Technical TA Oil leak high up on front of engine

[Wasted Spark]

Some of you may have seen my other post about a suspected DMF failure. Car is a 2016 TA 4x4 Cross. I'm busy slowly stripping the car down while I wait for new parts to sort the DMF and seeing as so much has to be disturbed, I'm really trying to also tick off a lot of while-you-are-in-there type jobs. Something that was immediately obvious as soon as I removed the sump guard is that I have a fairly significant engine oil leak. Lots of accumulation on the front of the sump but I can see that the front the engine is quite wet with oil right up the head. With the engine cover removed, there was some oil traces around the coil pack area at the back of the engine on the top but also some dripping off the underside of what I assume is the cam sensor or something relating the exhaust cam on the front right hand side of the engine.

I know the chain cover is a common failure point on these but I would assume that would culminate in oil mainly down that side of the engine. So my thoughts turn to the cam cover gasket but it doesn't quite tally with the oil around the coils. But perhaps that oil is a result of a little spill during filling and it's a red herring? It is right next to the filler neck.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I dont about your issues. Its easy to dump oil on the engine when fillingif you get a glog in that rubber gaslet thing round the fillerneck. It gets every where and round the coils would be classic. Check the induction pipes as it could be post turbo leaks due to turbo bearings. It might be worth overhauling the turbo whilee its acccessible anyway?

 

[Eltezz]

I have only ever heard of the timing cover leaking but I guess it could start anywhere if a seal or gasket gives up. If it were mine, I would probably strip it enough to be able to completely clean all oil off and then run it for a while and revisit that area - easier to spot a leak that way.

Doesn't help you much if you are trying to do it in one go though. Unless something is obvious, of course.

 

[Panda IIs]

Does it tally with oil consumption indicated by the dip stick? i.e. not just a spill since the collar around the filler cap is more cosmetic than functional.

 

[Wasted Spark]

Thanks for your thoughts all. The more I've looked at it, the more I think the stuff around the coils is probably from spilling. The more significant deposits do seem to align with a leak around the cam cover. I think my inclination is to leave this for now as there is nothing particularly removed that cannot easily be removed later anyway and will allow me to run the engine and see if I can spot where it's coming from. At present I can't, as the engine is resting on a jack with the gearbox removed. Appreciate the input, plenty of food for thought.

 

[Wasted Spark]

Does it tally with oil consumption indicated by the dip stick? i.e. not just a spill since the collar around the filler cap is more cosmetic than functional.

Weirdly, the oil level on the dipstick is bang on max. That doesn't tally with the huge amounts of still wet oil on the rest of the engine.

 

[Eltezz]

Maybe from the oil filter being changed? Oil everywhere on the rhs of the engine if the filter was full of oil? Just guessing…