What would you do?

[colnet]

My 1999 v40 2.0T auto, p1.5, mot expires end of Aug has a great engine and box, runs like a dream, 135k, NEVER used any oil between oil changes has developed an oil leak, tried to find the leak but to no avail, cam belt, tensioners etc all clean ie cannot see any oil contamination, so the question is, is it time to scrap?

[andy_d]

dont be daft, find the leak, and sort it , be FAR cheaper than scrapping a perfectly good car , buying another and having All the problems of a new to you car

[colnet]

Hello Andy
I do have another car, I kept the v40 because of sentimental reasons and I love driving her done 18000 miles in her last year but spent the last couple of days on and off trying to find the leak but do you think I can find the f###ing leak, no

[aldred309uk]

Can you see that oil has leaked out or has the oil level dropped below normal?

[colnet]

You can see it dripping on the drivers side somewhere at the back of the engine especially when hot but from where is another matter

[Baffler]

Agreed, I'm with Andy, source the leak! 2.0T Auto is a very nice combination too!

The turbo oil return pipe on these engines, especially the T4, can distort out of shape and sometimes fitting a new rubber seal in the block isn't quite good enough to hold back the oil. Also the section of the pipe where it enters the block, where the seal sits around, becomes worn and no matter what you do you won't get it to seal. A new pipe, seal and gasket does the trick. The pipe itself was around €66 back in 2012 and had to come from Sweden. The seal and gasket were less than a fiver.

[volvoid]

or use a bit of silicone sealant

[Baffler]

Originally Posted by volvoid

or use a bit of silicone sealant

Yes, use silicone sealant on everything! Works a treat! And use a lolly pop stick for good measure!

[gatos]

I was also going to suggest you check the turbo return pipe. Very likely it comes from there, at the bottom, where it goes back to the engine

[martin93]

These things, especially the pre-2000, are becoming an increasingly rare sight these days so I think you would be utterly mad to scrap it just because of an oil leak. I nearly scrapped mine because all four corners of the sills, the fuel filler recess, and one of the jacking points had completely rotted out. However in my eyes it was still saveable, I had the skills, so I had a welding party month and saved it.

Unless the leak is coming from a hole in the side of the engine block with a con rod hanging out of it, just find and fix the leak. Or sell the car.