Hi folks,

 

I've recently bought a TDi Octavia and whilst it drives fine, there appears to be a slight oil leak. I took it to a garage yesterday to investigate and it appears to be coming from the sump plug. The previous owner told me he had the sump plug replaced as it was leaking, but a mechanic/garage did this for him.

 

My mechanic saw the problem and didn't want to tighten it just in case it had been overtightened and would cause further problems. As yesterday was only an inspection there wasn't time to take it any further.

 

So he told me that I need a new sump and plug etc and I'm wondering if this the case or not?

 

If I do need a new sump, I have found cheap ones on eBay for around the £22 pound mark, is this a false economy or have people bought these and had no issues. I don't want to do the job twice, but also don't want to spend more than I have to.

 

Here is a link to one of many I found: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400567440150?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

Many thanks

Yas

I have one of those sumps on mine, it seems to be fine had it on for over a year now, my oem sump the plug wouldn't come out or tighten up, just turned in the thread which leaked oil like yours is.

I have one of those sumps on mine, it seems to be fine had it on for over a year now, my oem sump the plug wouldn't come out or tighten up, just turned in the thread which leaked oil like yours is.

 

Hi Dave,

 

Thank you for your reply and it's very reassuring to know, so in this case I might purchase this sump then.

 

Thanks again

 

Would also be good to know if anyone else has had any experiences with these sumps.

Is there enough meat around the sump plug hole to fit a helicoil or some other form of thread repair?

Is there enough meat around the sump plug hole to fit a helicoil or some other form of thread repair?

 

Hi, I'm not sure and the only way to know would be to try it. But if it fails then I will need a replacement sump at hand to fit on so I can drive the car away from the garage. Which is why I thought that if those cheap sumps are ok then I might just change it all...

 

Maybe I've just answered my own question!

To helicoil it you would need to remove the sump anyway as you could end up with all sorts of metal filings in there for cutting the new thread for the helicoil if you didn't, not to mention to get an accurate cut you really want the part suitably secured on a bench.

 

My brothers PD170 has a slight leak from the sump nut even after replacing it but it's literally a drop or two a day from what we can tell, not something I'd lose much sleep over, just check the oil level regularly and the next time the car is due a service then replace the sump at that point?

Make sure you use a suitable sealer and don't put too much on. Put to much on and when it cures the excess drops into the sump and blocks the pick up.

Make sure you use a suitable sealer and don't put too much on. Put to much on and when it cures the excess drops into the sump and blocks the pick up.

 

Do you use something to seal it when replacing the sump nut in a main dealer?   I've always thought that was the job of the washer and provided the face of the sump was clean that would do the trick unless there was thread damage or something?

Also give the oil pickup a clean, even if it means an hour on the labour bill if you're getting the garage to do it. You're not going to have the chance again, so get it done.

Do you use something to seal it when replacing the sump nut in a main dealer?   I've always thought that was the job of the washer and provided the face of the sump was clean that would do the trick unless there was thread damage or something?

I mean when replacing the sump.