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Oil leak from head.
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:27 pm
by brorabongo
Just below the wee red arrow, is where I'm leaking engine oil. Not a lot but I have had to top up the level.

The leak is between the head and the block right below a head bolt. I am hoping tightening the bolt might solve it, but the bolts not an easy one to get to.
I've stuck in some of this stuff....
Millers Do you think it will do the job???
OR any other ideas please.
Cheers.
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:01 am
by Simon Jones
My engine used to have oil around that spot on the head gasket. Whether it came from the gasket itself, or just accumulated there from the EGR, I was unable to tell. When I replaced the head gasket, I thoroughly cleaned the oil from the sides of the block & then used Wellseal around the gasket. Since then, I've had no water or oil leaks.
I don't believe tightening the head bolts is the solution. They are stretch bolts that are designed to work under tension. It is not recommended that they be re-used as they can loose their elastic properties, so re-tighening would tend to come under the same heading. Have a look at
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=25383 - unless it is causing real concern, it is probably best left alone, but keep an eye on it to see if it deteriorates.
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:05 am
by helen&tony
Hi
I'm in agreement with Simon, there, but if you wish to check, then an oil pressure gauge may assist you in comparing your oil pressure to factory spec. The one problem you may have, is that if there is a worsening leak, then by not repairing it , you may get head warping, and further problems.....Degrease it with Jizer / Gunk, and keep an eye on it....Good Luck
Cheers
Helen
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:56 am
by brorabongo
Cheers folk.
The photo was taken pre-cleaning. I then run the engine, and noticed it was that place where the oil is coming from. I have read the other post and have a post or two on it. That problem is more to do with Rocker > Head, and not as in my case Head > Block.
You can see the oil seeping out whilst the engine is running.

Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:29 am
by Simon Jones
brorabongo wrote:
You can see the oil seeping out whilst the engine is running.

Mmm - that does sound a little more serious than other vans have experienced. I suppose that leaves 3 options:
1) Leave it as it is.
2) Put some sealant around the leak. Due to way the head & block are 'stepped', this may be quite tricky.
3) Take the head off, change the gasket & use suitable sealer like Wellseal to ensure it doesn't happen again.
It may be due to excess oil pressure, so it may be worth getting it tested as Helen & Tony has suggested. Does anyone know what the correct pressure should be?
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:35 am
by bigdaddycain
Has the head been replaced at some stage in a past life? Was the head and block skimmed prior to fitting? It's expecting a lot of the gasket to seal properly if the mating faces aren't true in the first place.
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:20 pm
by haydn callow
looks like EGR crud to me....do you have to top up the oil between changes??
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:57 pm
by brorabongo
haydn callow wrote:loolike EGR crud to me....do you have to top up the oil between changes??
I have had to top up, and I'm due a change.
bigdaddycain wrote:Has the head been replaced at some stage in a past life? Was the head and block skimmed prior to fitting? It's expecting a lot of the gasket to seal properly if the mating faces aren't true in the first place.
Not to my knowledge, having said that I've only had her 19months. It only started to lose a little oil recently.
Simon Jones wrote:Mmm - that does sound a little more serious than other vans have experienced. I suppose that leaves 3 options:
1) Leave it as it is.
2) Put some sealant around the leak. Due to way the head & block are 'stepped', this may be quite tricky.
3) Take the head off, change the gasket & use suitable sealer like Wellseal to ensure it doesn't happen again.
It may be due to excess oil pressure, so it may be worth getting it tested as Helen & Tony has suggested. Does anyone know what the correct pressure should be?
1) & 2) are ones I can do.

3) is too big a job for me!!
I'm trying oil stop leak at the mo, and then I'll change the oil and see. Failing that it's to a garage she goes.....
Cheers.

Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:16 pm
by haydn callow
Just reread the post and note you are having to top up.
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:25 am
by brorabongo
Wynn's "Oil Stop leak" stuff seems to have worked.
Changed oil after doing a few hundred miles with the stuff in, and no sign of any loss for what must be around a thousand miles now.

Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:14 pm
by mikeonb4c
Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:38 pm
by lizard
Great news
Wonder if they do a Wynns Hair Loss Stop

Re: Oil leak from head.
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:00 pm
by mikeonb4c