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[guru]

Hey guys
hopefully i'll be able to contribute to your forum in time! - but maybe you guys can give me a bit of a hand
Ive just bought a mv6 manual estate (3.0 99)..
Ive noticed she is leaking oil like a sieve.. there doesnt seem to be any evidence it has been a long term leak (not much splatter and the oil hasnt travelled too far down the back of the car) but it is leaking a reasonably serious amount of oil.. about a drip every 2 seconds while running!
I cant really see where its coming from, but it looks like somewhere above the starter motor on the drivers side, towards the rear of the engine.
whats around here? any possible suggestions on what would leak that much oil? i wouldnt have thought a rocker cover gasket would have leaked out that much..  :-?
its also potentially in the centre somewhere, as the oil seems to have run down both sides of the bell housing and is dripping off of the bottom nuts of where the bell housing mates to the engine..
I guess ill have to pull the scuttle cover off on the weekend but was hoping you guys might be able to give me some insight on possibles to put my mind at rest before I have to do it - dont have much time free on the weekend!!

Cheers in advance!

[TheBoy]

cam gaskets favourite (check plug wells for oil), possibly oil cooler pipes...

[guru]

OK - i just had a look in the drivers side rear spark plug lead hole, and there is some oil in there, definately not a well of oil, but there is definately some there. Not sure if its old or not though..
i couldnt check the passenger side - theres a fuel rail in the way

Where do the oil cooler pipes run into?

[TheBoy]

OK - i just had a look in the drivers side rear spark plug lead hole, and there is some oil in there, definately not a well of oil, but there is definately some there. Not sure if its old or not though..
i couldnt check the passenger side - theres a fuel rail in the way

Where do the oil cooler pipes run into?

clean all oil out of plug wells, then see if it returns.

Oil cooler pipes go to cooler which is in the V of the engine

[Darth Loo-knee]

OK - i just had a look in the drivers side rear spark plug lead hole, and there is some oil in there, definately not a well of oil, but there is definately some there. Not sure if its old or not though..
i couldnt check the passenger side - theres a fuel rail in the way

Where do the oil cooler pipes run into?

The Oil Cooler which is in the "V" under the Plenum and Inlet Manifold, then the pipes go from there to above the Oil Filter

[guru]

OK thanks heaps for the help - ill have a looky on the weekend
 

[ffcgary1]

Cam over gaskets almost 100%, they have prob failed at the back of the head and leaking down onto the bell housing and on to the starter. The fact that you have some oil in the plug holes tells you they are shot. Get them changed using gen vx parts and as soon as poss as the oil will fry the leads and poss fubar the dis pack as well.

[JamesV6CDX]

OK - i just had a look in the drivers side rear spark plug lead hole, and there is some oil in there, definately not a well of oil, but there is definately some there. Not sure if its old or not though..
i couldnt check the passenger side - theres a fuel rail in the way

Where do the oil cooler pipes run into?

clean all oil out of plug wells, then see if it returns.

Oil cooler pipes go to cooler which is in the V of the engine

I agree probably cam cover gaskets.

If you've got oil in the plug wells though, I'd recommend cleaning the breathers immediately, and renewing the camcover gaskets.
Not a bad DIY job...

[Marks DTM Calib]

It sounds like to big a leak to me for cam cover gaskets......when you strip it down to change them, you will be able to see more what the problem is.

[JamesV6CDX]

It sounds like to big a leak to me for cam cover gaskets......when you strip it down to change them, you will be able to see more what the problem is.

I agree, but it's described as being up above - there's not much more up by that part of the engine that can leak, is there?  :-/

[guru]

"I agree, but it's described as being up above - there's not much more up by that part of the engine that can leak, is there?   "
No - well thats what I was thinking, if it was the head gasket then it would be contaminating the water / vice versa (thank god its probably not that), or other auxillary bits and pieces, but to be honest this is the first exposure ive had to this engine so its all a bit of a mystery as to whats where in the engine bay!