Team-BHP - Oil in the engine bay

- - Oil in the engine bay (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/30069-oil-engine-bay.html)

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!

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.

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 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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1self (Post 595500)

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ported_head (Post 595479)

Probably leaking through your valve cover.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1self (Post 595923)

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?

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d (Post 595450)

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikram_d (Post 596770)

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.