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Mystery oil leak after a collision?
I was in a shunt with the car in front, max 15 mph. My vehicle was driveable. 50 miles later there was smoke from oil burning on exhaust manifold, with oil sprayed all over the engine. Oil was 1/2 way down dipstick.
The car was trucked to my insurer’s repairer, who found pool of oil on engine block recess. They have steamed cleaned the engine, test run it but cannot locate the source of oil. A compression test indicates the head gasket is OK. Body repairs required new front valance, air con and cooling radiators.
They now propose to return the vehicle and expect me to sign it off, but if I do so and the oil leak returns I will have to bear the cost of repairs. I believe this oil leak is connected with the shunt. The car was serviced eight weeks ago but garage can shed no light. Any ideas as to source of mystery oil leak?
The car was trucked to my insurer’s repairer, who found pool of oil on engine block recess. They have steamed cleaned the engine, test run it but cannot locate the source of oil. A compression test indicates the head gasket is OK. Body repairs required new front valance, air con and cooling radiators.
They now propose to return the vehicle and expect me to sign it off, but if I do so and the oil leak returns I will have to bear the cost of repairs. I believe this oil leak is connected with the shunt. The car was serviced eight weeks ago but garage can shed no light. Any ideas as to source of mystery oil leak?
Asked on 8 June 2013 by Confused of Devon
Answered by
Honest John
Reads to me as if the oil is coming from the turbo bearing oil feed pipe. Could be that the union of the pipe to the turbo is cracked. That would explain why it has sprayed onto the exhaust manifold. Have to hope that the turbo itself has not cracked and started to leak oil.
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