Why so much oil??

LeftFoot · Nov 17, 2018

Greetings,
300tdi.
After getting a consistant oil leak from the rocker cover I removed it to investigate and found what I deem to be an excessive amount of oil in the top of the cylinder head. See attached pics.
Engine has 93,000 miles on it and otherwise performs ok. Why would this much oil be present here, is it getting past the valve seals? Or perhaps a worn valve guide/guides could cause this issue?

Kwakerman · Nov 17, 2018

Doesn't' look too bad, leaky valve seals would let oil out rather than in. I assume you have tried a new OEM rubber gasket and three top seals? When you fit the cover the three nuts are only just nipped up (10nm IIRC), do it too tight and you may distort the seal.

Kwakerman · Nov 17, 2018

Also check the breather and pipes are clear

LeftFoot · Nov 17, 2018

Thanks for the reply.

Some more info then:

1. Oil is making it's way past the oil cap and staining the sound deadening cover. If I unscrew the cover and leave it in position when the engine is running the cover dances around but is never dislodged.
2. I am getting a blueish/grey smoke out the exhaust at idle.
3. Constant oil leak which originates from rocker cover and ends up on passengerside axle and finally the on floor.
Should I look at the turbo as being the culprit?

tottot · Nov 17, 2018

Amount of oil looks ok to me,Breather cap would dance about if left loose,Bit of blue grey smoke at cold idle is pretty normal. The half moon seals at each end of the rockerbox go hard over time and can leak quite a bit.New seals with RTV sealant. Rocker cap may need renewal.

LeftFoot · Nov 17, 2018

tottot said:
Amount of oil looks ok to me,Breather cap would dance about if left loose,Bit of blue grey smoke at cold idle is pretty normal. The half moon seals at each end of the rockerbox go hard over time and can leak quite a bit.New seals with RTV sealant. Rocker cap may need renewal.

Smoke is constantly there not just at cold start. No halfmoons on the 300tdi to my knowledge... at least not on mine.
I will explore the option of a new cap.

lynall · Nov 17, 2018

300 tdi gasket is one piece unlike the earlier 200tdi which was 3 piece and always ended up leaking!

As for the oil, thats normal and not an issue, I would be looking at the injectors for the smoke issue.

If the oil cap stays in place when loosened and doesnt go into orbit the engine is a goodun.

Why so much oil??

LeftFoot

Active Member

Attachments

Kwakerman

Well-Known Member

Kwakerman

Well-Known Member

LeftFoot

Active Member

tottot

Well-Known Member

LeftFoot

Active Member

lynall

Well-Known Member

Similar threads