VW Beetle leaking oil (recent timing belt replaced)

Cuttlefish

Hi all,

So my daughter has a VW Beetle here first car and she sent it into a main VW dealer for a timing belt/ water pump replacement

Cost €595 for this and this included a €95 diagnostic check.

Today my daughter noticed a trail of oil at the parking spot outside work. I checked underneath and noticed quite a lot of moisture/ oil on the bottom side of the engine hope you can view photos

Question... Would this be as a result of the timing belt job? If you think so do we have comeback with the main dealer??

biko

Unlikely but possible. Do bring it back and let them look at it.

Toyotafanboi

What was the diagnostic check for?

Nothing leaking there would have ben moved during timing belt replacement. Most ageing VW yokes have a tendancy to haemorrhage oil.

extra-ordinary_

Hard to see from the photos of the aux belt but does any of the oil look fresh?

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

...Most ageing VW yokes have a tendancy to haemorrhage oil.

Really?

nogoodnamesleft

The 1.8 T engine is known for the cam cover gasket leaking it usually leaks out the back left and flows down the right side. I am assuming it's a 1.6 beetle?

The last photo looks like fresh gasket sealant on what I assume is the sump looks like a finger smudged the overflow.

zg3409

Check the oil level yourself with dipstick. Don't drive if below min. Fill to min with correct oil for car.

Cant really see from photos root cause, but don't drive around with no oil. If car is out of warranty non dealers are typically far cheaper.

I would have expected dealer to let you know if car was leaking oil during engine work, and to check for leaks after work was completed, even if leak was not related to work done.

Esel

zg3409 wrote: »

Check the oil level yourself with dipstick. Don't drive if below min. Fill to min with correct oil for car.

Presume you meant to say max?

Cuttlefish

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

What was the diagnostic check for?

Nothing leaking there would have ben moved during timing belt replacement. Most ageing VW yokes have a tendancy to haemorrhage oil.

We were told they would not do the timing belt unless diagnostic check run. This showed nothing we were told

Cuttlefish

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

The 1.8 T engine is known for the cam cover gasket leaking it usually leaks out the back left and flows down the right side. I am assuming it's a 1.6 beetle?

The last photo looks like fresh gasket sealant on what I assume is the sump looks like a finger smudged the overflow.

It is a 1.4 petrol, apologies bout the poor quality photos

Had someone look at it and he reckons it is gear box oil and nothing to do with the timing belt just a coincidence that it happened.

I pointed out that surely it would have been noticed during timing belt replacement and mentioned to my daughter!

Makes senses right

Cuttlefish

Ok readers had a closer look under the engine and cleaned away surface moisture and dirt etc
Then placed newspaper on the drive to catch any droplets and looks like it coming from here....set photo hope it clear in the image

teediddlyeye

Could possibly be the sump needing to be resealed but most likely in that spot its the crank oil seal.

Cuttlefish

teediddlyeye wrote: »

Could possibly be the sump needing to be resealed but most likely in that spot its the crank oil seal.

Is it fixable? big job??

greasepalm

Where is the oil light switch on that engine is it slightly to the right of exhaust as seen from under bonnet as that could be the issue and oil flows around like in those photos.

Timing belt on those dont have any effect on oil as nothing is moved or touched.

teediddlyeye

greasepalm wrote: »

Where is the oil light switch on that engine is it slightly to the right of exhaust as seen from under bonnet as that could be the issue and oil flows around like in those photos.

Timing belt on those dont have any effect on oil as nothing is moved or touched.

Oil pressure switch is at the top of the head on those engines. Would be obvious under the bonnet if it was leaking

teediddlyeye

Cuttlefish wrote: »

Is it fixable? big job??

Everything's fixable. If it is the crank seal and not the sump its gearbox out job

Cuttlefish

teediddlyeye wrote: »

Everything's fixable. If it is the crank seal and not the sump its gearbox out job

Partly guessed that

greasepalm

Sometimes oil light switch needs a closer look at to see if bone dry or wet.

Toyotafanboi

Well it definitely wont be the oil pressure switch then if you have to study it to know if it's leaking. It's pissing in OP's photo, you can see a drip hanging off. Crank oil seal would be my thoughts too.

greasepalm

Rear crank oil seal doubt it would seep along sump/block.Lost count how many i have replaced.

Cuttlefish

teediddlyeye wrote: »

Oil pressure switch is at the top of the head on those engines. Would be obvious under the bonnet if it was leaking

Didn't notice any oil leak when lifting bonnet only when inspected underneath

Isambard

check the grade of oil used (if any) , on your receipt

Cuttlefish

Isambard wrote: »

check the grade of oil used (if any) , on your receipt

Can you tell me why that would make a difference? Excuse my ignorance

Isambard

I'm no expert but I recall a car of mine where I inadvertently used oil too thin and it had a habit of escaping.