Oil leak

[walshydub]

My car has had a slight drop leak for a while now but over the last few weeks its gotten a bit worse.
I've had a quick look underneath but can't really see where its originated from. The level on the dipstick hasn't dropped and the engine is running fine but starting to sound a bit tappety when cold but less so once its warm.
I'm confused, any ideas where the leak could be coming from? Its a 1600 carb for reference.

Cheers

[ryana89]

Engine oil or transmission oil?
Mine has/had a leak on the oil filter flange where it connected with the block. Heres a picture or prepared earlier.....

Although it appears to be from the oil filter seal, its from what I described above


Just occured to me that a 1.6 carbed engine may be a little differant to a 2E

[squirrel]

is there oil dropping down the front of the sump and then getting sprayed back under the car like this?:



if so, then let me know where yours is coming from when you do find it because i'm buggered if I can find the source of mine (which is on a mk1 gti fitted with a 1781cc passat/scirocco combo lump!!)

[ryana89]

Perhaps a simple can of degreaser is needed, clean away all the oil/craap.
Then take the car for a "spirited" drive. Then check where the oil is coming from?
Am I being Captain Obvious

[Jarred]

first things first, go and clean the engine bay, get a can of degrease, go for a big drive (so the engine is properly warm, degrease will work better that way) then head off to the car wash and go nuts with the high pressure hose.

Then you just have to check where it's coming from;

Common places are: Rocker cover gasket, and sump gasket. if your breather is blocked, excess crack pressure could be forcing oil out the dipstick or the dizzy. If it's not coming from there, then look at the two big end seals.

the leak might not nessecarily be realted to the tappet noise. Could just be the tappets getting older and more worn out. They tend to do that. not too difficult of a job to do. Probs one of those 3/5 spanners jobs

[walshydub]

I had a really good poke around after a drive and there was no obvious place where the oil was coming out.
The drips were forming on the gearbox where it meets the engine so it could be gearbox oil. That would explain why the oil level on the dipstick isn't dropping. How do i tell what kind of oil it is?

The underside of the car & block are filthy so i'll give them a squirt of degreaser and take it for a run see if it is easier too see the source. The most obvious answers are usually the best captain

[walshydub]

the leak might not nessecarily be realted to the tappet noise. Could just be the tappets getting older and more worn out. They tend to do that. not too difficult of a job to do. Probs one of those 3/5 spanners jobs

Just out of interest how hard a job is fixing the tappets?

[Jarred]

Not too hard.

Take off anythink thats in the way of the rocker cover (cables, fuel lines etc)
take off the rocker cover, loosen Tbelt, take the cam out, remove lifters, and refit new ones.

Well, that's for hydraulics (i'm not sure which you have :s) if you have tappets, you have to start playing with tappets (i've never had to do that, so I don't know how hard/easy it is)

That's the simplified version, but you get the gist.

[Golf Loon]

Probably the rocker cover, rear main seal or oil sensor on any 1.8 8v engine

[Jarred]

ah yes, forgot about the oil sensor! that should be an easy one to spot!

[tommymac]

first things first, go and clean the engine bay, get a can of degrease, go for a big drive (so the engine is properly warm, degrease will work better that way) then head off to the car wash and go nuts with the high pressure hose.

Then you just have to check where it's coming from;

Common places are: Rocker cover gasket, and sump gasket. if your breather is blocked, excess crack pressure could be forcing oil out the dipstick or the dizzy. If it's not coming from there, then look at the two big end seals.

the leak might not nessecarily be realted to the tappet noise. Could just be the tappets getting older and more worn out. They tend to do that. not too difficult of a job to do. Probs one of those 3/5 spanners jobs

Smell it, gear oil stinks!

[walshydub]

So, it's either coming from the cam cover or the sump. New seals for both i think!