Engine oil leak!!

[vanhack]

Well I have been monitoring an oil leak that is not dripping on the floor yet, but is spreading at the rear of the engine where the engine and transmission meet. I have been watching this leak for 15,000kms now, and is increasing area where oil is covering, still not dripping on the floor. My Nissan is trying to be a LR.

It is definitely not the valve/rocker cover, and seems to be the headgasket! My Patrol is 2nd hand patrol, that I bought at 44,000kms and is on 76,000kms.

See pictures below. Note that my car is a left hand drive. The oil seems to be leaking from below the head, and not from anywhere near the oil filter or oil cooler. Definetly oil and not coolant, but can't confirm if it is engine oil or transmission fluid.

Both the transmission fluid and engine oil are above the max limit...infact the transmission seems over filled.

[stobi_de]

Hm... "where the engine and transmission meet"
Had the same problem in my Patrol Y60.
It was the crankshaft oil-seal between engine and gearbox.

The oil seal ist a cheap part of 100-150 rand, but the gearbox has to come out.
The replacement itself is simple.

Frank

by the way: where is this fantastic collection of engines in your album?

[vanhack]

Frank hopefully it is the rear oil seal. But would it leak from around the head/block area?

Regarding the engines...have a look at this link.

http://www.patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.ph ... 8&start=20

[stobi_de]

OK, you are right. I saw one of the pictures from a wrong position.

[Peter Connan]

Chances are 90% that it is either the crankshaft rear oil seal, or the gearbox input shaft oil seal.

If you split them, replace both.

However, if it is the head gasket (and it could be), you need to get it sorted ASAP as it could cause other problems.

[ricster]

Just throwing a spanner in the works, as I don't know the petrol motors really. On my diesel I had a similar looking oil leak pattern. I was also sure that the rear crank seal was the culprit. But when I gave it a good investigation, this is what I found...

On my tappet/rocker cover closest to the firewall is the breather vent that ensures that there is no compression in the sump. The pipe that then fits onto the rocker cover was old and was not seating properly and with the direction of airflow from the viscous fan and general driving the fine vapour that did leak out slowly worked its way down the back of the rocker cover and head and down onto the bell housing.

A new piece of hose and clamp fixed that problem for me, and since then I have no leak.

Check if the breather is not blocked. Removing the rocker cover is simple and you probably won't even need a new gasket. Check also the rocker cover bolts are tight ( not over tight ), but over time they may have loosened up or the rubber gasket gas hardened up and is not sealing as well as it should.

[Tinus lotz]

Mabe give it a good wash and then drive a little bit of dirt road have a look where the dust sticks?

[ricster]

hahaha.... every road in Dubai is a dusty road......

[vanhack]

So dropped the patrol of at Nissan dealer day before, and picked her up today. Verdict is after they looked at the leak, and cleaned the area out, and then drove for 150kms, that the wetness is from rust proofing. Which I have also noticed on the rear diff. The rust proof chemical must have a very low melting point, and the wet area was on the block, and near the exhaust manifold.

So I have been asked to keep an eye on it, and bring it back after 1000kms. But they do not suspect that engine oil is leaking. I too had my doubts as the engine oil was not depleting when checking the dipstick, or the transmission oil. But from the picture you can see it did not look good, and seemed that the leak was there.

Anyhow they also mentioned that they have never received a y61/tb48 with a leaking gasket. Hmmm so when it leaks, I am not taking it to them as they may not have experience on completing a head gasket job.

Anyway I have 2 night trip next weekend, which I can go on now!!

So time to do a little planning.

[ricster]

At least you have put your mind at ease before the long trip!!