Save up to 15% with Adrian Flux insurance!

Technical engine oil leak, cracked block!?

Currently reading:
Technical engine oil leak, cracked block!?

N

noname

New member
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
5
Points
1
Location
on the planet Earth
I have a problem with my fiat brava 1.4 S 12V. To be exact I have an oil leak that is coming from front a bit under the valve lid where the dip stick holder is mounted to the block. I hoped it was only the valve lid gasket but after I took a closer look it pretty much seems to me there is a crack around the dip stick holder screw on the block. I am not sure what part of the engine it is. Should be the Cylinder head or the cylinder block, right? I am wondering how this problem could be solved. Does this part need to be changed or is there any other solution? Some kind of soldering or using a special glue. I live in Oxford, UK, so I am looking for a cheap car part shop across Oxfordshire or on the internet where I could buy the required parts. Used parts would also be fine I guess. I also am looking for a cheap and reliable garage that reapairs fiat cars. Does anyone know how much will it cost (approx.) for me separating the parts and the labour and what part(s) do I need to change / repair exactly if the above mentioned area is cracked?

Thanks in advance.
 
sounds like a cracked head. buy a used head and have it fitted. it wont cost you much, expect the total cost to be £150-300 depending on where you get the head from and where you get it fitted. if you get a scrapyard head and get it fitted at a small local independant garage it wont cost a fortune.
 
jug said:
sounds like a cracked head. buy a used head and have it fitted. it wont cost you much, expect the total cost to be £150-300 depending on where you get the head from and where you get it fitted. if you get a scrapyard head and get it fitted at a small local independant garage it wont cost a fortune.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. Do you know a place / palces where I can buy new / reconditioned cylinder head for this car?
 
try scrapyards, you usually get a 30 day warranty. expect to pay £50 for the head, removed and ready to collect.

the main problem with buying a 1.4 head is the issue of finding a good one. since the 1.4 was so prone to oil circulations problems and hence extreme camshaft wear, it is very hard to find a good one. thats where you will need luck on your side. although you can easily enough inspect the camshaft lobes for signs of wear.

regular oil changes and cleaning out the oil pick up pipe makes a big difference to how many miles a 1.4 head will be able to do. so when you buy one make sure the oil ways are cleared in the head and block, and then make sure you keep it well serviced.

try these places:

AC Auto Salvage
The Willows, Mill Lane, Black Bourton, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2PJ
Tel: 07976 535957

Fredrick Smith Vehicle Disposal
15, Forge Place, Bicester, OX27 7QG
Tel: 01869 345116 Mob: 07711 848611

Abingdon Car Breakers
Booths Scrap Yard, Sutton Wick Lane, Drayton, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4HH
Tel: 01235 531650

Berinsfield Car Breakers
Oxford Rd, Dorchester-on-Thames, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 7LY
Tel: 01865 340035

K Passey
Storage Yard, Brook St, Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6LQ
Tel: 01491 838239 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

The Central England Panel Co
Greystones, Burford Rd, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5UY
Tel: 01608 646801 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

Greenwoods of Garsington
Brooklyn, Pettiwell, Garsington, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX44 9BW
Tel: 01865 361204 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

Banbury Motor Spares Ltd
Thorpe Mead,Thorpe Way Ind Est, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 4RZ
Tel: 01295 263672 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

Steve Claridge Motor Salvage
Clare Terrace, South Industrial Estate, Carterton, Oxfordshire OX18 3SL
Tel: 01993 840831 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers
 
jug said:
try scrapyards, you usually get a 30 day warranty. expect to pay £50 for the head, removed and ready to collect.

the main problem with buying a 1.4 head is the issue of finding a good one. since the 1.4 was so prone to oil circulations problems and hence extreme camshaft wear, it is very hard to find a good one. thats where you will need luck on your side. although you can easily enough inspect the camshaft lobes for signs of wear.

regular oil changes and cleaning out the oil pick up pipe makes a big difference to how many miles a 1.4 head will be able to do. so when you buy one make sure the oil ways are cleared in the head and block, and then make sure you keep it well serviced.

try these places:

AC Auto Salvage
The Willows, Mill Lane, Black Bourton, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2PJ
Tel: 07976 535957

Fredrick Smith Vehicle Disposal
15, Forge Place, Bicester, OX27 7QG
Tel: 01869 345116 Mob: 07711 848611

Abingdon Car Breakers
Booths Scrap Yard, Sutton Wick Lane, Drayton, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4HH
Tel: 01235 531650

Berinsfield Car Breakers
Oxford Rd, Dorchester-on-Thames, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 7LY
Tel: 01865 340035

K Passey
Storage Yard, Brook St, Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6LQ
Tel: 01491 838239 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

The Central England Panel Co
Greystones, Burford Rd, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5UY
Tel: 01608 646801 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

Greenwoods of Garsington
Brooklyn, Pettiwell, Garsington, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX44 9BW
Tel: 01865 361204 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

Banbury Motor Spares Ltd
Thorpe Mead,Thorpe Way Ind Est, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 4RZ
Tel: 01295 263672 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers

Steve Claridge Motor Salvage
Clare Terrace, South Industrial Estate, Carterton, Oxfordshire OX18 3SL
Tel: 01993 840831 Car & Commercial Vehicle Dismantlers
Click to expand...


Thanks again. I've been to a garage and they said the labour expect to be around £250 plus the head, but they don't supply parts so I'll have to provide it. They also said there is a special glue or something like this called chemical metal and it worths a try. What you think?
 
yes that may stop the leak, but you have to look at the problem rather than the symptom. the crack is only there because the head has overheated. the head almost always overheats on a 1.4 due to poor oil circulation. no amount of liquid metal will change that. you need to clean out the oil pick up pipe, and the oil flinger bar, allowing oil to circulate around the head again. if you can do that, and fix the leak, then it may last a while. personally i would want a different head because a crack usually means worse things have happened inside the head, such as excessive camshaft lobe wear, affecting valve timing, causing a loss of performance and fuel economy.
 
jug said:
yes that may stop the leak, but you have to look at the problem rather than the symptom. the crack is only there because the head has overheated. the head almost always overheats on a 1.4 due to poor oil circulation. no amount of liquid metal will change that. you need to clean out the oil pick up pipe, and the oil flinger bar, allowing oil to circulate around the head again. if you can do that, and fix the leak, then it may last a while. personally i would want a different head because a crack usually means worse things have happened inside the head, such as excessive camshaft lobe wear, affecting valve timing, causing a loss of performance and fuel economy.
Click to expand...


Thank you again. I'll give this liquid stuff a try anyway. Actually this car is my gf's very first car and not for a long time so I don't want to spend much on it. She probably will run it until the MOT lasts. She only needs it to get to work and vica versa. Fuel economy and performance is not so important, I just don't want to refill the oil every week. :)
 
ah so you want a quick cheap fix that wont last long, that changes everything.

steelseal is not something i would recommend. i havent used it, but any oil additive like this is not a good idea. it will leave deposits in many places, not just the crack, often causing more problems, and rarely fixing the original problem.

at the pound shop they sell epoxy steel glue, but you can get it pretty much anywhere (i've used the brackspur brand and was surprised with how well it worked). its similar to araldite as it comes in 2 seperate tubes, one tube is the atomised steel putty mixed with epoxy resins, the other tube is a hardener. i would try some of that. (first clean the surfaces usung sugar soap or similar)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

AmyMalta
General Rapid coolant leak
Replies
1
Views
202
bugsymike
B
VANZETO
Technical Oil and oil pressure
Replies
0
Views
180
VANZETO
VANZETO
B
Technical Fiat Bravo 182 1.4 Engine swap
Replies
0
Views
416
Bravisimo24
B
H
Technical oil leak 1600 16v
Replies
2
Views
1K
ianFT
I
D
Technical Which oil filter is correct?
Replies
8
Views
3K
jackwhoo
J
Back
Top