Author Topic: 2k miles a month is hammering the Mondeo - Oil Leak (Read 3845 times)

Cunning Plan · « **on:** August 07, 2011, 12:48:46 pm »

Question four Andy and anyone else with Mondeo experience really:

Ahh, it was doing so good.

Always check the levels after cleaning the car which I did yesterday, but noticed the oil was down by half which is real unusual for it as it is usually spot on for all levels.

I took the lower cover off today where there was lots of oil collected. I couldn't see exactly where the oil was coming from as it just seemed everywhere. I ran the engine for a bit to warm it up and there was dripping from the sump-plug area, but it wasn't the plug itself, it seen to be coming from between the sump and block, so assume gasket needs replacing.

Question is - how likely is it to really be sump gasket or would it be higher up and dripping down?

Second question - if it is the sump gasket, it seems pretty easy to replace - but is there anything I need to know?

Engine is 1.8 petrol '97

Cheers

Andy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2011, 01:47:48 pm »

Right, well clean the block down is the first step, get out there with it up on some axle stands and properly locate the leak.

Common on the diesels used to be the back of the rocker cover, around the manifolds and down the bottom of the sump, and also the sump gasket.

I believe the sump gaskets on the Zetecs can be taken off in situ, if a little awkward, the diesels can't be removed in place, I think there was something about the gearbox having to be separated.

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2011, 02:21:38 pm »

Quoting: Andy

Right, well clean the block down is the first step, get out there with it up on some axle stands and properly locate the leak.

This is the problem, I can't see exactly where it is coming from, it just seems to be coming from the sump / block join, but it might be higher up that that - but you know what the engines are like, you can only see so far up because everything is in the way and tightly packed in.

Quoting: Andy

I believe the sump gaskets on the Zetecs can be taken off in situ,

I think so too, looking at it today it looked like I can get to all the fixings okay and it will slide across away from the subframe and down OK.

philoldsmobile · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2011, 02:33:19 pm »

Although i dont have mondeo specific experience, I'd have thought the sump gasket was unlikely, more probable candidates would be the crank seals or head gasket

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2011, 02:48:44 pm »

Quoting: philoldsmobile

Although i dont have mondeo specific experience, I'd have thought the sump gasket was unlikely, more probable candidates would be the crank seals or head gasket

This is what I was thinking

The problem is, there is so much in the way I just cant see any higher.

It is defiantly coming from above the sump / sump join..

Let me see if I can get a decent picture.. Back in five.

Andy · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2011, 03:12:30 pm »

Quoting: philoldsmobile

Although i dont have mondeo specific experience, I'd have thought the sump gasket was unlikely, more probable candidates would be the crank seals or head gasket

Part of the reason for getting rid of mine was the MOT tester said that the sump gasket and what would be the gearbox end crackseal were shot. Major major pig to change and to be honest, easier to just keep topping up. It never dripped on the drive it seems and i think helped act as an underseal anyway

philoldsmobile · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2011, 03:16:26 pm »

The only real consequence is if oil ends up on the clutch - judder and slippage are pretty much guaranteed in the end if it does..

not to mention dropping excessive amounts of oil can be an MOT failure.

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2011, 03:24:56 pm »

Quoting: Andy

Part of the reason for getting rid of mine was the MOT tester said that the sump gasket and what would be the gearbox end crackseal were shot. Major major pig to change and to be honest, easier to just keep topping up. It never dripped on the drive it seems and i think helped act as an underseal anyway

Interesting, there was some around the gearbox / bell-housing join too.

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Let me see if I can get a decent picture.. Back in five.

Green indicates flow of oil

philoldsmobile · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2011, 04:00:19 pm »

really hard to tell from there, unfortunately..

art b · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2011, 05:03:33 pm »

hard to say where oil is coming from when its ran everywhere..
ya really need to clean it all down wiff some gunk...

then fire it up and see where the 1st sign of oil is b4 it has a chance to get every ...

Roadkill · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2011, 09:51:39 pm »

A good trick is to blow chalk dust (after cleaning everything off first) over the area.

It'll obviously stick to where the oil comes from then the run will produce clear signs of the "track" it leaves.

Sump gasket failures don't normally produce a great loss of oil - I'd guess Head gasket.

I assume your filter is nowhere near that area ?

Roadkill · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2011, 09:53:09 pm »

Quoting: Cunning Plan

2k miles a month is hammering the Mondeo

Oh, and pansy.

I did 1k this week !

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2011, 07:08:41 am »

Quoting: Roadkill

A good trick is to blow chalk dust (after cleaning everything off first) over the area.

Nice, good idea.

Quoting: Roadkill

Sump gasket failures don't normally produce a great loss of oil - I'd guess Head gasket.

Hmm. I think I am going to have to get it up really high on stands tonight and get the flood light out etc to have a real good look

Quoting: Roadkill

I assume your filter is nowhere near that area ?

It is in-fact right there too, just above the green line. I ran my fingers around the base of the filter, but couldn't see a leak, so I assumed it was under the filter. As I say, I will get it up in the air tonight and have a proper look. (Filter and oil recently changed, I would say less than 1k ago).

If it is head gasket, I think I might be looking for a Mk3 Mondeo estate fairly soon

(BTW RK, out of interest, does your TDCI use ANY oil at all? I heard they use 1/2 litre every now and then being a diesel?

Quoting: Roadkill

I did 1k this week !

WTF are you working as now to do that kind of mileage? Taxi? RK courier service?

Incursus · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2011, 08:57:58 am »

Quoting: Roadkill

I did 1k this week !

I did around 700 that was bad enough.

At least I didn't have to use my own car though.

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2011, 11:18:12 am »

Update:

Just walked to the post office as usual during my lunch, I thought it would give the car enough time from the commute this morning to settle all the oil back in the sump to give an accurate reading. The oil hasn't moved and is still on Max. There are also no drips on the floor

Confusing as yesterday there was a drip every 10/15 seconds or so.

Plan is to still get it up in the air tonight

Incursus · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2011, 11:51:57 am »

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Plan is to still get it up in the air tonight

philoldsmobile · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2011, 12:00:32 pm »

[pissing contest]

Pah, I did 1500 miles in 48 hours driving my dads Pug 307 at the weekend....

[/pissing contest]

ianjpage · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2011, 12:28:02 pm »

Well just to hijack kinda, my modeo is soon to be sold for spare/repair - steering rack has started to PISH fluid everywhere

along with everything else it needs for the MOT it will cost MORE than buying another banger off ebay...so if ya need a spares car lol!!

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2011, 08:18:56 pm »

Quoting: ianjpage

so if ya need a spares car lol!!

Ha, cheers.

I took some pictures. Cleaned it up, than ran it to warm it up, then took some more pictures.

Head and valve cover dry

All looks fairly clear until I looked back at the pictures. I was taking shots with the camera on timer, pushing it up where I couldn't put my head and letting it take a shot.

The shot above is a wide-shot of what the shot below is. There is a bracket attached to the block that holds the prop shaft, but above that I notice on the pictures the thing marked in green.

Is this the oil pressure sensor? I read that they commonly leak and it IS right above where it is dripping from - so there is a chance this is it - but I couldn't actually see it when I was under the car, it was just on these shots as I look back at them. I've dotted a line where it could be flowing as it does look a bit wet, but I just can't tell it's so confined in the engine bay

philoldsmobile · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2011, 09:16:02 pm »

hard to say, but it does look like it could be an oil pressure sender..

art b · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2011, 10:48:39 pm »

could be the answer..has it got a cable on it..?

ive seen similar coolant senders leak.....

it looks wet near the oil filter [white canister]

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #21 on:** August 09, 2011, 07:07:26 am »

Hmm, this could be fun to replace then.

I think I will get it up AGAIN on stands tonight and try and feel for the cable to confirm.

Quoting: art b

it looks wet near the oil filter [white canister]

Yah, but directly around the filter is OK, so I think this is just over-spill from this sensor.

Going to post on the Mondeo forums to see if someone can confirm the sensor position so I can get one on order..

Cheers for opinions so far guys

Andy · « **Reply #22 on:** August 09, 2011, 07:19:37 am »

Sorry not overly familiar with the Zetec, still learning on mine. Tis really annoying that on Talkford.com they published the official Zetec maintenance manual, like the one FBody has for his Camaro. Was going to link you to it but it appears to have been pulled. That alone was worth the old subscription fee!

Hope you get it sorted, what mileage you on? Thought that thing was just getting run it?!

Ian, sad to hear about your woes. Racks going are pretty rare I thought, but if you are thinking of stripping it give me a shout. There might be some parts I'm looking for.

Cunning Plan · « **Reply #23 on:** August 09, 2011, 07:22:00 am »

Cheers Andy.

Quoting: Andy

Hope you get it sorted, what mileage you on? Thought that thing was just getting run it?!

Just ticked over to 158,000 this morning.

Fieldy · « **Reply #24 on:** August 09, 2011, 07:29:29 am »

Ian, if you break it, set up a thread....

Craig, good luck, but sorry, I can't help much!