Hi guys,

My Abarth has a slight oil leak (a drop or two overnight) which isn't a problem in itself but I would like to get it fixed at some point. My question is, what work needs to be carried out to repair it?

The leak itself is coming from behind the flywheel bell housing and at a guess, I'd say that it is either the crankshaft oil seal, the balance shaft oil seal or an oilway plug leaking. To fix it, what needs to come off? What's worth replacing at the same time? And is it worth changing the diff to a Q2 at the same time as well or can that be carried out seperately? :slayer:

Cheers!

Greggers

Another Abarth on its way to the bin?

Big Black Stilo said:

Another Abarth on its way to the bin?

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Blimey... doom and gloom. Why would a slight oil leak mean it's on the way to the bin?

a thread with Abarth and Oil never has an happy ending!

We like to pull you abarth owners chains Greg..

PNL said:

We like to pull you abarth owners chains Greg..

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Yes you do Phil..

As for the oil leak, my oil pressure is fine, there's no noises from the top or bottom end bearings and my oil consumption is normal for the 2.4... so let's not worry about terminal engine failure just yet

Since switching to Selenia Racing (10w60), the leak has virtually disappeared, so it's not major, I was just wondering what work needs to be carried out to get to the rear oil seal (if it is the crankshaft oil seal) and should be carried out while everything is disassembled.

You can get a fluid you add to your oil to rejuvinate seals but if your going that way check carfully before you do so..it worked for me tho on a previous car I owned..

Ah, that's quite interesting (as Stephen Fry would say). I'll quickly trawl the internet and have a look into it... trying not to get distracted by boobs along the way

Greggers said:

Ah, that's quite interesting (as Stephen Fry would say). I'll quickly trawl the internet and have a look into it... trying not to get distracted by boobs along the way

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boobs.... hmmmmmm.......

anyways, i think quentin wilson reccomends stuff like this all the time in his articles, look up some of his articles as well.


and some more boobs

I assume it's only a temporary fix though, yeah? If so, I'll probably pass on it and just get it fixed at some point in the near future when I have some dosh laying around...

Greggers said:

My Abarth has a slight oil leak (a drop or two overnight) which isn't a problem in itself but I would like to get it fixed at some point. My question is, what work needs to be carried out to repair it?

The leak itself is coming from behind the flywheel bell housing and at a guess, I'd say that it is either the crankshaft oil seal, the balance shaft oil seal or an oilway plug leaking. To fix it, what needs to come off? What's worth replacing at the same time? And is it worth changing the diff to a Q2 at the same time as well or can that be carried out seperately? :slayer:

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That's a pretty big job and it's something I'd personally want to avoid if the leak is only minimal.

As you've discovered, the type of oil used can have a big effect on oil seals (assuming the seal is not actually damaged or defective) and leaks can start on a change from mineral to fully synthetic (and vice versa). Seals should last longer with a fully synthetic oil as the seal is kept clean but on an old engine the cleaning process can start a leak (although it may well seal again with time)

I'd avoid 'magic' oil additives if I was you as in my experience they can be terminal

Why not just change to semi-synthetic oil, and drive happily ever after?

Argonought said:

That's a pretty big job and it's something I'd personally want to avoid if the leak is only minimal.

As you've discovered, the type of oil used can have a big effect on oil seals (assuming the seal is not actually damaged or defective) and leaks can start on a change from mineral to fully synthetic (and vice versa). Seals should last longer with a fully synthetic oil as the seal is kept clean but on an old engine the cleaning process can start a leak (although it may well seal again with time)

I'd avoid 'magic' oil additives if I was you as in my experience they can be terminal

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Agreed!

Why would using semi-synthetic be better than fully synthetic? Serious question!

Greggers said:

Agreed!

Why would using semi-synthetic be better than fully synthetic? Serious question!

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Just speaking of experience from the 3 Ritmo Abarth TwinCams that's been in the family - the engines are still good, but their bodies corrode faster than you can spell 'galvanize'. After they started leaking, dripping and damping oil in different ways and order we always cured it with semi-synthetic oil. They stopped drinking oil (like the Stilo Abarth seems to do - as I've read) and stopped leaking. The semi-synthetic practically feels thicker - hence tightening seals here and there, and does not have any problems in -20 C or +30. And believe me, there aren't any Ritmo (Strada) Abarths around that's been Sunday-driven. There are propably oil quality differences, but they should meet certain specifications.

I'm an architect, not an oil-engineer, so I speak of experience only.

Greggers said:

Agreed!

Why would using semi-synthetic be better than fully synthetic? Serious question!

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I'm sure Morten was simply comparing semi to mineral - and I certainly agree if that's the case although I suppose it's very much a matter of debate if the engine is already worn (abused, neglected etc.)

Fully synthetic is surely the only way to go if starting with an engine in perfect condition (including oil seals) as it's likely to keep it that way.

Anyhoooo.... enough about oil

So does anyone know what work needs to be carried out to change the rear main oil seal and also what I should get done at the same time anyway? Clutch? Flywheel? Q2 Diff? etc etc...

On 99% of cars its an engine out job to replace the rear main seal ..lift the sump and crank.. flywheel off to get at it..so its going to be an expensive operation ..you have to hope I suppose the leak doesnt get any worse and it naffs up the clutch through contamination..I know tho through previous experience the stuff I used did the job for the 50K miles I kept the car for after using it ..only YOU can make your mind up if you want to go down that route or stump up the cost of removing the engine/box just to replace the seal..now if your going to do extensive work on the engine anyway then thats a different matter as the seal will then be high on your agenda for replacement along with checking those all important big end bearing shells

PNL said:

..you have to hope I suppose the leak doesnt get any worse and it naffs up the clutch through contamination..

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That of course would be the main reason to consider changing it - as there's little point in replacing an oil contaminated clutch without also replacing the leaking seal.

Just out of interest - is it definately a engine oil leak and not a leaking clutch slave cylinder ?

To replace the rear crank oil seal you are looking at gearbox out, flywheel and clutch removed then it should be a case of extracting the old seal and fitting the new one which could require a special tool of somekind. If its a selespeed model you will need dealer examiner to carry out alignment afterwards.

If it were me i would replace the clutch and slave cylinder as the abarth slave cylinder are pi$$ poor quality and it may be worth looking into getting the flywheel skimmed to reduce some weight there.

Cheers for that! Really handy info there... especially about the flywheel skimming :worship:

The leak is definitely engine oil and not brake/clutch fluid. It's got the dirty tinge and changed colour with the oil change I did... plus it smells like oil and not brake fluid