Oil Leaking from somewhere

[candleman]

Hi Guys.

I have recently bought a used Megane Sports Tourer 1.5dci 106 Expression from a Renault dealer in Hemel Hempsted. It’s on a 55 plate with 54K on the clock, 1 owner with no known major servicing issues. It was fully serviced & MOT’d before I collected it. It drives really well and so far doing just short of 50mpg.

I have noticed that it leaves a small puddle of oil on the road. The size depends on the camber of the road and the direction I park, but at worst its saucer sized and seems to be coming from the side of the engine undertray where it’s obviously been collecting. Looking under the bonnet I can’t see any obvious leaks, it’s a bit oily wet on the block behind the oil dipstick tube and on top of the gearbox housing which is clean oil, but from what I can see no where else. The oil level on the dipstick is still just above the full mark. I’ve told the dealers who are going to have a look at it for me but they are not local so i might not be able to get the car there for a few days, but does anyone know of any known oil leakage issues with these engines that I can check out for myself. My wife has a Corsa which had an oil pressure switch leak and sprayed oil everywhere. Apparently it’s a known problem with the engine on her model but as the parts are so cheap to replace Vauxhall did nothing to rectify it.

Thanks in advance.

Candleman

[andywills]

if it's under warranty take it back

[candleman]

Yeh, I intend to. I just like to have things to chuck at them when I do, particularly if its a known fault.

[AlexB]

Hello, these are three comments from me.

Oil level should never exceed MAX on the dipstick. It may start leaking through the seals; the turbo, crankcase and ventilation systems will be unhappy; it may enter the clutch housing or "lubricate" the belts, which is expensive.

If there are multiple leaks, then one may suspect increased crankcase pressure -- have your PCV system checked.

Check the sump plug and the oil filter for leaks first.

[candleman]

Thanks guys,

I phoned Renault Assist this morning and they confirmed that I still have manufacturers waruntee on the car till September, and as bonus AA membership once they had all my details. So I got that sorted & called out a very nice man who confimed its a diesel leak, probably from the tank retun pipe, which should teach me not to jump to conclusions. As my sense of smell has been ruined by to many years working in the manufacturing industry I couldn't smell it.

Anyway I have 2 dealers vying to take the car off my hands, so which one comes up with the courtesy car first gets the business.

I'll keep you posted.

Candleman

[AlexB]

Fuel return pipe is a known fault. Somebody wrote about it recently in this forum.

[candleman]

Hi All,

Update to my post.

I dropped my car in at 7.30 this morning, drove away at 2.00 this afternoon. All work was done under warrantee. There was a question about the service history of the vehicle which might have negated the warrantee (the previous owners had conveniently forgot to supply any), but as it was originally leased from Renault Business Finance, the dealers got it sorted out without to much hassle and the work completed, so well done E.J. Darlingtons, Harlow.

Apparently a couple of seals had given way in the fuel line somewhere in the engine bay, and rather than fiddle about trying to replace them individually they replaced the whole component plus the starter motor, so now no leak. Unfortunately I only spoke to the assistant on the service desk and not one of the workshop guys and he didn’t know exactly what went wrong.

Anyway mobile again, woppeee!

Candleman