Oil Leak

Dr.Millah

Hey guys,
Wondering if i could get a little help. My 00 Corsa b is leaking oil. Where i park it at home has a number of oil stains on the road under the engine area and one night i was parked with the engin on for 10 or 20mins or so and i moved off and saw the patch on the road, got out and checked it and it was oil.

I checked the level on the dipstick tonight and it doesn't even show up as having any oil at all. not a mark on the stick.

I could buy more oil tomorrow but it will be pissed out again and is expensive. Is there any usual places oil could be leaking. Sump maybe? lose bolt?

Or is it more serious than that?

Thanks for any help, much appreciated.

Niall

Seth Brundle

It could be coming from anywhere really. Have you looked for oil on the engine to indicate a rough area?

crosstownk

Make sure you've enough oil before driving it again.


Take kbannon's advice - look for where the leak is coming from. Be very aware of how quickly you are loosing oil. Keep a supply with you.

DublinDilbert

As the others have said have a good look around...

I saw one corsa of similar year to yours, and the oil pressure sensor was gone and it was leaking oil via this... It would drip oil when the engine was running...

its very easy to check, as the oil pressure sensor is on the front side of the engine, up fairly high, from memory...

Dr.Millah

Hey, it looks like the area around the bolts under the engine is where its coming from. Its oily around all of them.

if i was to buy oil in the morning at a garage which should i get and do i simply just pore it into the oil hole at the top of the engine?

Seth Brundle

Have you an owners manual? It will suggest oil types and where to pour it.
Regarding the location you mention - I haven't a clue where you are talking about. What bolts?

Dr.Millah

DublinDilbert wrote: »

As the others have said have a good look around...

I saw one corsa of similar year to yours, and the oil pressure sensor was gone and it was leaking oil via this... It would drip oil when the engine was running...

its very easy to check, as the oil pressure sensor is on the front side of the engine, up fairly high, from memory...

thanks for the reply, how would i check to see if the sensor was gone?

crosstownk

Dr.Millah wrote: »

Hey, it looks like the area around the bolts under the engine is where its coming from. Its oily around all of them.

Bolts - too vague. Any chance of a pic or two?

Dr.Millah

yea i took a few pics. transfering them from my phone now. will be up in a few mins

Dr.Millah

Earth Worm Jim

The Oil Switch - (Oil Pressure Sensor) is a good start on the Corsa b - mine use to go every couple of years - cheap to buy (10 euro) and easy to fit - its located at the top front of the engine looks a little like a spark plug with wires coming out of it. But this would not empty the oil completely

The bolts on the bottom of the engine are the sump bolts and would indicate a sump gasket problem??

Them bolts in the pic are the gearbox bellhousing bolts I think and nothing to do with engine oil I think?

After seeing the pic's I wouldn't say it was either if the above - could be head gasket - I would bring it to a garage though just to be sure??

crosstownk

Pics are close ups - not enough to show the location in the engine bay. But from what I see I'd say its coming from the rear crankshaft oil seal and leaking out through the bell housing. That's what it appears from by looking at the pics - unless it's leaking from higher up. But as I say, a wider angle shot might be of benefit.

Dr.Millah

i cant get any better shots with my phone unfortunately. Is this a big job to fix? how much would it cost any idea?

crosstownk

If it is a rear shaft seal then, yes, it'll be big enough. The gearbox will have to be removed from the engine in order to repair it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it is, but I'd like to see a picture taken from a greater distance before I call it. Maybe others here who are more familiar with BMW (E92.../Ned.../junkyard...?) might be able to shed better light............

JHMEG

Is the oil filter loose?

Dr.Millah

Nope, its tight, but i dont thing the problem will have anything to do with the cap as its leaking from the bottem not evaperating or something

crosstownk

JHMEG wrote: »

Is the oil filter loose?

Possible - but are they not the cassette type filter that's mounted high up in the engine bay. You may have a point, the leak has the appearance of coming from higher up than the crank seal - everything is covered in oil, so maybe it's come the distance.

Dr. Millah - in daytime light, check for evidence of this oil leak - see how far up it runs.

Dr.Millah

I have checked the area but i cant see any evidence of the oil coming from higher up. seems to be just in that area

Seth Brundle

crosstownk wrote: »

Maybe others here who are more familiar with BMW (E92.../Ned.../junkyard...?) might be able to shed better light............

Corsa's were made by Opel/Vauxhall!

crosstownk

kbannon wrote: »

Corsa's were made by Opel/Vauxhall!

Seth Brundle

crosstownk wrote: »

Have you read the thread?

Dr.Millah wrote: »

Hey guys,
Wondering if i could get a little help. My 00 Corsa b is leaking oil. ...

crosstownk wrote: »

... Maybe others here who are more familiar with BMW (E92.../Ned.../junkyard...?) might be able to shed better light............

JHMEG

kbannon wrote: »

Corsa's were made by Opel/Vauxhall!

And E92 is a Volvo owner, and has never owned a BMW.

crosstownk

kbannon wrote: »

Have you read the thread?

Sorry - Too many threads/forums all at once! And too much speed reading!

Makes me more inclined to suspect the rear crank seal!

crosstownk

Sorry lads, I was elsewhere and got totally mixed up. My mistake - apologies all round.

Esel

Dr.Millah wrote: »

I checked the level on the dipstick tonight and it doesn't even show up as having any oil at all. not a mark on the stick.

I could buy more oil tomorrow but it will be pissed out again and is expensive. Niall

So is a new crankshaft! Buy a 5 litre bottle.

Dr.Millah

Update.
Tightened the bolts around the leak. Topped up the oil with a full bottle. Still dripping out unfortunately.
Spoke to a macanic friend today, he suggested it could be the sump lining/seal gasket. Cant remember the exact words he used.

If this was the problem does anyone know how much it would cost to repair?

thanks for the help.
Niall

Seth Brundle

If access to the sump is clear then I would presume about two hours. Cost will be dependant on the hourly rate and gasket..

crosstownk

Dr.Millah wrote: »

Update.
Tightened the bolts around the leak. Topped up the oil with a full bottle. Still dripping out unfortunately.

Tightening the bolts will not solve the problem. If it is a faulty sump gasket, tightening the bolts may actually cause the gasket to split even more which will aggravate the problem. Get a mechanic to repair the leak - if it's pi$$ing out as fast as you say, it won't be long before oil top ups cost you more than the repair.

Dr.Millah

Thanks, il book it in soon. The mechenic actaully was the one to advice telling me to tighten them. The 1litre i put in today should last a week or two at least before its causing trouble again.
that is of course if things dont get worce.

Thanks again guys

meathstevie

Don't be looking for a new engine the day after tomorrow...if the oil poors out that quickly you want to get the gasket replaced asap and not two weeks from now. Worn gaskets don't improve, they can only get a lot worse in no time. The part itself is cheap as chips ( with the price of spuds nowadays probably cheaper ) and fitting will take any half decent mechanic not long at all ( 1 - 1.5 hours ). A new engine and fitting will probaly cost you more than the car's value and you'll still have to buy the gasket for the replacement.

Dr.Millah

OH of course, im booking it into the garage in the morning and taking the earliest time they have. Thanks for the help

woop

mate thats pictures of the gearbox that is drenched in oil............I think if my corsa C is similar to youres the oil filter is up beside top of the engine............it could be as simple as it being out in wrong

if its coming out as much as you say it is you should be able to pinpoint the leak