Hi all I have a 2006 Jag X350 4.2 n/a, i have very little history on the car but I'm gradually getting through all the necessary stuff as well as the just in case stuff for peace of mind. I have discovered what looks like an oil leak, it doesnt seem to be pouring out, more of a weep, but a concern all the same. From the pictures I've added can anyone help me identify where its coming from, I'm not a mechanic or overly mechanically minded, though I do tackle some jobs. This job won't be for me but I need to find out what the issue is, what it needs and what's involved in fixing it. Many thanks in advance. As you can see from the pics oil seems to be leaking from a gasket on the left hand side of the car directly above the steering rack.

Close up of oil leak/weep as you can see from following pics this is the area directly above the steering rack on the left side of the car

 

I can't tell for sure but could it be from the motor mount? It appears to be from that area and I believe if they go bad you would see fluid in that area, above the oil pan. Can you see above the mount below the "valve cover.'" Does the wet area get worse or is it just "there"' I don't see a drip.falling to the ground. How many miles on the car?

There are some posts regarding mounts. It sounds a little difficult for an average DYI guy however it shouldn't b to hard for a mechanic with all the equipment.

 

Trans cooling lines seeping a bit?

 

Maybe clean it off at the local car wash and see if it gets worse. The worm clamp on the steering rack isn't from Jaguar so maybe some work was done and the area didn't get cleaned real well. After looking at the pictures closer it doesn't look like any leak from the valve cover area and the mount plate on the block looks really clean. However, there is a lot of oily appearing moistness/residue around on the lines/hoses.

 

Thanks Rancheroguy, I will try and have a better look today or Wednesday, if it is indeed the motor mount is this a difficult job? / What kind of time should it take to do by a mechanic? Just trying to gauge what kind of money its going to cost me in labour hours as its certainly not something I'd even try to fix.
many thanks
Mark

 

Hi Wingrider, I do have a leak on the trans cooler lines where the rubber part joins the metal, i have these lines on order, but this leak to me seemed further away from the pictured leak i thought

 

Rancheroguy the worm clamp I put on to replace a plastic zip tie that the last owner had put on and wasnt holding securely. I do have a leak on the trans cooler pipes, i have these on special order, but i thought thise leak was further away from the pictured leak enough not to be related but i could be wrong. The trans cooler pipe leak is where the rubber joins the metal part of the pipe towards the front of the engine and fairly low down, I'll try cleNing up the are today or Wednesday

 

Update - Still not entirely sure where leak is coming from so I've got it booked in with my independent jag mechanic who'll be giving it a transmission fluid, pan, filter etc change and changing the trans cooler pipes, so will see what he thinks. But thanks everyone for your replies.

 

Clean the whole area with a good spray of brake cleaner and rags then post pics again.

 

Then spray some deodorant, which leaves a powder residue, that the oil washes away.
Before pictures

 

That's the way the NDT lads used to do crack testing.

Cover surface with red fluid, clean with cleaning fluid

which leaves red fluid in crack then spray with white powder

and crack shows up in red!

That's been superceeded with ultra sonics.

 

Yes its an old way but it still works.
The new ways often do work better.
But often cost a bit more.