odd oil/fuel leak

[clivvy]

Hey guys,

been looking at this for a long time now, and never got round to fixing it due to other issues.

Anyway, as I complete more and more little jobs on the car, im getting closer to getting time for this one.

I have either a fuel leak, or an oil leak, somewhere in the depths on the engine. Its hear the dip stick, towards the front of the engine. The best I can describe it is a long cylindrical object, the top is round and this is where it seems the oil/fuel is coming from. It runs down the cylinder and drips from the bottom where I can see a bolt, onto the oil pan below.

I cant see much to any oil being lost, I've never had to top it up since the last oil change and I don't see drips on the ground when parked up, so I assume it leaks when the car is running and collects in that area of the engine bay.

Ive taken some video using a borescope, so the quality is low, but you can see first the upper area near the drip stick, then the lower area (video is a bit dark)

What I cant work out is, where it is coming from. I cant see a leak above the cylinder thing, and its clean either side.

im scratching my head with this one, I just don't know what that part of the engine is...!!

here is the video, apologies for the random sound - I didn't realise the borescope had audio (unless it records from the laptop im not sure)!!

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=1D2955C2260C0C35!18021&authkey=!ADrqWQyR8MUMNKw&ithint=video%2cmp4

 

[briggie]

I know nuffin , but from what I can see , its either blow back valve or oil / fuel filter not sealing properly , but like I said I know nuffin

 

[clivvy]

nope, its neither. This is inside the engine bay well away from the oil filter and blow back valve. Nearest oily thing is the dipstick but the leak appears to be coming from above, not the bottom...

 

[AlexD333]

Well... It's the side of the I/C (well just under) possibly a long shot but I would whip the inter cooler off, only 4 bolts :thumb2

The leak off pipes run just above this and they once mixing with the smog of the engine can look rather oily, (I was running on veg at the time though)

Surely not an engine gasket of some kind??

I would start with removing the inter cooler :lol

 

[AlexD333]

Ooh! Just a thought, check the hoses off the inter cooler, oil residue could weep out of a small split there, although a symptom should be present :nenau

 

[clivvy]

ill check alex, but the thing seems too close to the block to be a leak off pipe or the intercooler hoses, the leak off pipe is a good idea though so I will try get in there to inspect :thumbs

 

[R1cho]

its not the injector pump is it? can't really tell from your vid

 

[rustic]

No one can say if it's engine oil or fuel, so I would degrease the area, get rid of all the gunge.
Let it dry.

Then at the first glance of oil, then use a paper towel to wipe it, or soak it up.

If black and oily... probably engine oil.
If clear and smells of diesel... probably diesel.
If blue or green and smells of coolant... probably coolant.

Fairly obvious, but you do need to find out what the fluid is before you can source the leak.:nenau

Just a thought.

 

[AlexD333]

Yes I agree, give it a deep clean, you can spray the engine if you so choose, just watch the windscreen wiper motor as if it gets too wet it sets the wipers off :lol

Perhaps put a heavy degreaser on it, give it a scrub, and give it a spray, perhaps at a petrol station jet wash. Just don't spray the rad close as you will bend the fins :thumb2

 

[clivvy]

yeah probably a good idea.

I have cleaned the engine several times form when I had other leaks, but I do wonder if I missed this bit.

Ill give it a good degrease and scrub, and ill use my jet wash to get in there and clean the grease and oil off.

ill report back if I get anywhere, cheers chaps!

 

[Sweety]

Strange one but as said i'd give it a good clean & once dry maybe cover the area with some talc as it'll show up the path of the leak but there is a chance the fan may blow the talc off:doh had a strange leak myself the other week but at the rear of that side of the engine & couldn't work out if it was fuel or oil well it turned out to be neither it was coolant which had turned black from the muck on the engine as it dripped down:doh hose clips on the heater pipes to the bulkhead needed tightening up as they must have worked a bit loose over the years

 

[clivvy]

gave it a clean, here is a photo of the wotsit all clean, still no idea what it is but the oil or whatever appears to sit at the very top in the area just opposite that loan bolt on the right, and runs down....

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=1d2955c2260c0c35!18030&authkey=!ABNmY03OUeTxgxI&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

 

[clivvy]

ok chaps, would you please take a look at this.

Couple of days since cleaning the area, now you can clearly see the oil weeping out of that thing on the left with the big allen key style fitting on top. Me and my mate studied it, we can see oil weeping out the threads and down.

I tried to tighten it quickly (I am at work so unable to spend any time) and I cant budge it.

I'd love to know what on earth it is?

Am I able to remove it, apply thread lock or similar?

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=1D2955C2260C0C35!18040&authkey=!AI2rV0z2-8MDs8A&ithint=folder,

:bow

 

[clivvy]

anyone??

I cant find anything that tells me what this thing actually is?!

 

[Banshee]

Wish I could offer some help here but I'm stumped as to what that is

I'll be watching out for this one as I'm interested in what the outcome is, hope you solve it mate

 

[makeitfit]

I think that's the oil cooler there . Not fiddled with that on mine but I'm sure I read here years ago someone had a leak there ish and oilcooler was the culprit.
Try a search Clive :thumbs
Other than the obvious tighten everything, I guess new gaskets :nenau or possibly some kind of sealant in a tube maybe.

 

[trophymick]

It looks like a blanking plug to me Clive.:nenau

I'd try taking it out slowly and putting it back with some PTFE tape
or thread sealant.:thumb2

 

[maxxnorthwest]

I have an oil leak close in that area very slow like yours don't even notice it going down not pinpointed the source yet I suspect it is the same mine is a 2.7 td 2005 year with 85k on it.

 

[rustic]

I have an oil leak close in that area very slow like yours don't even notice it going down not pinpointed the source yet I suspect it is the same mine is a 2.7 td 2005 year with 85k on it.

Hi maxxnorthwest, I notice that this is your first post, welcome to the best 4x4 club for all things Nissan, and of course Ford Mavericks.
It won't be long before someone in here asks you for Pics of your truck, so I would be prepared for that one lol.:lol

 

[rustic]

It looks like a blanking plug to me Clive.:nenau...

Possibly for a machining operation, for an oilway.
Or for some form of factory fitted option, that might need a supply of oil:nenau

I'll have a look later, at my older Td, to see if that has one :nenau
Rustic