My 2005 XK8 has been going through oil at an alarming rate for the past few weeks. With no evidence of a leak on my driveway I feared cylinder trouble and was about to check the plugs and possibly take it for a leakdown test. But since an oil change was overdue, I decided to get that done this morning. The guy was just about finished when he called me over and told me I had an oil leak. I was shocked since I had seen no drips. He took me down into the pit under the car and sure enough, it was coated with wet oil. Then I looked upstairs in his driveway where the car had been idleing for about 15 minutes while I waited my turn in the bay. There was a foot square puddle of oil below the right (passenger side) front of the car. I can't see the source as I have to remove the air box. etc. to try to get a look at the side of the engine and in 95 degree weather I am not too motivated to do that right now. My hope is the oil filter had somehow begun leaking, but I imagine I won't get off that easily. Any ideas as to where the oil could be coming from? Valve cover gaskets look fine. Can't see much else yet. It is one hellava leak, though.

 

Can't be from the Oil Filter or the Drain Plug as he'd have done those during the oil change. Next likely source is Oil Cooler or Oil Cooler pipes.

Graham

 

Thanks, Graham. Oil cooler certainly seems like a good candidate. Be nice if it were just a loose fitting.

 

This extract from the Parts Catalogue is the best illustration I can find:



(click on the image to enlarge it)

Plenty of connections in the pipework to check. Several members have previously reported failures with the hose ends although impact damage to the oil cooler itself is not unknown.

Graham

 

Thanks, Graham. I have been known to run the nose up on parking curbs. Usually I assume it's just the cross member scraping, but I wouldn't be surprised to find damage to the cooler.

 

I once had the oil filter become a bit loose and leaking, on the right hand side of the engine. The mechanic would probably have noticed that, though. Are you still losing oil after the service?

Jouko

 

Yes, it seems she is still leaking. I am hopeful it is a fitting that's leaking and the cooler itself is okay. Just been ridiculously hot this week, making working on the car very unappealing. Oh, for an air conditioned garage. Or any garage for that matter.

 

Sorry, I should have closed this thread. Turns out my major oil leak must have been coming from the oil filter, even though the oil change guy claimed it was tight when he removed it. All I know is the leak stopped once the filter was replaced and I haven't had to add a drop of oil since. Now that's a cheap repair!

 

Excellent news!!!

My mechanic just found a slight crack in one of the oil cooler lines. He just made a flanged connection to fix it. Weird though, there was never a drop found on my garage floor or underside of the car. He said the foam surrounding the line had absorbed it all and was soaked. Lucky break? Maybe.

BTW: It drives me crazy that my oil cooler is the lowest part the front end. And to my horror, I've dinged it a couple of times while learning that lesson. Now, in trying not to overrun things like curbs and parking blocks I sometimes end up two or three feet farther out than intended. Then Kitty's rear end is dangling out into threatening traffic!

OH THE HUMANITY!!

 

 

Hey Jim M. I can relate. I've been known to have passengers ask... aren't you going to pull forward?

Can only say -- hm, you're not used to have I park yet? ie always far from others (extra exercise is healthy, yeah?) and with effort to avoid rubbing the front, touching objects with doors, etc. etc.

LOL. <shrugging> love my car!

Sandy