Technical Twin Air Engine Tray and Oil Change

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Technical Twin Air Engine Tray and Oil Change

field500

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Hi
I have a Panda Twin Air and it had its annual service in January - i have noticed a dark patch on the drive where the car is parked. Now, i have only done about 30 miles or so in 2 months (Covid) so my thinking is when the car was serviced, any oil from the filter change may have been sitting on the plastic engine tray? I do not know if this is removed when an oil change is done at a dealer, or if they have a work around?
I do not think there is an oil leak - the car has been serviced by the same main dealer which i have been using for getting on for 25 years. The car is nearly 5 years old but only has 28k miles.
With the car not been used, there is no chance for rain/snow to wash any spilt oil away which would normally happen with more regular use of the car.
I have noticed that when it rains, the water running off the car/windscreen drips off the plastic tray - again, this could be washing dirt off onto the drive.
Have checked oil level and looks fine - as much as you can tell with the stupid coloured dipstick (why is it not a colour that allows you to see the oil !)
Many thanks
 
Easiest way to check whether it's an ongoing problem is to put a flattened cardboard box underneath when you park it up.
 
Hi Gar074.
Yes, I have done that. A couple of times and nothing on it at all. Which is why I think it's just rainwater running off the tray, washing any accumulated dirt and oil spill onto drive way.
Think the tray forces the rain water to drip off car/tray on same spot on.my drive way.
Just when you twiddling thumbs at weekends (as you can't do much at moment) I convince myself the patch is getting bigger/worse!
Thanks
 
I don't know if I have a similar tray on my 4x4 as you do - mine is more of a sump-guard, but I did get under the car with the snow-foam lance and noticed a lot of oily residue came out.
(I did this by washing it out from the rearside of the sump-guard rather than from the front)
 
It's surprising what one drip of oil can do to your driveway, it makes you think you've a major oil leak.
If you have access to a pressure washer and TFR give the engine and undertray a good wash and the drive, if the issue returns then look for a leak and much easier when everything is clean.
 
A little trick I had a good rate of success with on split crankcase motorbike engines that had a slight leak at the join was to thoroughly degrease the area where the suspect leak is, then degrease it again, and finally spray the area with clear heat reisitant engine lacquer.
Alas with modern car's there is often minimal access, but curing a small leak of oil from a gasket is usually possible with this method
 
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