Hello, all. I've noticed a dripping of motor oil on my garage floor. This showed up after I had changed the oil a few weeks back. I used a suction pump from the top, so no removal of the drain plug. I thought it may have been from some splashed oil at that time, but it hasn't stopped.

The car has about 140,000 miles on it. Is there a particular leak point that's common with these cars I should be checking first?

I appreciate any suggestions.

 

Lots of leak points; oil seals (left and right hand side), VVT gear (left side), turbo oil lines (rear).


You really need to crawl up under your engine and see which side of the engine its coming from.


Also, you did suction oil change, did you replace the filter? Could it just be leaking from the filter housing?

 

You don't say which model year but top of the list is the turbo oil drain tube which is a pathetically bad design.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I do see some oil on or near a pulley on the left-hand side facing the engine it's not far from the oil filter. On the oil filter I don't see any oil whatsoever. Would that be the VVT?

 

The VVT gear is connected to the exhaust cam and hidden under the timing belt cover. You can't see it without removing part of the cover. If this one leaks it's usually quite a bit of oil. It will soak the timing belt too. This is the one leak you will need to address ASAP. Before I knew about this it caused a slipped timing belt and 8 bent exhaust valves. I saw the oil on the ground a solid week prior to the failure.

Take the inner part of the timing belt cover off and give the gear and belt a good look. The timing belt should be dry.

 

Are you sure its oil and not power steering fluid?

 

No, it looks like it's coming from the passenger side. Near and just behind the alternator.

 

Thanks, I will check that out. I hope not, because I just had the timing belt changed, preventatively, about 30,000 miles ago.

 

check your power steering fluid level - the pump is over in that area as well...

 

Is the exhaust cam the one toward the front of the car?

As I mentioned I did have the timing belt changed 30k miles ago. There was a VVT seal in the box I gave my mechanic, along with the belt, tensioners, water pump, etc. I would hope that he would have changed it along with everything else.

You can also note, from the pic at rear of the engine, some oil on the splash guard too. From what you can see, does it look like it could be the same source, or another leak? Keep in mind, I never noticed any of this until after I changed the oil two weeks ago.


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This is what mine looks like. VVT gear on the left exhaust cam. Regular gear on the right intake cam.



Does your car have suction through the oil fill hole with the cap off and engine running? When mine clogged the PCV air/oil separator it cause blow back which forced oil out of the seals. To test, start a cold engine, remove the oil fill cap, and put your hand over the oil fill opening, blocking the opening. Does it push your hand away or pull it down? On mine it takes a second or two before you get good suction now. Before cleaning the air/oil separator it would only push my hand away.

 

Ok. Now I'm a little confused. From your picture, it looks like we have different setups. I can't tell which one is the actual cam gear we're talking about. As far as the oil cap issue, I tried as you said and there's definite suction to my hand when I place it over the hole. I hope that's a good thing.

I don't know if you can tell from the links I tried to utilize, but there is an amount of oil in the area, but it doesn't seem to be coming from either of these can gears. Does it seem like it to you? I'm trying to better upload the pics this time.

 

Your VVT is on the right. And something is definitely leaking oil around there, you can see oil buildup on the edge of both gears. Could be a leaky VVT, could also be a leaky oil seal that is being picked up by your timing belt.


I have a 2003 S40, and the setup is a bit different from yours, but basically the same just reversed. I would focus on the VVT first. Around the edge of the gear, inside of the outer part that has the teeth on it you should be able to find a round recessed spot. This has a plunger in it and is where they leak... IF your VVT gear is similar in design to the early ones. I think they are but someone with exp with the later VVT's would need to confirm.


I would do this soon as an oily TB on these cars can trash your valves/pistons is it slips.

 

I have an appt tomorrow morning to have the VVT gear seal replaced, which, of course, I bought in a kit along with timing belt, tensioner, pulley and water pump.

I had just had this done two years ago (30,000 mi), so I'm a little nervous. I'm not the most handy person, mechanically, so my knowledge is limited. All I can do at this point is hope this is the problem.

Thanks for your help on this, Livens and Hudini. I appreciate it.

 

Turns out my mechanic won't be able to get me in until later in the week, so I decided to take another look at this. I removed the timing belt covers again, and to me it doesn't really seem like the oil is coming from that area at all, although it does seem to have accumulated from what appears to be transfer.

As you can see from the pictures, more oil is concentrated in the area behind and below the alternator. Also I notice the area behind the engine altogether, on the splash guard, and pretty soaked. I was able to go by and have my mechanic to remove the bottom shield and give the area a good degreasing, so when I come back in a few days the source of the leak can be easier to detect.

Please take a look and see if you agree with my assessment.

 

After having spent $774, replacing the timing belt, water pump, other belts, expansion bottle and other things, it turns out the leak is coming from on or around the oil filter housing. I don't know if the housing itself needs to be replaced -- apparently there are a couple of gaskets that could be the problem -- but I should know in a couple of days when I take it in for a second time now.

Looking around on this and the forums, it doesn't seem to be a common issue. I did see where certain noises and a bad PVC valve could precipitate issues with, and necessitate replacement of, the housing, but not much else. Any advice here?

 

Turned out it was the oil filter housing. I had it replaced and right away no more leaks of oil on the garage floor. Perfectly dry and clean after almost a month.

 

Good to know the answer. I apologize for posting pics of my 2001. Yours is the 2008 by your signature so that is why it's different.

 

That must have been a hard one, after spending close to $800.

I am going through the same thing, but I just did the oil and it is not the filter housing which is less than $20 OEM, gonna pick up an extra one, noticed plastic thread was not quite right in one spot.

I thought you said earlier that you looked at the filter housing and it was dry?

 

This filter housing is $20?