VR Sump Gaskets...

[dr_mat 0]

Hi,

 

On my weekly pilgrimage under the bonnet of the VR6 tonight, I took a

closer look at the bottom end of the engine, cos I've noticed for a

while now that there seems to be quite a bit of oil residue, and it's

permanently "wet" oil down there too.

 

I dunno if my eyes are deceiving me, but it certainly looks as if the

sump gasket is seeping, pretty much all around the engine.

 

I'm not overly worried about the oil consumption on the car, so it's

not a big deal, I don't think, but I was hoping to get a few opinions

on whether it's something to worry about - i.e. will it be okay for a

while, or does it potentially mean I have more serious problems I

don't yet know about?

 

Just checked on GSF and a sump gasket is only £16, but I'm betting

it's not trivial to fit, so it's gonna be a bar steward, just like

everything else on the VR6 engine.. :(

 

Any opinions on this appreciated. Is it unusual? The engine has 113k

on it.. What's the gasket made out of? I presume it's not under

pressure..? Is it worth getting anything else sorted out at the same

time if I'm gonna get it replaced?

 

And the big question: how many more bits do I have to replace on this

car???

 

Answers on a postcard please.... ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Matt.

[Supercharged 2]

Change it asap, or you will spend for money on oil! - Its an easier job on the VR than the G60 despite a few more bolts because the ones on the gearbox side are easier to get to (still use a thin bar or flexible attachment to get to them to prevent cross-threading and torque them up opposite to each other in turn making sure the gasket is sitting in place)

 

The gaskets that VW supply (GSF appear to be the same) seem to be made out of a cork/rubber compound now (they used to be a more plastic type materiel)

 

Make sure you check the sump for any damage or rust whilst cleaning it!!

[Kevin Bacon 5]

The VW gasket is a metal/rubber hybrid and can be reused providing the 'fins' aren't flat.

 

Don't over-tighten the sump bolts. It's pretty much the sheer number of bolts that keeps the thing in place, they're done up to 11lb or something.

 

Oh and do please check your sump for rust penetration because I could see daylight through mine when it was a stealth. Lucky Vince had a spare one!

 

Also you might want to check the Engine speed sensor as it has an oil seal that can sometimes leaks. Oil leaking from there drips down the block and the creeps around the sump like blotting paper.

 

Kev

[dr_mat 0]

One possibility that has been pointed out to me is the engine mount contributing to this mess. Can anyone remember if the rear engine mount on the VR has oil-filled ..er.. mounts..?

 

The whole mount running across the car has oily residues on it, along with the anti-roll bar behind it, and the transmission axle slightly above it. There's obviously "wet" oil along the back lower edge of the mount, and this appears to be where the oil drips from onto the ground occasionally. I can believe that the sump gasket might have simply "wicked" (as in candle) this oil around to the front of the engine too by capillary action..!!

 

I was going to call my local VW specialist and have a natter about this, but it seems they've closed down for the week!!

[Joe M 0]

The mounts are filled with something, but it sounds like theres too much of a mess for it to be that. :?

[dr_mat 0]

Hmm. Ok. I dunno what it is, honestly. I mean there's only a few places it *could* come from. Engine mounts, OR engine!!

 

The engine oil level isn't going down noticeably (except when I cane it.. ;) ) and there's too much "wet" oil down there to be oil that came out when they did the service, so it must be fresh. And yet, it's quite dark oil, looks very old, so that seems to rule out the engine oil, but...

 

I'm confused!!!

 

Where the h@ll is it coming from??!! :? :?: :!: :?:

[Scott 0]

Clean it all off first with a jet wash and then keep an eye on it.....

[dr_mat 0]

There's an idea...

 

I'm generally nervous about spraying high pressure water at electronically subtle components, but since the engine bay survived a hose burst a while back I'm sure it'll be on this time too...

 

I kinda wish I had a coupla ramps and a driveway... Can't get my head under the fecking car cos it's so low... (And it's not lowered either...)

 

Cheers all! :)

[Kevin Bacon 5]

VR6 engine mounts are solid rubber front and rear. Only the gearbox one has the cr#ppy viscous fluid in it.

 

VR6 head gaskets are known to weep. Have you checked around the head?

 

Kev

[dr_mat 0]

Well as much as I can without being able to get under the car and look around the damn thing, yes...

I'll drag it into a local garage soon. Might blast the lower bits with a pressure wash this weekend if I get chance. At least that way I'll see any fresh stuff, and maybe where it's come from.

[dr_mat 0]

Having just checked more closely the engine, I'm confident that the oil *isn't* coming from the head gasket. Yes the head gasket appears to be seeping slightly, but the oil resiude from that doesn't extend very far up or down the engine block. Certainly there doesn't appear to be anything *like* enough oil there to make the mess that's underneath.

 

Which brings me back to earth. (Don't wanna have to take the head off!! £££££££ :? )

 

So I'll go back to plan a - pressure wash the rear engine mount and the sump area and make see if I can find out roughly where it's coming from.

 

Cheers all!

 

Matt.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Couple of other suggestions:- Heat exchanger seal and oil filter housing.

 

I reckon it might the engine speed sensor seal as I had oil leaking out of mine which sits above the engine mount oddly enough. Surprisingly enough, VW have modified the seal on this sensor :shock:

 

Hope you find the culprit.

 

Hopefully it is just the sump gasket as that's quite common and easy to change.

 

Kev

[dr_mat 0]

FWIW (I always like closure when I start a story), an update:

 

I hauled the beast into the garage today, and the problem has been traced to: the oil cooler seals. Hey ho, notch up another one to the "common corrado problems" list.

 

I also discovered I need TWO new rear calipers due to the infamous sticky handbrake mechanism design.

 

And I definitely need a new exhaust.

 

Both these I already knew... :(

 

Time to start saving...! :shock:

[VR6 0]

I'll put this in the common questions forum then :)

 

Glad it's now sorted.

[dr_mat 0]

And actually, following my other thread of engine mount problems, it seems this original "oil" problem was a combination of both the oil-filled gearbox mount failing AND the oil cooler seals.

The engine mount will be replaced on Monday... (Along with the exhaust..)

[Bolster 0]

Also you might want to check the Engine speed sensor as it has an oil seal that can sometimes leaks. Oil leaking from there drips down the block and the creeps around the sump like blotting paper

 

This sounds a little familiar. I have a slight oil leak on my VR and it sometimes takes a while to start when damp and cold (but mainly damp). Could they be related?

Where is the Engine speed sensor located?

[PhatVR6 0]

on the front of the block, below and to the right of the oil cooler. follow the wire from the front engine mount.