General Abarth - Dripping Oil

[spyshagg]

Hi

my abarth was dry clean of oil underneath, not a drop, but a few weeks after taking it to fiat to change the distribution kit, it looks like this and it seems like the oil is coming down by that black plastic thing (Red arrows).

They say it might be the sealant that connects the crankshaft to the gearbox but they can't know for sure without dismantling the gearbox... They used the alternative method to change the distribution (not removing the engine, just tilting it).
What are your opinions based on the pics?


On a happy note, it only used 1L in 2200miles which is way bellow what the manual says, despite the leak.
thanks

 

[Davren]

What do you mean by distribution kit?

If you mean the clutch, was the flywheel removed?

The flywheel bolts need to be cleaned, and a sealing compound applied to the threads or engine oil can leak from the end of the crankshaft into the clutch housing, exactly where the oil appears to be leaking from in your photo.

 

[spyshagg]

no, I mean the cam belt was changed, we call it distribution here. The engine was tilted you see, not removed, and suddenly there's a bit of oil leaking from the opposite side.

So if it is what you say, how bad is it on a scale 1 to 10?

 

[Davren]

Ahhhh...

From your photo, it doesn't look very much oil and it doesn't look very fresh.

Clean it off completely and see if it comes back and how quickly.

I can't think of any reason why replacing the cambelt would cause an oil leak from the gearbox or rear of the engine, even if the engine was tilted.

 

[spyshagg]

oh it is fresh... It doesn't seem to shine because of the angle and the flash. Its fresh and transparent like new oil (only 2.2kmiles on the oil). It drips to the floor everyday.


thanks!

 

[Greggers]

Join the club!

I've got exactly the same oil leak on my 2.4 and have had fgor quite some time. My mechanic says that it's most likelt the crankshaft oil seal where the leak is coming from and that it'll cost a few quid to fix. I figure I'll get it sorted when my clutch is dead and the whole lots has to come out anyway... then I'll get a Q2 fitted as well

ANyway, the long and short of it is, I've had the leak for over a year now without any issues

 

[spyshagg]

great then! weird as to why this happened after they tilted the engine.


You can fit a Q2 in the abarth?

 

[Davren]

What's a Q2.

 

[Greggers]

Re: Dripping Oil

A Q2 is the semi locking limited slip differential that was fitted as an option on the 147 and 156 GTA's. The Stilo Abarth uses the same standard diff as the GTA's and therefore, the optional LSD will also fit. number of people have fitted them, namely Dax and "the Greeks"

I think they're about £250 with labour on top taking it up to £400-500 fitted.

 

[Yellow Peril]

Re: Dripping Oil

Interesting. Do you really think the Stilo (even after re-map) produces enough power to need an LSD?

Off topic, but have you done any work on whether an alternative final drive would be worth fitting, to paly to the torquey nature of the 2.4 and reduce revs when cruising? One of our Greek friends suggested the final drive from a Lancia Thesis would do the trick...

 

[spyshagg]

Re: Dripping Oil

ok but what about the selespeed then? its programmed for 5 gears. I asked the greek friend about it but no answer on how to change the selespeed.