First post and i hate it to be an oil leak issue, but ive been a long term lurker and cant find any posts with the same issues

I have a 98' XK8 4.0 Cabrio, it has had a replacement engine fitted from a 99' around early 2010. Although no reciepts

I have a leak on the left hand side of the engine (Drivers side in US), it appears to be coming from behind and inbetween the power steering pump and a/c compressor.

It doesnt appear to be coming from the cam cover gaskets that i can see, is there any potentional oil leak sources from this area? Dipstick tube maybe?

My dipstick tube has had it's bracket (that attaches it to the cam cover) cut off and you can wobble it by hand...

Front 'V' timing chain casing is weeping a little too

I cant stand oil leaks!!

Any help or advice is appriciated

 

Any ideas?

First pics are of oil leaking down the front of the block

note the oil dripping from the tensioner

 

bump - any techs with some thoughts??

NJ - also recommend going to the New member section and posting an intro!

 

It is hard to say where the oil is coming from but on the front of the engine you have what they call the timing cover, it has several gaskets you should check. The best thing to do in hunting down the exact location of the leak is to clean the engine of any existing oil residue that is on it now then begin your search.

 

Don't know about the UK but every small town in the US has a coin operated car pressure washing facility. Clean up the front of the engine without getting water everywhere and then see where the leak(s) are coming from. There is not a common problem with leaks in that area. The only common leak problem with this engine is associated with the valve covers. Since the engine has been out and it doesn't appear you have good documentation of the associated work clean and look is about the best advice I have for you.

 

The most telling clue is that the dipstick tube is both unsecured and wobbles. Most take a great deal of effort to move when removing the left cam cover.

 

My recommendation is to get the engine hot, then use some engine degreaser and spray the affected areas, then flush clean with water. Just watch carefully to see where the leak comes from, then just replace the seal involved. Since the engine is a replacement, you don't know what was done to it before. If it has oil on the belt tensioner, this could be coming from above under the intake area.

 

Airflow from the rotation of the pulleys, drive belt and cooling fans is just spreading the leaking oil backwards over the engine as you drive.

Cleaning off as recommended in several replies above following by running it up to temperature whilst stationary will give you a better chance of locating the source.

Also when you get a minute, please follow this link New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the New Member Area - Intro a MUST forum and post some info about yourself and your vehicle for all members to see. In return you'll get a proper welcome and some useful advice about posting to the forum.

Graham

 

If I had to spitball, I would say cam cover. Those leaks can follow a seam and go strange places... Run your finger around the edges of the cam cover gasket and I'll wager you get a little oil.

 

Thanks for the replies guys

Heres my into tread btw... pics included
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/n...44/#post826333

Ive cleaned off the oil and run her up but im still none the wiser, the majority of the oil is dripping off the air con pump

Ive run my finger around the perimeter of the cam cover but cannot find any fresh oil traces, only old dry crud

 

When looking for the leak look around the area that you think it is coming from. If I were to guess I would say to look at the front of the car at the chain covers.

 

Hey guys. I am expierencing the same now my car. Oil is dripping from the left side top front area (drivers side/US) and dripping all the way down the undercarriage. My mechanic thinks its the the timing gasket. My tensioners have already been upgraded so I am not sure. This was done before I purchased car. I found the outer gasket here - Eurospare W0133-1624935 - Auto Parts Network . There is also an inner gasket - not sure how that works but Im thinking the outer might be my problem. Did you find a solution NJ?

 

Any further update on this?
I have a 4.2 XKR that also has a small oil leak and appears to be from the same point as shown in the second picture (belt tensioner?)
just curious if this was resolved...

thanks
Beardy

 

I have this as well on my 2001 XK8. The lowest point that the oil shows up is on TOP of the lip of the oil pan, right under the crankshaft pulley.

Subscribed

 

Hard to say. In that area I would think the most likley culprits are the power steering pump itself or the crank seal. If it is above the latter though it would need to be thrown there from the pulley, and I would expect oil everywhere on the front of the engine if that was the case.

If it is coming up the dipstick you have bigger problems. It will only do that if it is being forced out by high pressure in the sump. This would typically be from excessive blow by and cylinder wear.

 

I'd emphasize the possibility of front timing chain cover leak, especially since I have these symptoms too and am pretty convinced that's where my leak is coming from.

As with the cam covers, there are points on the timing chain cover where RTV is to be applied. I'd suspect the seal of the entire gasket, but especially these points.

 

Either clean it and accept it. Or fix it
those pics by op 6 years ago are nothing. Most are way worse than that.
Otherwise it is the timing cover which entails new cam cover gaskets, timing cover including the crank seal and while you have it all torn apart replace the oil pan gasket and oil filter adapter housing orings. The cover is a royal pain in the butt. So i just clean mine when i do a oil change and replace the pig mats i put on the under tray to absorb the leaks.

 

Did you placed the pig mat on the tray before reinstalling it or on the garage floor under the car. Thanks.