Oily substance below engine? [Hydraulic fluid]

[Bardot]

Spotted pool of oil under engine this morning. Looked up and saw this. Anybody with and knowledge as to what problem I have now? Van is 2016 T6 T32 140 (170 remap).

 

[DXX]

I wouldn’t consider it a problem yet. De-grease the area and have another look after say 20 miles.
That drip could have taken weeks to collect and oil stains often look worse than they are.
There is a known problem with oil leaking through DSG bolts which VW have a solution for.

 

[Bardot]

I wouldn’t consider it a problem yet. De-grease the area and have another look after say 20 miles.
That drip could have taken weeks to collect and oil stains often look worse than they are.
There is a known problem with oil leaking through DSG bolts which VW have a solution for.

No its a recent leak. I park the van on an elevated drive so see underneath as I walk by. The leak is dripping every 15 seconds . Also should have added its got a manual box.

 

[Murdoch]

My T6 150 BHP had an oil seal replaced foc under warranty.

speak to you local service centre

 

[DXX]

No its a recent leak. I park the van on an elevated drive so see underneath as I walk by. The leak is dripping every 15 seconds . Also should have added its got a manual box.

Is it gear oil or engine oil (black from carbon)?

 

[Bardot]

Is it gear oil or engine oil (black from carbon)?

Not an expert so find it hard to tell. Just had a service so the engine oil having only seen less than 500 miles use is still clean. Between my fingers the oils seems very thin would that make it gear oil. ?

 

[Bardot]

Have now left the van standing for a day and drip has stopped. only collected an eggcup full of oil so scratching my head more than ever. Have booked it in at local service centre but can't get it looked at till Thursday.

 

[DXX]

Not an expert so find it hard to tell. Just had a service so the engine oil having only seen less than 500 miles use is still clean. Between my fingers the oils seems very thin would that make it gear oil. ?

Is it the same as the oil on the dipstick?

 

[Bardot]

Is it the same as the oil on the dipstick?

Same colour but maybe a bit thinner ?

 

[DXX]

Possibly a drive end crankshaft seal failure which is a gearbox, clutch and DMF off job. If so and depending on milage you might want to consider a clutch / DMF replacement at the same time as they are also reliability issues with these.
I’d give it a thorough clean and be completely sure that it isn’t oil dripping from higher in the engine, after that the cheapest option would probably be an independent VW specialist.

 

[In a state]

Could be a clumsy fill and they've spilled a little over the side of the filler?

 

[Bardot]

So Took it in to local service centre. They said it was a collection of cleaning spray they had used around the engine when servicing that had seaped through to that point collecting oil on the way ???!!!! i,m going to keep an eye on the area though just to be sure. Thanks for you suggestions.

 

[DXX]

Degreaser still dripping every 15 sec’s from a hot engine after 500 miles, that’s a first for me

 

[Phil_j89]

Chances are, that it'll be either crank oil seal on that side or the bolts that hold the flywheel to the crank are allowing oil past.

As said above, it'll be a gearbox out job to sort.

I'd doubt its residual from cleaning off oil at a previous service..

 

[Bardot]

Chances are, that it'll be either crank oil seal on that side or the bolts that hold the flywheel to the crank are allowing oil past.

As said above, it'll be a gearbox out job to sort.

I'd doubt its residual from cleaning off oil at a previous service..

Does seem more likely. Luckily my drive is elevated from the path to my house so I can glance underneath easily. I'm sure if it is a genuine leak I will see signs of it again soon enough. Just as long as its not something that will let go and cause a major failure on the road.

 

[rover220]

So Took it in to local service centre. They said it was a collection of cleaning spray they had used around the engine when servicing that had seaped through to that point collecting oil on the way ???!!!! i,m going to keep an eye on the area though just to be sure. Thanks for you suggestions.

utter rubbish, clearly crank seal leaking.

 

[Insert Coin]

I’ve just had my crank end seal leak fixed, quoted £750, but mine was done under extended warranty in about 4 hours.

 

[DXX]

I’ve just had my crank end seal leak fixed, quoted £750, but mine was done under extended warranty in about 4 hours.

How does 4 hours labour and a new lip seal equate to 750 quid, was the clutch / DMF replaced as well?

 

[Insert Coin]

How does 4 hours labour and a new lip seal equate to 750 quid, was the clutch / DMF replaced as well?

God no, just the seal and labour. I did enjoy listening to them tell me it would be circa £750 and they could do it the next day for me as a priority customer and due to my van being just outside of the 3 year warranty.

The service guy didn’t look quite so smarmy when I reminded him about my 5 year warranty, I suspect he may have even known but was hoping to blag it anyway.

 

[Bardot]

Problem sorted !!! well not sorted but I now know the problem. The oily fluid was brake fluid, not oil as such. Keeping an eye for leaks I saw nothing for a month so kind of ignored it. Then yesterday lock up the house get in the van for a trip to the coast and when I touch the clutch it drops to the floor. Look under van, leak is back, use a torch to shine through the reservoir and the fluid level is just above minimum. So guess problem is a leaking seal on the clutch slave cylinder. So sadly its going to be a costly job. which will probable include replacement of clutch and possibly DMF as suggested by DXX. Thanks for your input people and happy motoring.