Hi All


Cannot believe I've only just come across this forum


Looking forward to having a good read through


Wondered if there anyone on here that could help me out?


A few weeks ago I noticed oil on the drive under the car and upon lifting the bonnet I saw that there's oil All over the engine when driven you can smell it burning and occasionally can see some smoke


There's too much oil too possibly see where the leak is so was seeking any advice :S


Is it possible too wash the engine off?
If so what's best too use?
Does the engine need to be cold or done whilst running?
Any other tips tricks of how to locate and fix must be much appreciated


Thanks for reading and apologies in advance if I have posted in the incorrect section.

DaZzZzA said:

Hi All


Cannot believe I've only just come across this forum


Looking forward to having a good read through


Wondered if there anyone on here that could help me out?


A few weeks ago I noticed oil on the drive under the car and upon lifting the bonnet I saw that there's oil All over the engine when driven you can smell it burning and occasionally can see some smoke


There's too much oil too possibly see where the leak is so was seeking any advice :S


Is it possible too wash the engine off?
If so what's best too use?
Does the engine need to be cold or done whilst running?
Any other tips tricks of how to locate and fix must be much appreciated


Thanks for reading and apologies in advance if I have posted in the incorrect section.

Click to expand...

hi DaZzZzA (like that ain't annoying to write )

:wave: welcome to FF!

right, first thing is first, make sure that both your oil filler cap and dipstick are in and have the o-rings fitted to them! stupid suggestion but i've known them not to be fitted correctly/at all.

secondly, the next part to check is the rocker cover gasket and relevant seals in the rocker cover. pretty uncommon on nearly every engine bar the 1.2! the 1.2s were prone to the rocker cover gaskets not sealing properly almost from new.

which engine do you have? if we know we can give a little more 'model specific' help.

Hi Rich,


ye I know always tough to find a username no one else using lol


Thanks for the reply really appreciate it,


I will check those today and yeah it is a 1.2 52 Plate.


Thanks again

DaZzZzA said:

Hi Rich,


ye I know always tough to find a username no one else using lol


Thanks for the reply really appreciate it,


I will check those today and yeah it is a 1.2 52 Plate.


Thanks again

Click to expand...

took a look on ePER (Fiats parts catalog) for you so i hope the image below will help out. [click on the image to enlarge]



its not the same as i remember the 1.2 of years gone by, which means that 1) its not as easy to fix and 2) it may well not be as common place as i first thought... BUT having said that i believe that item 2 may very well be the culprit. its labelled as 'Head gasket' but its actually the rocker cover gasket. my money is on it leaking across the edge i have highlighted in green, which as you look at the engine is the edge which is just above the exhaust manifold.

feel free to take it down to your local supermarket and jet wash the oil from your engine... try to steer clear of directly jet washing any electrical connectors and especially the alternator, it can get into them and cause all sorts of issues. the soap they use would be sufficient to shift fresh oil to allow you to source the origin of the leak over a few days of use.

other places oil can get out are 8, 13 or 15. although chances of oil from these points getting onto the exhaust and burning like you described are slim.

i trust you will check the o-rings of dipstick and filler cap (10 & 11 of picture below) also the oil MAYBE from 2 & 3



sorry for waffling... start with the jetwash and checking of the o-rings of dipstick and filler cap and see how you get on... dont forget to come back and let us know what you find you might help someone else , and this place is the only human contact some of us get

Oil all over the engine you say. Right up to the top? then good chance it is the rocker gasket. (cheap fix) However its best to give it a jet wash then keep and eye on it to try and confirm where the oil is coming from.

wow took a few days away from pc to scratch head and think and come back to this


wasn't expecting this thanks very much I will give the jet wash a try then start checking these 1 by 1 the head gasket was only done 14 months ago so hope not that,


Will report back this weekend thanks again for all the feedback much appreciated

Thanks for replies guys

I have cleaned engine off and u are exactly right rich it's spitting out when revved from the right hand edge or your green line

I have got a rocker cover gasket being delivered today from europarts

Is it an easy replace?

Remove spark plugs

Undo large Alan key bolts

Then replace gasket?

Thanks for all the replies guys appreciate it

richydraper said:

took a look on ePER (Fiats parts catalog) for you so i hope the image below will help out. [click on the image to enlarge]

View attachment 132675

its not the same as i remember the 1.2 of years gone by, which means that 1) its not as easy to fix and 2) it may well not be as common place as i first thought... BUT having said that i believe that item 2 may very well be the culprit. its labelled as 'Head gasket' but its actually the rocker cover gasket. my money is on it leaking across the edge i have highlighted in green, which as you look at the engine is the edge which is just above the exhaust manifold.

feel free to take it down to your local supermarket and jet wash the oil from your engine... try to steer clear of directly jet washing any electrical connectors and especially the alternator, it can get into them and cause all sorts of issues. the soap they use would be sufficient to shift fresh oil to allow you to source the origin of the leak over a few days of use.

other places oil can get out are 8, 13 or 15. although chances of oil from these points getting onto the exhaust and burning like you described are slim.

i trust you will check the o-rings of dipstick and filler cap (10 & 11 of picture below) also the oil MAYBE from 2 & 3

View attachment 132679

sorry for waffling... start with the jetwash and checking of the o-rings of dipstick and filler cap and see how you get on... dont forget to come back and let us know what you find you might help someone else , and this place is the only human contact some of us get

Click to expand...

Hi. Just new on the forum here and don't mean to hijack the thread but I've a 1.2 stilo and was getting engine fault showing misfire cylinder 1. I got a new coil and was set to replace it today but when I in un-bolted it I found the plug and coil was covered in oil. Is this a major problem or should I be ok just cleaning it off and refitting?? Only have the car since sept it's a 03 1.2 with 144k kms on it.

Thanks for any help

Meant to say could this be the same gasket problem but leaking inside the cylinder??

DaZzZzA said:

Thanks for replies guys

I have cleaned engine off and u are exactly right rich it's spitting out when revved from the right hand edge or your green line

I have got a rocker cover gasket being delivered today from europarts

Is it an easy replace?

Remove spark plugs

Undo large Alan key bolts

Then replace gasket?

Thanks for all the replies guys appreciate it

Click to expand...

If you're replacing item 2 in the pics above, then no, its not an easy job. It means timing belt off before being able to remove the head extension.

Hi thanks for the reply yeah I've had a go today

Took me 2 hours

I stripped all down

Paint marked the timing belt then removed from top wheel only

Removed rocker

Cleaned surfaces from old gasket

Built back up and WAS running fine

However now the engine warning light came on

Then tried to start and it revved by itself none stop had to switch off

And now it won't turn over and clock has reset

Anyone got any idea what to do next I'm stuck

You've probably got the timing out a few teeth as you need locking tools to line it all up. Paint method doesn't really work on these engines as the belt needs to be tensioned with the cam sprocket loose.

Or you've maybe disturbed something electrical.

Was 1 tooth out

Took back off and moved back 1 tooth

Ran software no warnings found

Thanks for replies guys

Seems good at minute touch wood lol