Cambelt/Checking for Oil Leak?

[Rishi]

Hey guys,

Just looking for a bit of advice on solving an oil leak while my cambelt is being replaced. I've noticed the undertray always has oil on it but can't be a major leak as the level on the dipstick is quite stable.

When I have a look on the ramp the back of the engine looks moist and at the front there does seem to be some oil coming from higher up then gathering around the sump. The cam cover bolts I can see are fine so I'm thinking it may be the cam cover itself leaking.

I'm having the timing belt replaced soon and will be having the cam seal kit replaced, I'm just wondering if there's anything I should ask my mechanic to look out for when it's all being stripped down?

Thanks for any tips!

 

[tcw]

I know the sump gaskets leak, not so sure about cam cover - iirc there's no gasket but loctite/sealant used to do that - if the person hasn't done one (or similar) before then I would take it to a specialist. NW London is relatively close to Engine Dynamics.

 

[John Gordon]

I recently did my cambelt and I noticed the same. The front of my engine was saturated with oil and the undertray was covered.

I cleaned the whole lot with a few can's or carb clean and I've run it since. The only leak I've got is a bolt on the rocker cover.

The rest of the oil was overflow from people filling the engine, dribbling it down the filler neck and it pooling in the inlet manifold and then being blown all over.

 

[Rishi]

I know the sump gaskets leak, not so sure about cam cover - iirc there's no gasket but loctite/sealant used to do that - if the person hasn't done one (or similar) before then I would take it to a specialist. NW London is relatively close to Engine Dynamics.

I'm having the cambelt done @ bucksautomotive, thinking it may be a good idea to have the cam cover removed & resealed at the same time regardless as it's a belt off job. There def seems to be oil coming from higher up but I'll give the sump a good clean next time it's on the ramp and keep an eye on it.

I recently did my cambelt and I noticed the same. The front of my engine was saturated with oil and the undertray was covered.

I cleaned the whole lot with a few can's or carb clean and I've run it since. The only leak I've got is a bolt on the rocker cover.

The rest of the oil was overflow from people filling the engine, dribbling it down the filler neck and it pooling in the inlet manifold and then being blown all over.

I just had a look around the inlet manifold and could see a coating of oil on both sides (below oil filler and near dipstick), removed the upper manifold to have a clearer look and found pools of oil on the inlet manifold which seem to have originated from one of the cam cover bolts. All the bolts which were visible weren't leaking, goes to show it's worth removing the plenum chamber to have a proper look.

 

[John Gordon]

I'm having the cambelt done @ bucksautomotive, thinking it may be a good idea to have the cam cover removed & resealed at the same time regardless as it's a belt off job. There def seems to be oil coming from higher up but I'll give the sump a good clean next time it's on the ramp and keep an eye on it.



I just had a look around the inlet manifold and could see a coating of oil on both sides (below oil filler and near dipstick), removed the upper manifold to have a clearer look and found pools of oil which seem to have originated from one of the cam cover bolts. All the bolts which were visible weren't leaking, goes to show it's worth having a look under the upper part of the manifold.

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I just call it Renault built in Anti Corrosion protection.

 

[Rishi]

Giving a quick update on the oil leak - 2 cam cover bolts were weeping but the main leak was from the camshaft position sensor. I tried sealing up the sensor with some silicone sealant a couple of times but it still kept on leaking, fitted a new aftermarket sensor and no leak since.

It's worth noting that while the leaking sensor was dripping down the front of the engine, it also traveled to the back of the engine via the wiring loom underneath the thermostat housing, onto the starter motor right down onto the dogbone mount and undertray.