After my son left for work today I noticed a large oil patch on the drive. When he got home this evening I had a look underneath and there was oil pouring off the bottom of the engine. It is everywhere, on top of the inlet manifold and spread all the way along the underside of the car. It seems to be mainly on the left side of the engine as you look at it. It's not the oil filter and not the rocker cover. I haven't been able to get under it this evening and the undertray is preventing me from seeing much from the sides. I'll get under it tomorrow afternoon but in the meantime any starters for 10?
How do know it's not the rocker cover, especially if it's on the intake mani? What engine is it again?
There doesn't seem to be any oil in any quantity below the cover (running down) that would justify the quantity of oil everywhere else. Its a 1.3.
That might explain the spread of oil all over if it's getting on to the spinning pulley. Hopefully it won't be raining when I get home and I can get under, clean and watch for leaks.
dipstick tube ? excessive crank case pressure either caused by blocked vent hose, or too much piston blow by, makes the oil run out of dipstick tube...
Nothing on the underside of the bonnet. Nothing on alternator. A good shout but no, dipstick secure. Checked the coolant reservoir - no oil. Checked the oil filler cap - no water. Looks to be dry in the morning so I shall be getting oily and messy. Will report back
Found it!! After taking the car off the drive it was very evident. It is absolutely pouring out of this switch. Is it oil temp sensor or pressure sensor, there is no mention of it in the Haynes manual! It needs replacing at any rate, there was no oil in the engine this morning, a very luck escape!
Oil pressure switch, I think, going by the wire colour. Part number may be stamped on the edge of the hex area if you're lucky. I have a vague feeling it's a 1.4bar one on the 1.3 engines, 068919081D ? oil pressure switch; temperature sensor; temperatu... - Golf(GO) [EUROPA 1991 year] (7zap.com)
yeah black would be 1.4 bar, rather than the usual 1.8 bar found on big block engines. correct part number above and still available from the dealers at 16.92+VAT
Spot on, thank you. Part ordered, £5.30 from local autoparts shop, Should be fitted Monday afternoon It was amazing how much was coming out, just at tickover. Interestingly the oil pressure light on the dash didn't come on (apparently ). Come to think of it, is there even one on the dash - need to check. Great help from the forum as ever
this one triggers the light around 2k rpm, plus you may find the electrical contact part still works alright even with gallons of oil pissing past it
All sorted. Number One son fitted the new sensor while I was at work and new connector as the old was loose and couldn't be nipped up. Quite proud of him really, easy job I know but it's definite progress
Might be an idea to deliberately disconnect it, run/hold the rpm up above 2-2.5k and just check that the warning system does get triggered.
Wonder why it was leaking in the first place....? Do these sensors usually take a seal/copper washer/PTFE tape or something along those lines?
Just a copper washer IIRC. You can always anneal the old one if it's hardened. As for the leak, I believe there is a diaphragm inside the sensor. When it becomes holed, the oil leaks through and exits where the aluminium body is crimped around the plastic terminal holder/insulator.
