Oil in the engine bay

lordofgondor · 15th October 2007, 12:20

Hi fellow BHPians, yesterday when I popped my hood to inspect the Indica V2 that my Dad drives, I was surprised to see a black sludge all over the engine block. I checked the engine sump cap, and it seemed just a bit loose. I have tightened it a bit. I checked the dipstick and the engine oil level is just fine. Also the color of the oil was black as expected as it's due for a change soon. I wanted to inquire what could be the possible reasons for the oil covering the engine block?

Thanks in advance!

vikram_d · 15th October 2007, 12:22

Get a complete engine bay wash done with either kerosene of diesel and then drive around for sometime. If there are any leaks you should be able to spot them.

1self · 15th October 2007, 12:29

check the engine oil level when the engine is cold...that will give you a better idea. also check coolant levels. maybe the engine was running very hot due to lack of coolant & the oil came out of the loose oil sump cap.

lordofgondor · 15th October 2007, 12:38

Thanks for the quick pointers guys!

@vikram_d: Yeah that seems like the logical thing to do. Hope I don't find any leaks though!

@1self: I'd checked oil level in the morning before starting the car and on a plain. The coolant level is between the MAX & MIN marks. Furthermore, I drove around the car and the temperature was pretty normal.

ported_head · 15th October 2007, 12:41

Probably leaking through your valve cover.

1self · 15th October 2007, 12:53

Hi!

is your indica petrol or diesel? Mileage? how is it running & idling?

lordofgondor · 15th October 2007, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1self

Hi!

is your indica petrol or diesel? Mileage? how is it running & idling?

Hi 1self, mine is a diesel and the mileage is 1L Km+. I feel that the engine is missing while in idle, as in the sound of the engine increases for a second periodically. Overall the car is running pretty smooth.

lordofgondor · 15th October 2007, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by ported_head

Probably leaking through your valve cover.

Where is the valve cover located? Can it be visually inspected?

1self · 15th October 2007, 18:37

check your accessory belts (for water pump etc) are OK.

nitrous · 15th October 2007, 18:43

Show us some pics .
I can't make out if its leaking from ur crank case or from the valve door .

lordofgondor · 16th October 2007, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1self

check your accessory belts (for water pump etc) are OK.

I did a visual inspection of the belts while the engine was off and also while it was running. Both of them seemed ok with the right amount of tension and no flexing. Please pardon my ignorance, but what's these belts got to do with engine oil leaking anyway?

mithun · 16th October 2007, 10:53

See this for cleaning :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ngine-bay.html

vijay_k · 16th October 2007, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

Get a complete engine bay wash done with either kerosene of diesel and then drive around for sometime. If there are any leaks you should be able to spot them.

Hi Vikram,

Where can i get this done in bangalore?

Vijay

vikram_d · 16th October 2007, 14:10

At any service station where they do washing of cars.

theMAG · 16th October 2007, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d

At any service station where they do washing of cars.

Vijay_K,

What our literary genius Vikram means is that during the course of a regular wash at service stations, the engine bay is cleaned as well.

15th October 2007, 12:20	#1
lordofgondor BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: UP 16 Posts: 936 Thanked: 159 Times	Oil in the engine bay Hi fellow BHPians, yesterday when I popped my hood to inspect the Indica V2 that my Dad drives, I was surprised to see a black sludge all over the engine block. I checked the engine sump cap, and it seemed just a bit loose. I have tightened it a bit. I checked the dipstick and the engine oil level is just fine. Also the color of the oil was black as expected as it's due for a change soon. I wanted to inquire what could be the possible reasons for the oil covering the engine block? Thanks in advance!
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 12:22	#2
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	Get a complete engine bay wash done with either kerosene of diesel and then drive around for sometime. If there are any leaks you should be able to spot them.
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 12:29	#3
1self BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 629 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	check the engine oil level when the engine is cold...that will give you a better idea. also check coolant levels. maybe the engine was running very hot due to lack of coolant & the oil came out of the loose oil sump cap.
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 12:38	#4
lordofgondor BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: UP 16 Posts: 936 Thanked: 159 Times	Thanks for the quick pointers guys! @vikram_d: Yeah that seems like the logical thing to do. Hope I don't find any leaks though! @1self: I'd checked oil level in the morning before starting the car and on a plain. The coolant level is between the MAX & MIN marks. Furthermore, I drove around the car and the temperature was pretty normal.
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 12:41	#5
ported_head Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 2,387 Thanked: 20 Times	Probably leaking through your valve cover.
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 12:53	#6
1self BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 629 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	Hi! is your indica petrol or diesel? Mileage? how is it running & idling?
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 18:37	#9
1self BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 629 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	check your accessory belts (for water pump etc) are OK.
	() Thanks

15th October 2007, 18:43	#10
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Show us some pics . I can't make out if its leaking from ur crank case or from the valve door .
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 10:53	#12
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 268 Times	See this for cleaning : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ngine-bay.html
	() Thanks

16th October 2007, 14:10	#14
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	At any service station where they do washing of cars.
	() Thanks