Anyone got wisdom they'd be willing to share? 2011 Mkll fabia combi, 1.2 tsi. 

 

The engine's been cleaned down (by a VAG knowledgeable garage I've used before) because they couldn't tell where it was coming from before. Went away to drive it for a bit, but then they couldn't fit in a re-inspection as quickly as they thought. So trying to gauge what to brace for. 

 

Photos below show what I can see and get to, to photograph. It's losing enough to pool in the tray at the front, then drip out of the drain hole further back. 

 

What I can't quite see, or doesn't completely make sense, is the amount dripping vs what & where there's evidence of oil on the engine. Before the clean down I thought head gasket, but, this is too high isn't it? Or have I lost myself in engine architecture navigation?

 

I've looked up what happens when the usual suspect gaskets go, and I could be being dim / not translating others' photos to what I'm looking at properly, but it doesn't seem to match those. But the oily patches are definitely around seals and joins, so...

 

The coolant leak was fixed with a pump replacement, but the leak predates that by some time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, MijIsTired said:

But the oily patches are definitely around seals and joins

It might be leaks past those rubbish spring clips. Maybe try replacing them with proper Terry Jubilee clips?

I understand your reasoning, but there's no evidence of that. I appreciate you can't see that from those photos. 

3 places to check

 

The small PCV valve at the rear and mid to right of the cam cover, often breaks and is left dangling on the rubber hose to the air filter box. Leaving hole open on cam cover blowing oil mist.

 

The crankshaft seal on the timing cover. It looks like the timing cover has been removed judging from the sealant to change the timing chain. Often garages neglect to change the crankshaft seal on the timing cover which invariably leaks after being removed.

 

If the timing chain has been changed, sometimes mechanics don't properly clean off the old liquid gasket seal on the sump and block ( sump has to be removed to do a timing chain) and/or are sloppy on reapplying the correct oe liquid gasket, which requires a bit of skill to do properly. Check around the sump seal gasket, if its leaking, the sump has to be removed, cleaned and new sealant reapplied. The sealant takes over 2 hours to cure, so delay refilling oil and restarting the engine.

 

Also there is some evidence on the photos of the oil filler cap leaking.

Edited 21 March, 20242 yr by xman

I agree with both @xmans observations. 

I had the same issue with the crankshaft seal on the timing cover, was not properly closed and was leaking.  

About the pcv  valve I replaced it  with a cheap oil catch can although I dont get any oil in it, mostly water from vapors. 

And lastly I had a small oil leak/burn from turbo. 

I replaced it and now I have 0 oil leak or burn. 

I suppose you have already fixed it till now, but if not you can spray some brake cleaner and check again where exactly leaks 

Update (belated): garage gave OH this extra-concise handwritten note:

"Top timing cover
PCV valve on rear of engine
Engine Sump"

Full house for @xman and big thanks for sharing your knowledge.

PCV valve question: I changed the breather valve that's under the chunky black pressure pipe only a year or so ago. I wouldn't have described it as being at the back of the engine, but that could just be a difference in orientation.

Is there another one? (not sure how that would work, but what do I know...) I've searched, scoured diagrams, all the usual, but everything tagged PCV valve seems to relate to the one I replaced. Or does it have about 5 different names, like the bloody breather valve does, so I've been searching for the wrong thing?

It's always possible I did a sh*te job, or the replacement has failed already, but I don't have any fumey smells and I went for a decent quality part (or at least, I tried to!)

@Stelios26 had you (or a garage or previous owner) had the timing belt cover off in the past? Just wondering what the seals usually look like, as I have nothing to compare them to.

Now have an additional issue: persistent - or new / different - coolant leak. The garage replaced the water pump a couple of months ago. Will search the forum before starting yet another thread, but putting here in case readers have ideas about what else is likely to be going on. I don't think the expansion tank is pressurising like it used to, as no grumpy hissing when I open it a little bit too soon...

[OT but @xman just found your extremely helpful info in reply to an old thread re hesitation under load. So I'll add 'probably need to replace Lead No. 3 to the long list of jobs...]


 

Edited 2 January, 20251 yr by MijIsTired
Typo correction

Bumping to see if anyone's around... 🙂 

Update, just in case it's of use to anyone else in the future:

The valve I couldn't locate, is apparently only really visible from underneath, and as I can only work on ours on the slopey road, I can't get under it easily or safely without a big palaver with multiple chocks and neighbour inconvenience. I still can't find it referenced in the usual parts catalogues so none the wiser, but hey. 

 

The coolant leak wasn't found until the system had been pressurised and on diagnostics for about an hour at the garage, and nowhere near the water pump, which was replaced for a second time between initial and final fixes. Expensive way to find it, but at least that should be sorted for a bit. 

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20251 yr by MijIsTired
Correcting typo

Late response but let's see.

 

Yes I have changed the timing belt at a garage. First time they did close the cover it wasn't closed well and it was leaking oil. I changed garage and found someone who closed it very well! The first time there were visible sloppy sealant. 

 

About your coolant leak, I am gonna call it "water distributer". It's like a plastic box which have 3-4 pipes coming out of it that distributes the water. I had many times coolant leaks, two times from water pump and one time from this thing.

 

About the valve. Pcv or breather valve it's the valve that is under the chunky black pressure  pipe you mention. I don't know any other valve under the engine.

@MijIsTired I wonder if @xman was referring to the oil separator,  item 23 here https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/FAB/697/1/103/103007

when he talked of the PCV valve?

On 19/08/2024 at 12:19, Stelios26 said:

Late response but let's see.

 

Yes I have changed the timing belt at a garage. First time they did close the cover it wasn't closed well and it was leaking oil. I changed garage and found someone who closed it very well! The first time there were visible sloppy sealant. 

 

About your coolant leak, I am gonna call it "water distributer". It's like a plastic box which have 3-4 pipes coming out of it that distributes the water. I had many times coolant leaks, two times from water pump and one time from this thing.

 

About the valve. Pcv or breather valve it's the valve that is under the chunky black pressure  pipe you mention. I don't know any other valve under the engine.

On this occasion it doesn’t (as far as I can see) seem to be coming from the timing chain side. But unless I can get under it again I can’t be sure if that.

 

They defo weren’t talking about the crankcase breather valve, although it looks like one source of the oil may be the grommet for that. The valve is fine - I replaced over a year ago and checked it at the weekend - but the grommet has the beginnings of a split between the external part and the narrower tube bit.

 

So now on the hunt for a part number for just the grommet, which I don’t know the proper name for.

On 19/08/2024 at 12:35, Breezy_Pete said:

@MijIsTired I wonder if @xman was referring to the oil separator,  item 23 here https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/FAB/697/1/103/103007

when he talked of the PCV valve?

Ooh interesting @Breezy_Pete that would fit the ‘back of the engine’ vague description. Thank you. 

If someone still has to replace the oil separator cover and needs some help, I've done it in September 2024; feel free to ask any question.

 

Thank you for your help regarding the oil separator. It had any valves? Such a PCV valve? When searching for PCV the only part found is that breathing valve which is connected to the air filter tube.

But seems to be another or more “pcv” valve… I found oil in air intake, intake manifold. And as long as that oil separator is there maybe they are connected somehow.

Thank you !

There's quite a bit of info about the PCV system in page 2 of my thread here:

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/531352-petes-rescue-roomster/page/2/

Keep going until you get to the part (post on 21 June) showing the valve in the intake manifold, which is a part that will rarely be working correctly in older engines, I expect.

The whole PCV system is a little complex on these engines, involving internal cast-in connectivity, external hoses and valves, and pathways and valves within the plastic oil separator box.

Workshop diagrams and several photos can be found in the linked thread.

Edited 21 January21 Jan by Breezy_Pete

Thank you for the link and guidance. The story was very helpful from the beginning till the end (not just the post from 21 Jun). I should remove the intake and clean it as well.

You did a great job ! Congrats!