T4 2.5 TDI Oil Leak

[sueandangus1]

Help! I have just moved to Texas for a few years and I shipped my 2002 T4. Unfortunately, it has a significant oil leak from the right hand side of the engine. I can not identify where the oil is coming from. It seems to be low on the block and appears to be coming from the rear of the block. I have taken off the sump guard/bash plate and run the van for 20 minutes but there is no sign of the leak. But, when it is driven 20 miles or so there is a quite a bit of engine oil in the sump guard and the lower right hand side of the engine has oil mist - below the pulleys.

I have seen from some of the other posts that the oil pump seal is a common failure or the oil pressure relief valve - where are these located.

Any deas or help much appreciated.

Angus - El Paso!

[nwk]

hi i seem to have almost the same problem except for the oil round the pully. the oil collects on the ridge at the back of the block below the turbo. have checked the turbo feed pipe and the filter housing. so if anyone could help with this problem it would be appreciated

[Alan02]

Possibly the oil filter housing gasket...common problem. Its not a big job to do,but obviously easier to do if its on a hoist.

[dickums]

Yeah, I had very same problem some month ago. As Alan said its not a big deal but I got it done in my local garage (hoist and else..). Best o luck in Texas. Cheers.
Dickums

[sueandangus1]

Thanks for the posts offering solutions from Dickums and Alan.

The problem has finally been diagnosed, located and fixed.

Actually it was a couple of things. First of all there was a slight leak coming from the metal gasket behind the oil cooler. This was replaced, but there was still a leak. The oil was only coming out when the vehicle was driven, then it was running down the back of the block, collecting in the ridge at the rear of the crankcase and then running down into the sump guard.

Put some dye in the oil and used black/UV light which revealed that the oil filter housing itself had either become porous or cracked. It was removed and sent to an aluminium welder. - problem solved.

Hopefully NWKs problem is just the oil filter housing gasket, but if not, check the oil cooler gasket and the oil filter housing itself. Good luck

Angus