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Hello, Can anybody provide comment on experiences with steam cleaning an engine. I have an oil leak on my scout (2lt diesel) and local garage has recommended steam cleaning so that they can pinpoint the leak (currently quite a lot of old oil around the engine, including down the rear of the block). Having looked online quickly, I can see that some have a preference to use hand tools and degreaser rather than steam clean (or high pressure hose - i definitely don't like the sound of this knowing the issues it can cause with cycles) as the moisture can cause serious electrical issues. Given the age of my car (08) I'm concerned that steam cleaning will do more harm than good. Appreciate any advice. Thanks

@xmanthanks for the info

I did didn't I. Unintentional.

Will do. Luckily I'm not a total dip stick when it comes to checking the oil! 😁 Thanks for the tip 👍

@J.R the warning lights didn't come on whilst trying to get off the rocks. I have since noticed the oil light flashing for a few seconds when I turn on the ignition / start engine. This may be normal, but I don't remember noticing it before scraping everything. I'll get the vids onto YouTube and share ASAP. Thanks

Moi? I try! 😁

I did wonder if it was clutch as I was riding it a lot! I checked if it was slipping afterwards and seemed fine. Phew! I intend to soon! My brothers a mechanic (obviously doesn't run in the family!) and said he'd show me the basics. Thanks for the reply.

Here's a screen shot of the oil level in the filler cap hole. Looks high?

.....the videos are too large to upload and if I edit them to be a suitable file size they're not worth watching!

As promised, some clearer images attached. You'll have to forgive my crass attempts at describing parts, and/or getting part names wrong. The image I have marked up is a duplicate, as you'll see. All the 3 marked points / areas took some damage from rocks, as below: 1 - the point where smoke was emanating from the bolted join between the sump and whatever its bolted to. I'm assuming this smoke is what was causing the smell. 2 - where the sump has been scraped. I can't get a great view lying in the street but don't think there are any cracks or punctures in it. There appears to be oil down the front of it, but this looks old to me. Probably worth looking into though? 3 - can anybody tell me what this part is please? It also took some scraping damage. I also remember at one point, when stuck on aforementioned rocks, the engine noise becoming distinctly different. I panicked at the time that the rocks were putting pressure on the engine, pushing it upwards and making it run funny. This would be bad right? I started the car just now and it started fine, but the smell was still...erm....smellable. The oil light flashed a few times on the dash, but went off. I dont remember this happening pre-rocks. I also took the oil filler cap off and slight wisps of smoke were coming from the hole. The oil level also looked very high, which I dont remember it being previously. Could this be to do with the engine being pushed/put under physical pressure? I have some further videos of these two things which I will post separately. Obviously, I have no idea what I'm talking about, but hopefully that makes some sort of sense to someone! Be interested to hear comments (and slightly dreading them). Thanks

Thanks both, Silly me! In the attached images, I assume the sump is the blue circled part? The smoke was coming from a join between two parts at the red circled area. Zoomed in shot also attached. Not very clear I know, as I say I'll get some better images today. The smoke seemed to stop emitting after I drove for 10 mins, but the smell was still lingering. If I had to describe it, I'd say it was a chemically smell, not oily, not eggy. Looks like I'll be ringing the garage first thing tomorrow anyway.

Ha! 🤪 I've been looking at undertrays online but haven't got round to buying one yet. I will be using it for occasional light off road, as my job occasionally requires it, but won't be getting cocky again! Cheers

Hi all, So, I recently bought an 08 plate octavia scout and have gradually been testing its off road abilities more and more. Unfortunately I learnt its limitations tonight, the hard way (how else are you supposed to learn?!), when I beached it on some rocks. I managed to unbeach it with some painful maneuvering, only to find some smoke and a funny, indescribable smell coming from the underside of the engine, just behind the sump (I think, cars are not my area of expertise, hopefully I'll learn a thing or two here). I'm slightly embarrassed, as the car clearly isn't a land rover, but hoping somebody can maybe shed some light on what I may have damaged and whether its going to cost a small fortune? Video attached, not very good though sorry. ill get some better videos and images tomorrow (when the misses isn't about!). Cheers Sean VID-20210605-WA0032.mp4

Hi all, Popped my skoda cherry recently and bought a 08 plate mk2 octavia scout, with the 2l turbo diesel engine. Long and short - I love it! I've been keen to test its off road abilities and done some very tame off road tracks in it, and occasional slightly less tame ones and been impressed with its performance. Unfortunately, I've now got too cocky and caused some damage to the underside of the engine, but I'll save that for a separate post. Cars are not my forte, but I'm sure I'm in the right place to get some help. Look forward to chatting with some of you. Sean