Oil leaks - Fighting a losing battle?

2004 300tdi engine with 75,000 miles on the clock.

Things I did and the order in which they were done:

1. Replaced rover cover gasket and torqued cover down firmly.
2. Replaced inlet/outlet manifold gasket
3. Torqued up oil pressure sensor firmly in place
4. Removed, cleaned, resealed engine sump paying attention to pattern of bolts while tightening in place and torque applied.

The result of actions 1-4? A clean engine block but drips are still making their way onto the driveway.

Next actions to be taken:

5. Replace vacuum pump as an oil leak is present
6. Replace cyclone breather
7. Replace rocker cover oil cap (very minor oil stain present)
8. Seeing an accumulation of small drops at rear of sump by the two lowest points of the bell housing so I assume the rear crank oil seal will have to be next.
9. Noticed a small oil stain growing at the direct front of the engine block. I assume this is the front crank oil seal? Planning for the timing belt change at the end of the year so will do that the same time.

All in an effort to keep the driveway clean. I feel that I am fighting a losing battle however.

Please tell me that I am not alone and that I will eventually get it sorted.....

You ever heard the phrase "if its not leaking its ran out!" Mine drips but doesn't often need topping up and passes MOT so I don't worry too much.

Did you consider painting the driveway a dark colour and buying the low grade oil for the donkey in 25L containers as it's cheaper like that.

Get some driveway cleaner on ebay.

On our 2003 TD5 if you look underneath there's oil around the rear diff nose, the transfer box, the handbrake drum, the sump and the back of the engine, both front swivels, the steering box, and the clutch bell housing.
But it does not actually drip oil. My local lndy says these are not oil leaks until they drip oil on to the ground.
Although l did replace the rear diff seal which reduced the leak but did not stop it.

It's not leaking. Its marking territory

I fight against leaks as well and I don't subscribe to oil leeks being a good thing, when the oil is done the car normally goes bang shortly after. Do you know its the engine thats leaking and not for example the fuel return pipes or pump, give the engine a good old wash and degrease and then run it to try to identify the leaks.

If front crank seal has gone oil will be coming out of the drain hole in the bottom of the timing chest, so if its leaking at the front of the block it could be the timing chest to block gasket.
Rear crank seal again oil will come out of the inspection hole.
Cyclone will be fine, what will be leaking is the cyclone to head o-ring.
Engine sump what exactly did you use to reseal it?
Are you running some sort of thin syn engine oil?

Brake cleaner is excellent for cleaning oil off and finding leaks quickly as its dries instantly leaving no residue.

lynall said:

If front crank seal has gone oil will be coming out of the drain hole in the bottom of the timing chest, so if its leaking at the front of the block it could be the timing chest to block gasket.
Rear crank seal again oil will come out of the inspection hole.

Cyclone will be fine, what will be leaking is the cyclone to head o-ring.
Engine sump what exactly did you use to reseal it?
Are you running some sort of thin syn engine oil?

Brake cleaner is excellent for cleaning oil off and finding leaks quickly as its dries instantly leaving no residue.

Click to expand...

15w40 synthetic blend

Ive always ran mineral 15/40 in my tdis 200 and 300, Im not saying the syn blend is causing the leaks and I have a few on both mine, but none that drip on the floor.

Story from a few years back when trucks first started to use syn oils and I had access to loads of free oil! I tried some in my 300 and it drank it like there was no tomorrow, back to mineral and it was back to using max 1 pint every 5k.

+1 Mineral is better for older engines.

We park over a rubber mat on our drive. I think our '91 Defender had a whole 6 weeks leak free back in 2014 and unless it's p*ssing out then you get used to it as long as you check levels regularly. Saturday this last week was a pool of fluid from a leak in the high pressure line from the pas pump to the steering box. It never ends! Just gotta get on and sort em out!