Just trying to identify the source of an oil leak and wondering what these nuts/bolts at the front of the engine to the right of the oil filter in the middle of the engine are for. Have looked in the Haynes manual with no joy. Guess I did the wrong thing eager to stop the leak by grabbing a ratchet and socket out to tighten them and think I may have caused some damage to the left hand one, in that it won't get any tighter (maybe have de-threaded the bolt or nut). The oil leak is definitely coming from the front of the engine and oil drips off the protruding bit between these two bolts. With the drips coming from here is the leak likely to be easily/cheaply fixable? Unfortunately the haynes manual doesn't seem to cover this bit of the engine. (I think it only leaks when the engine has been running and the oil circulating through the engine).

Some oil also ends up underneath the oil filter, my initial thought was the oil filter was the source of the leak but I have changed the oil and replaced the filter and made sure the oil filter fitting was cleaned, that the sealing ring was lightly oiled and the filter was on tight.

The 4 cam shaft cover bolts seem very tight and the oil pressure switch, although it was covered in oil does not appear to be the source of the leak and does not appear to want to go any tighter.

Am considering degreasing the engine and cleaning it up to try see more clearly where the leak is coming from - but the grease might be the only thing keeping the rest of the oil in? It seems like a possibly ridiculous idea but I wonder if high temp paint across the front of the engine might help keep the oil in? (It only drips so the leak isn't particularly bad, but am sure the accumulation of oil isn't good).

I have come across an oil leak in a 1.4 8 valve Fabia from the area to the passenger side of the oil filter, is this where you mean?

There weren't any bolts there but small core plugs, a new core plug and it was sorted.

Oil pressure switches are quite prone to leaking but they leak out of the switch itself so tightening doesnt work.

Can you take a picture of the suspect area please?

Hope this helps. I have circled the bolts I mention. As I say I think I might have damaged the left one by tightening it. Looking again at the picture it appears wet above these bolts on the ledge across. Picture was taken before having a little clean up and tightening the bolts.

Hmm Im wondering if that is a blanking plate for a mechancal fuel pump that may have been used in an earlier incarnation of that engine block as its inline with the cam.

Cant see it being that leaking though as the oil is above it, maybe head gasket?

Looks blanking plate ish to me as well.

Pretty sure its around there that the camshaft sensor goes in on the later cars.

Yes it is the old fuel pump blanking plate but i suspect your problem is above that.The alloy plate that runs just above that is known to leak due to the rubber gasket (like the rocker gasket) getting hard and seeping.The rubber bungs over the threads also go hard too but they are all cheap enough to by from a dealer.They are common fit from 136 Rapid up to Felicia.

Yes it is the old fuel pump blanking plate but i suspect your problem is above that.The alloy plate that runs just above that is known to leak due to the rubber gasket (like the rocker gasket) getting hard and seeping.The rubber bungs over the threads also go hard too but they are all cheap enough to by from a dealer.They are common fit from 136 Rapid up to Felicia.

Sorry don't mean to be a pain. How do I gain access to this gasket? Is this the cam cover or something else? Is this easy enough to take off or is it a case of stripping from the rocker cover, rocker gear, etc...

Is the appropriate gasket one of these, or does it have another technical name? eBay.co.uk: Skoda Rapid/Favorit/Felicia Side Cover Gsk (item 150129837957 end time 05-Jul-07 18:48:02 BST)

What are the threads the rubber bungs go on to?

Sorry about my complete lack of knowledge but the Haynes manual doesn't seem to cover this part of the engine so I don't have a clue.

Many thanks.

looks like the right bit, and that panel either comes straigt off, or else you only need to take the rocker cover off for it - its not hard anyway IIRC

All I can think to remove it is the four cam shaft cover bolts just below the spark plugs?

All I can think to remove it is the four cam shaft cover bolts just below the spark plugs?

Yep thats it,four 10mm nuts,big metal washer and rubber seal around the threads and off it comes ! They always leak and if left to leak for a while then all the crud from the road sticks to it and makes a lovely mess like yours.

Sorry don't mean to be a pain. How do I gain access to this gasket? Is this the cam cover or something else? Is this easy enough to take off or is it a case of stripping from the rocker cover, rocker gear, etc...

Is the appropriate gasket one of these, or does it have another technical name? eBay.co.uk: Skoda Rapid/Favorit/Felicia Side Cover Gsk (item 150129837957 end time 05-Jul-07 18:48:02 BST)

What are the threads the rubber bungs go on to?

Sorry about my complete lack of knowledge but the Haynes manual doesn't seem to cover this part of the engine so I don't have a clue.

Many thanks.

You are not being a pain,we had to learn somehow and i did the same by asking questions and ropeing good mates into helping me to fix my sick cars.The good news is these engines are easy to work on unlike the more modern stuff,i don'y think twice now about pulling an engine or a box out of a front engined or rear engined Skud ! As for the part,yes thats it !