Hi Guys,

Can i have some advice please.. I have a Oil Leak which we (mechnic ) are 99% sure its the rear main oil seal.

Hes check the V for the oil cooler gaskets and said other than a very fine mist its all good there.

The issue i have is that we dont think its a big leak,.... As it stands hes cleaned it all up and i will monitor it for a couple of weeks to see if the underneath of the car gets oily again and that will tell me how bad the leak is within reason..

But if the leak turns out to be worth fixing then ive been advised that the cost may be very high,, this is based on a book time for 16.5 hours to get to the main rear seal, gearbox dropped etc

but the cost cannot be quoted very weel because untill the car starts to be stripped mechanic is not sue what he will encounter in terms of seized bolts or parts that may not come apart easy..

So i feel a little stuck and sick inside lol.. Regards

Daz

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2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

Monitor it as you say.
Did they take out the rubber bung in the bottom of the bell housing and look in there do you know? If it looks dry in there then probably not rear main oil seal.
I thought my small leak was that but inside was dry. Turned out it was oil cooler gasket in the V ...it looked like a mist/left over from the filter change but it wasn’t. Does your look like photo below?
Perhaps get a second opinion? Run it up to my mate Mark Palmer in Petersfield Garage Services for a look see one Saturday morning...???

Guy i took it too said it wasnt the oil cooler gasket?

Dont know if he took out bung in bell housing? I dont even know what that is lol (the bung) he said its deffo leaking from back of engine but you cant tell 100% what it is untill gearbox is on the floor

he said he had the plenum off and saw a very fine mist in the v but said it was very fine and deffo nothing too worry about? Regards

Daz

-------------------------
2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

Personally I’d still get a second opinion before shelling out a wad of cash.
Hutfields in Botley, Keith Gott in Alton, MTS 4x4 in Alton, Mark at Petersfield Garage Services, Evans Garage in Dorchester, Craig at CamTech nr Gloucester etc etc  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
I use www.glenrands.co.uk Great independent specialist!
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this was my second opinion, it got looked at by west 4x4 who said the job was too big for him..

but now you have me second guessing my second opinion lol Regards

Daz

-------------------------
2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

Who did first assessment? Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
I use www.glenrands.co.uk Great independent specialist!
--------------------------------------------------

west 4x4

then today it was in with R & E Land rover Salisbury Regards

Daz

-------------------------
2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

I’d monitor and if it gets worse, decide to pay up or sell.... Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
I use www.glenrands.co.uk Great independent specialist!
--------------------------------------------------

Someone else said similar to me lol, im struggling to understand the sell bit?

Maybe im mad but why would i sell?? ( not having a dig or anything just curious to peoples thought processes on this?) Regards

Daz

-------------------------
2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

Joe 90 lives in your neck of the woods he always seems helpful try to contact him

If it gets worse and you want to keep it then you’ll have to pay to have it fixed
If you don’t want to face that cost in the future then maybe cut your losses now
You’d miss it though
If you want to know what I’d do then.....I’d sell if it was defo going to cost a few grand but would take it to someone like Craig at Cam Tech for an opinion as he is one of the top RR guys in the UK
https://www.cam-tech-landrover.co.uk/contact-us/ Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
I use www.glenrands.co.uk Great independent specialist!
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Last edited by DrRob on 17th Sep 2019 5:30pm. Edited 1 time in total

essex boy wrote:

Joe 90 lives in your neck of the woods he always seems helpful try to contact him

DrRob wrote:

If it gets worse and you want to keep it then you’ll have to pay to have it fixed
If you don’t want to face that cost in the future then maybe cut your losses now
You’d miss it though
If you want to know what I’d do then.....I’d sell if it was defo going to cost a few grand

Cost. Use cash to put towards something else....Freelander 2 etc  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
I use www.glenrands.co.uk Great independent specialist!
--------------------------------------------------

After constantly thinking over this all night lol, i have a couple of questions lol

DrRob this bung on the bell housing, is this a good indicator for rear seal? I want to know all the facts before i ask R&E if they checked inside it??

Im still wondering if the oil was from a previous service or spillage which then was washed down when i cleaned the engine bay.
i guess i will find this answer in time as the underneath is now clean and dry..

There is still the possibillity that the oil is coming from the oil cooler in the V and again i have washed it down But again i think the leak would have to get worse for this to be diagnosed..

I checked the oil level last night according to the handbook so 15mins or so after a long drive and the level came back Max so thats good...

And lastly i think worse comes to worse i will pay to fix it.. There isnt a car i could buy that could match this one for spec and comfort etc and i love it..

Oh here’s some pics of before and after the cleanup of oil and lastly just a pic of my newly painted calipers lol