Oil Leak most likely culprit?

[Mixmasta]

Hey all,

Have just purchased another mk1 Gti cab it's an 88 KJet 'dx' code engine and it has a rather big oil leak coming from somewhere behind the cam belt covers. I'm just wondering whether there are 'usual suspects' to look at given this symptom. I have taken the top cambelt cover off and the belts, side of the engine and covers are caked in oil. Problem is if I clean off the oil and try and find where it's coming from I can't really see as the belts and cogs are throwing the oil all over everywhere again. Ideally, I guess I should take the bottom pulley and lower belt cover off to see more, just a little sceptical about this as I know what will happen if the belt isn't put back on perfectly!. Also, it is very difficult to see whats going on there due to the proximity to the inner wing -especially given that I haven't any ramps to get a good look from underneath. To me (not being massively technically minded) it looked like it was possibly the rocker cover gasket so I have changed that and it hasn't helped at all.

Is there a 'weakness' on that side which is worth looking at?

Any ideas/advice would be greatfully received.

Thanks in advance
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[rubjonny]

camshaft sprocket seal is a good one for this, quite easy to change if you take #1 cam cap off as well.

[K3VWT]

The oil could be coming from any one of three places; camshaft seal, dizzy drive shaft seal or crankshaft seal. The only real way of finding which is to give it a really good clean and have a good look. You can take off the bottom pully (water pump and alt drive) to remove the bottom half of the cover without disturbing the timing belt, but put it back with the belt on without the cover so you can run the engine. By the way, an oil contaminated timing belt is a risk I wouldn't take. You'll need to remove it any way to change the seals so make it a new one!!

[Mixmasta]

Thanks for this info!!! I wasn't aware that you could take the bottom cover off without removing the timing belt pulley so I shall be having another look at this tomorrow!

"By the way, an oil contaminated timing belt is a risk I wouldn't take."

Definately not me either, it's currently off the road due to an electrical problem which is hopefully being resolved on Friday. The plan has always been to try and find the leak(s), fix it, then replace belts once squeeky clean, BTW the fan belt sounds quite nice slipping in the oil too  ... will keep you all informed with the progress. If it is the crankshaft or dizzy seals I take it that this is more than an enthusiastic DIYer can manage - doesn't sound too easy?

Again thanks for the help - tis definately appreciated 

[Mixmasta]

BUGGER!  trying to get the pulleys off but the bolts are solid!!! tried the old wd40 and also heating them slightly but nothing is shifting them - one problems is that I can't keep the pulley from revolving when applying the torque to remove bolts, is there a trick to lock the bottom pulleys from spinning?

[Mixmasta]

update


I managed to sort it by putting a bar through the camshaft pulley and locking it to the inlet manifold  :lol: . This took me a load of time compared to you guys who know what you're doing (most of the day) :redfaced:  even took the bottom pulley off and then tried attacking the water pump pulley WHOOPS! obviously had to reassemble to have a go at those bolts, which were a pain on there own. It's all a learning curve though right  :dontknow:

Thankfully the covers off now and it's all cleaned up, need to wait till tomorrow when the auto electrician sorts my electric prob out so it'll fire, then I can hopefully report the source of the leak (fingers crossed it aint the bad ones) I did notice a couple of things when I was cleaning it up not sure if this will help to identify the source of the leak. There was a pool of oil behind the distributer and rather randomly a 10mm nut  :dontknow:  Also behind the biggest cog (the one at the side of the cambelt tensioner) there's a spacer/shim which is loose(ish), you can rotate this independant to the cog. This doesn't look to be dropping anything but obviously can't really tell until shes spining.

Hopefully will know the extent of the problem tomorrow, but I can say that it's a pretty bad leak as the bottom of the car is CAKED!!

Thanks again for all the help!!!

[Mixmasta]

The auto electrician has been out and has diagnosed the electrical problem as the fusebox so i've PM'd someone who had one for sale, obviously car is a non runner so I can't check out the oil leak fully. One problem though, i'd given it a good clean yesterday with the expectation of getting it running today, only to find it had dropped more oil just through gravity last night. The oil was dripping off the sump plug (which I know isn't leaking) and it looks to be coming from the back of the engine but I can not get a good look. This car has recently had a new head gasket pre me owning it I'm just hoping that this was done properly!! does anyone know whether it could be the headgasket if it's not milking up the oil, also would it be losing coolant?

[Lee_dub]

Id just start from the bottom up mate.  Replace the sump gasket and the oil seal for the dizzy and then go from there

Oh BTW I have a cabby Fusebox for sale if you still need one

[Mixmasta]

Thanks Leedub,

I've bought one yesterday, as long as all's well I should be fine... if it turns out to be a dog i'll PM you. I am going to change the sump gasket tomorrow, there's a really good 'how to' thread which goes through removing / cleaning the oil pump and pick up, think i'll give that a go so will change it then. Is the distributor one easy to do? do I just look for distributor seals?

Just hoping it's not the bottom end seal or head gasket which knowing my luck it will probably be 

[Lee_dub]

The bottom end seal? you on about the crankshaft seal? I would say its more than likely either your sump gasket or your rocker cover gasket mate. both are easy to change.  Ive seen a mk2 with a knackard sump gasket and it was pi$$ing oil everywhere mate.