Oil out of wading plug.

[muddyjames]

I have had an oil leek and found it too be coming out of the front wading plug so I decided to put a wading plug into the hole and power wash everything else under the bonnet and see if I am right. And 70miles later I take the plug out and I get about a mug full of oil.

I am thinking this isnt right.

I am going to keep the wading plug in and then drain the oil out once a week (I hardly drive the disco) and then put the oil back into the engine. A; I am recycling the oil and costs less to keep topping it up and b; it means that I dont have a puddle of oil when I stop driving it and the engine stays clean whaen I work under it. Is this a wise move to do?

also what does this mean and roughly how much will it cost to mend as I am not doing this job myself. I dont have the time, tools, be arsed factor to do it and especially if it is an engine seal then I havent got the knowledge either.

[muddysteve]

sounds like a oil seal to me

leaving the wading plug in prolly isnt a great idea as the oil will screw your cambelt if your unlucky


sorry to be the bringer of bad news

[muddyweb]

I'd second that... if the crankshaft oil seal is leaking, then you need to get in there and change it really.   Leaving the plug in is a potential risk as it could end up contaminating your timing belt, and if that lets go... the cost will be a lot more than a bit of oil ;-)

[davidlandy]

to replace the oil seal will take around about 4 hrs I reckon. And you may as well change the cambelt as well as all of this has to come off, mind you yours is probably oil soaked anyway.

the seals themselves and the o'ring are quite cheap, the most expnsive one is the one that goes in the timing cover I think at around £30 depending upon year!

for a garage to do I reckon your looking at acouple of hundred quid at least.

My camshaft oil deal went after dunkin my motor in some very muddy water without the wading plug in - I ALWAYS use mine now!

until its done , dont leave the wading plug in

[muddyjames]

I have done alot of dunking into muddy water without wading plug in so I think from now on I will go playing with wading plugs in.

The timing belt was only changed a couple of thousand miles ago.

When I move house I shall get my Landy mechanic to look at it or I may ask in Safari on how much they might charge. Horrible amount I think!!!

All in all. doesnt sound good.