Can someone point out the Turbo Oil Feed Pipe?

[pierremcalpine]

Originally Posted by Dancake

Have you removed the lower intercooler hose yet? Check to see if it's full of oil.

Hi Dancake - thanks for chiming in. It doesn't appear to be but there are certainly signs of oil sludge in the general area. See pics below. Overall, it looks like the inside of the lower pipe is relatively clean with some oil residue present.







[IMG]http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t644/pierre_mcalpine/Oil%20Leak/10447F4D-B934-4CCF-BFC8-E96802F8E95B_zpsb67***pg.jpg[/IMG]zpsb67***pg

[Dancake]

Looks normal there. Tis a bit of a pickler. Two possible suggestions. Number one is pcv system. When was the last time it was checked or cleaned? Build up of crankcase pressure can result in similar symptoms mentioned in number two here. Number two is your turbo oil return pipe. If there is a blockage in this pipe, the oil can't flow as freely as what it should. This results in the oil backing up on itself, which then causes it to exit wherever it can.

[pierremcalpine]

Originally Posted by Dancake

Looks normal there. Tis a bit of a pickler. Two possible suggestions. Number one is pcv system. When was the last time it was checked or cleaned? Build up of crankcase pressure can result in similar symptoms mentioned in number two here. Number two is your turbo oil return pipe. If there is a blockage in this pipe, the oil can't flow as freely as what it should. This results in the oil backing up on itself, which then causes it to exit wherever it can.

Thanks, D. Well, I replace the entire PCV system two years ago and I did the oil return pipe in the fall. I'm inclined to think that I'm good that way. I'm still stumped though over the small amount of fresher oil that makes its way down between the engine and the trans...I was hoping it was related to the oil sludge in and around the the turbo but now I'm not so sure...

[Dancake]

It doesn't look to me like you have a serious oil leak tbh. The oil leaks look reasonably dry, indicating it's either a very slow leak or a historical leak that's been fixed but not cleaned (unlikely for cars tbh). Have you considered putting a dye in your engine oil? The dealers use it to source leaks (normally comes as part of some dealer oils). Then using a UV light you should be able to identify the source after letting the engine run for a while. Once you've identified the source, you should be able to establish the cause.

[druid]

UV is getting everywhere, oil, air con whatever next?

Cool idea though!

[flyingtech55]

The other possibility is that the turbo is failing and oil is leaking from the bearings. This is one of the causes of diesel runaway. Doesn't cause runaway on petrol cars but the symptom is the same.

TimR

[pierremcalpine]

Here's a couple of pics of the nice fresh drip that is visible when you look up at the flywheel from underneath the car. It should be noted that I'm not getting dripping onto the drive BUT if I wipe the drip off the engine it is back again after a short drive. I thought it might have been the transaxle seal so I replaced that...no dice:

[960kg]

I do believe your main bearing oil seal has gone bad!....the oil is under that ledge by the large red bottom arrow and collects through the draught of the flywheel further out on the ledge.

The flywheel never gets wet from this type of leak.

Usually this seal fails due to too much pressure in the crankcase caused by a blocked PCV which is ignored!....or just a lot of mileage on the engine.

[pierremcalpine]

I'm starting to wonder if you are right. I've cleaned up the top of the turbo and it seems fine i.e. no leaks from the feed side.

I'm told that rear main seal leak copiously though...is that not always the case? I would characterize this leak as minimal. No drops collecting on drive at all...?

If it is a rear main seal leak...has any one tried a product like BlueDevil which apparently addresses smaller rear main seal leaks?