Slight oil leak - should I be bovvered?

bongolow · Post by **bongolow** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:41 pm

I have a slight oil leak in the join on the large pipe affair at top of engine (driver's side) - sorry, don't know what it is.

It's very slight - no drips visible underneath - and the dipstick is still showing full after the oil was changed about a month ago. I assume it needs a new gasket - is it easy to change and should I be bothered anyway? I'm off to Ireland for a couple of weeks at Easter - should I get it done first?

ChrisEm · Post by **ChrisEm** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:37 pm

I think you'll find that is the inlet manifold and the black oil looks like sludgy crusty crap which might be related to the egr system (much talked about on here). I would suggest that you sort it sooner rather than later as you will find it will have an adverse affect on both performance and fuel economy, this is because you will find the air that needs to be rammed into the cylinders for the combustion cycle is escaping where the oil leaks.

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:42 pm

May have to do mine, no leak but lack of perforance up hills

bongolow · Post by **bongolow** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:27 pm

Thanks for the replies. Is it easy to change the gasket - it looks pretty easy. I'm reasonably proficient with tools but not worked on vehicles much - too many years driving company cars...

I presume I should disable the EGR system with the bolt-in-the-pipe trick, as described here..

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... hlight=egr

ChrisEm · Post by **ChrisEm** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:41 pm

Don't think you'll find it a problem to change, I'd go for egr disablement!

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:56 pm

peter humphrey wrote:May have to do mine, no leak but lack of perforance up hills

Hasn't yours got the lower powered Ranger engine fitted Pete????

bongolow · Post by **bongolow** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:47 pm

I've now got a new gasket - thin metal affair. Does anyone know if I need to use any sealer with it or do I fit it 'dry'?

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:34 pm

Hi bongolow
Should be OK dry - metal gaskets don't usually have any sealant needed.

bongolow · Post by **bongolow** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:28 pm

Cheers John

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:07 pm

Dandy,it has the same engine as ford freda, not under powered, I have just made a bodge on air filter housing, 1 clip was missing, now up to full power

AliBongo · Post by **AliBongo** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:41 pm

I had exactly the same black gunge coming out of the same place. I replaced the gasket and it still came out. Disconnected the EGR and it stopped.

bongolow · Post by **bongolow** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:18 pm

I had exactly the same black gunge coming out of the same place. I replaced the gasket and it still came out. Disconnected the EGR and it stopped.

But is the air still coming out? According to ChrisEm this will affect performance - see above, second post.

I haven't fitted the new gasket yet - was going to do it today but it's been peeing down. Maybe a smear of sealant wouldn't go amiss after all?

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:24 pm

Hi Vincent
If you want to use sealant, be very sparing with it. As this is the inlet manifold, any surplus sealant, that gets squeezed out when you tighten it up, could get sucked into your engine.
The most it really needs is a smear of grease on the gasket.