtr]

Give it a clean up and see what happens. Garages can do a simple head gasket check that don't cost alot. They will use something like this.

Leak check (http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/lis75500.html)

[timjohnson]

cheers guys 4 all the help but as thought it was the head gasket, gonna get done & cambelt for £275 so not enda world, checked rocker cover & bone dry ! cheers anyway !

[Danr]

Not to expensive and its never a bad idea getting the belts etc done :)

[pug205gti87]

i think it will most probly be your rocker cover gasket. quite common