Technical Oil leak or burning oil

RaulCarnahan · Aug 27, 2011

I had to add oil to my car yesterday as it was down to minimum.
Im wondering if there is a leak or is it buring oil.

On the engine there seems to be really oily above the oil filter area. But on the drive where the car is always parked I can't see any oil stains can anyone help me find out whats up?
I've added some pictures to show what I mean

thanks

RaulCarnahan · Oct 8, 2011

Bumping this as the leak has gotten worse and I can't seem to figure out where it is. Anyone have any ideas? I am only guessing its from that area as the oil spot is underneath the oil filter area.

dumbledore · Oct 8, 2011

Usually they leak from the rocker cover but that looks OK on your car. It cannot be the oil filter as the oil on the engine is above it. There may be a oil lost from the head gasket. So check for oil in the coolant. If you leak a lot of oil you should see oil were you park so I suppose you either burn it or it gets lost from the head gasket. Check for blue smoke and signs of head gasket failure.

RaulCarnahan · Oct 8, 2011

It is definetly leaking as now there is a small puddle where I park.
I have already bought a rocker gasker to replace it, just to be on the safe side that it isn't that leaking. Will change that when I get the time.

I will have a look for oil in the coolant. Not sure where the leak could be from though as the engine is quite wet from oil in the area above the oil filter as you can see on the photos.

Hope I get it sorted soon.
Thanks for the help

Andy Monty · Oct 8, 2011

get a can of degreaser and clean the engine then run the car and see if you can locate the source of the leak...

Nb dont do this on a tarmac drive way

thelad · Oct 8, 2011

I cant see any oil on the photos? Or is it just my phone screen that i cant see it on?

thelad · Oct 8, 2011

Sorry was my phone, i see the oil now, looks like its comeing from the exhaust manifold.

colinf1 · Oct 8, 2011

Some petrol & washing up liquid in a squirty bottle and a toothbrush is far cheaper than engine degreaser!

Looks like its leaking from head

fingers99 · Oct 8, 2011

Parafin is cheaper still. But for convenience, I'd use pound shop spray on degreaser.

dumbledore · Oct 8, 2011

thelad said:
Sorry was my phone, i see the oil now, looks like its coming from the exhaust manifold.

This is what I saw too. But obviously the oil cannot come from the exhaust manifold so the bit just under the manifold is the head gasket which can leak. The rocker cover looks dry at least from the front. I would check that the rear is dry too. Also the cam seal may be leaking from the front so worth removing the cam-belt cover to have a look. There is an oil seal on the other side of the cam where the ignition is.

But I would say if there is oil on the floor most likely from what I see to be some problem with the sump. They tend to rust through. The oil under the exhaust manifold is normal deposits over the years.

thelad · Oct 8, 2011

You can get oil comeing from exhaust manifold but its uncommon and would be smokeing, id go with combination of oil leaks and probliy the sump when the oils hot, a good steam clean of the engine would be best thing but ur electrics wont like it

best thing iv found for oil leak cleaning is paint thinners in a spray or castrol as40 aerosol

Andy Monty · Oct 9, 2011

Can i just raise the obvious point that Petrol isn't the safest way to degrease anything especially if your spraying it, one spark caused by static discharge or someone walking past with a fag... and it could be good bye car and eyebrows... If your lucky.... If your unlucky you will be spending time in the local burns unit...

tinytim · Oct 9, 2011

the tiny leak on the pix would not account for a puddles on the floor; leaking sump most likely

RaulCarnahan · Oct 9, 2011

Ok i've had a look and I can't see any oil in the coolant.
Im dreading that it might be head gasket too but I hope it isnt.

This is what I saw too. But obviously the oil cannot come from the exhaust manifold so the bit just under the manifold is the head gasket which can leak. The rocker cover looks dry at least from the front. I would check that the rear is dry too. Also the cam seal may be leaking from the front so worth removing the cam-belt cover to have a look. There is an oil seal on the other side of the cam where the ignition is.

But I would say if there is oil on the floor most likely from what I see to be some problem with the sump. They tend to rust through. The oil under the exhaust manifold is normal deposits over the years.

This is what it could be too as the little holes on the side of the lower cambelt cover seem to be dripping oil out of there. If the weather is ok tomorrow, I will change the rocker cover. I will also take off the cambelt covers to check the situation of the cam seal.

Mudgy · Oct 22, 2011

Seems to be a common problem...your pics could be my car! I have changed the cam cover gasket and I'm still getting a little weep of oil in the same place as you, and others I have read on here.

I think its time to sell the car and never allow a fiat to darken your garage door again...thats my plan anyway. I could live with the little leak, but I assume it is only going to get worse and the bit that gets me most is that when I set the air intake to draw air from outside I am breathing in what appears to be burnt oil. Not good. This is the first Fiat I've owned and I should have known better. They are rubbish

RaulCarnahan · Oct 22, 2011

I've done the rocker gasket today. hopefully the leak will be fixed now.
While I was doing this, I discovered that the plastic part connected to it (something to do with injecton I think) had snapped on its lower part. So now it rests on the rocker cover. Anyone know how to change the part and what its called or part number?

Ziggy122 · Oct 23, 2011

there is lots of plastic Bits....

Piks would help

ziggy

colinf1 · Oct 23, 2011

Is it the part that holds all the wires for the injectors?

I think they break on most of them, mine are held in with a few cable ties, does the job!

RaulCarnahan · Oct 23, 2011

colinf1 said:
Is it the part that holds all the wires for the injectors?

yeah thats the onei think, its like a long one going along the rockercover.

RaulCarnahan · Oct 23, 2011

marked it with red arrow

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