Hi All I need to collate as much info as I can regarding oil leaks around the turbo and would like to hear from anybody else who has had this problem.

The story so far: Purchased a Fiat Ducato 180 xlwb in Vanworld Chesterfield in Jan 2014. A few minor niggles which were fixed under warranty during the first year. (new rubber seal around drivers door, and the rear doors open alarm always going off when cornering). Took it for its first service in December 2014 and was informed there was an oil and the rear of the engine was covered in oil (clean). Took it to a main dealer who said it was the feed pipe to the turbo. New pipe ordered but it did not stop the oil leak. Finally diagnosed the the oil was coming from the seal below the turbo. New seal and turbo fitted. Van was off road for 2 weeks but the dealer did give me a swb ducato 100 which was restricted to 60mph.

A few days ago the van was parked on a steep hill and it had been raining. I noticed a light sheen of oil going down the hill. I switched on ignition and only 2 of the oil dots came up on the dash instead of the normal 5. I could not be sure though if the oil on the road was from my van.

As the service intervals are 30k, my van is coming up to doing 45k and I thought I would do a oil & filter change. Put the van over the pit and low and behold the rear of the engine is sopping wet with oil from the turbo right down to the sump. The oil has even gone onto the drive shafts which is worrying if the oil gets into the shafts and starts breaking up the grease.

The van itself runs ok with no warning lights, but its at the back of my mind that it could break down. I am due to go from Cornwall to France, Belgium, Holland & Germany next week which is a round trip of 1700 miles.

I know from reading the forum that other users have also had to have turbos changed at low mileages and would like to hear from you.

It now means another trip to the dealers to see what they are going to do. I bought a new van so that I wouldnt have these problems. RANT OVER. :bang:

It would seem that the new seal/gasket fitted to the turbo oil exit may have failed or perhaps was fitted badly. I would doubt you would need a new turbo unless something is cracked. Replacing the seal/gasket should be an easy job and not take too much time. I'd get it looked at before the trip - if the leak gets worse, you could empty the sump....

oigle said:

It would seem that the new seal/gasket fitted to the turbo oil exit may have failed or perhaps was fitted badly. I would doubt you would need a new turbo unless something is cracked. Replacing the seal/gasket should be an easy job and not take too much time. I'd get it looked at before the trip - if the leak gets worse, you could empty the sump....

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I have a 2013 Bessacarr motorhome which has the 150 Multijet, It developed a bad oil leak at 8,000 miles, the dealer tried replacing turbo feed pipe and seals, but finally replaced the turbo.


Turbo leaking again at 14,640 miles, we are waiting for a new turbo to come from Milan, it appears the dealer contacted Fiat about the turbo leaking again and were told not to fit another refurbished one which is normally supplied for warranty work, but to order a new one from Milan.


Two turbos in 14,000 mile something's wrong somewhere !

FM02MZO said:

I have a 2013 Bessacarr motorhome which has the 150 Multijet, It developed a bad oil leak at 8,000 miles, the dealer tried replacing turbo feed pipe and seals, but finally replaced the turbo.


Turbo leaking again at 14,640 miles, we are waiting for a new turbo to come from Milan, it appears the dealer contacted Fiat about the turbo leaking again and were told not to fit another refurbished one which is normally supplied for warranty work, but to order a new one from Milan.


Two turbos in 14,000 mile something's wrong somewhere !

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Wow!!! Something very funny there. Wonder what went wrong with the turbos. Can understand the feed pipes leaking but the turbo itself is most unusual. Have had a lot to do with turbos over the years and never heard of that. Would have to have a split/crack in the inner body of the turbo for it to leak like that. Have seen seals go, but that pours oil into the inlet/exhaust system, not down the side of the motor. I'd be interested to know what the actual fault was and what caused the failure.
Seems the OP may need a new turbo after all if that is a common fault. Hope mine hangs together!!!
Ian.

I had a turbo ant some modified variable vein electronic thingy that I can't remember the name of, but due to water ingress issues 16 month back,
No oil issues, not heard of any with the other couriers running 180's mate.
Daft question but was it defo the turbo or pipes its coming from?

Not something silly like an oil cap/seal or oil feed/breather pipe up above or to the side working its way down,

rolopolo said:

I had a turbo ant some modified variable vein electronic thingy that I can't remember the name of, but due to water ingress issues 16 month back,
No oil issues, not heard of any with the other couriers running 180's mate.
Daft question but was it defo the turbo or pipes its coming from?

Not something silly like an oil cap/seal or oil feed/breather pipe up above or to the side working its way down,

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As a retired motor mechanic I can confirm in our case that it was actually from the turbo and non of the above

Latest update: New Turbo was fitted on Feb 23rd this year with 34k on the clock. It was the seal that the turbo sits on that was faulty. I was informed that this seal comes with the turbo and is NOT available without having a new turbo !!!!!

Before they fitted a new turbo they changed the pipe that feeds the oil which I believe is under pressure, but this did not work. When the last new turbo was changed I checked under the van about 4 weeks later and it was all dry and everything looked nice and new. So something has happened in the last 8 weeks. I have done approx 10k since the turbo as changed.

There has been no loss of power and the turbo sounds okay. I have spoken to the dealer regarding this and they remember the van and said it will be okay to travel to Germany etc and to take it in on my return on 1st June. the oil seems to have sprayed against the bulkhead from just below the turbo and seeped downwards but not enough to cause drips.

To the bloke with the 2013 motorhome: I would not have let the dealer fit a recon turbo if the vehicle is under warranty.

I also know that there have been 3 different changes to the pressure inlet pipe on my year & model of van as the dealer did not know which was on mine and I had to take it in for them to see.

From the feedback I have had so far, me thinks there is more to do with this than fiat are telling me.

I will keep you all updated.

Pasty007 said:

I was informed that this seal comes with the turbo and is NOT available without having a new turbo !!!!!

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If you're talking the return seal then they are talking bull.


I assume you're not talking the manifold gasket oil there would be worrisome.


Any and all seals turbo related would be available from iveco anyway.

If you're talking about where the rigid return pipe bolts onto the core then that gasket will be a totally standard garret gasket the same across hundreds of vehicles going back 30 years at least.

Hi ecunotemu, thanks for your reply. Everything ABOVE the bottom half of the turbo is bone dry. Can you tell me what No: 6 on the 2nd diagram is ? Me thinks the oil is coming from the inlet pipe which I believe is under pressure. Both the main engine block and the bulkhead opposite is wet with clean oil. To be honest it looks just like somebody has sprayed it with a can of WD40.

Just got back from a 1400 mile round trip to Germany, van back in dealers as leaking oil from the turbo AGAIN. New turbo on order AGAIN. 3rd turbo for a van that is only 16 months old and done 44000 miles. Starting to worry what will happen when the warranty runs out.