Steam From Dipstick; Loss Of Oil

[dt_ 7]

Hi all, just started to lose oil from my 205 1.6 auto, it seems to be escaping through the dipstick hole as the area surrounding the dipstick has been coated in oil and it is dripping off the subframe and gearbox. Was running it today and pulled out the dipstick to see a lot of steam/smoke escaping.

 

Was just trying to get to the bottom of this, could it be wrong oil type, as I put some semi synthetic 5w 40 in, a blocked breather, or something more serious? Starting to worry me a bit now

 

Any help appreciated, thanks

[kyepan 291]

Example: Worn out 1.6 litre engine at 6500RPM

S = 1.6

N = 6500

Blow-by rate = 3% (0.03)

V = 1.6 x 6500 x 0.03 = 156 litres per minute

although 1% is more likely for an engine with reasonable rings..

Check the breathers first, remember you will still be getting tens of litres of blow by per minute , it has to go somewhere. If your dip stick top is falling apart, that will stop it sealing and make any pressurisation worse, get a new one from eBay.

 

Then after you're sure you have clean breathers and the dip stick is ok... If it still does it, a leak down test would be ideal for checking if the rings have gone. find a friendly garage, or a mate with a compressor and leak down test. You'll need to know when the cylinder you're testing is on the compression stroke, but that's not too hard.

 

Cheers

J

Edited February 15, 2013 by kyepan

[dt_ 7]

Cheers for the response, it's only recently started doing this it has not gradually built up. Not so much worried about the steam- more about the oil being forced out of the top of the dip stick. Maybe a good service an pipe clean out is in order

[pug_ham 240 3 Cars]

Oil being forced up the dipstick tube is a sign of a pressurised crankcase which hints at piston ring blow by imo, not a good sign but it could be simply due to a blocked breather.

 

When did you last service it because smoke is also a sign of an engine needing a service.

 

g

[Carbs4me 45]

2 of my 205's have done this, once i was that bad everytime you floored it it would kindly coat my engine/bay in oil.

 

The second one would slightly give out oil not quite as much... many months tinkering it round one of the rings finally went.

 

Does the dip stick keep poping out when been rev'd?

[dt_ 7]

Just been driving around town for a bit, took it home, popped the bonnet and revved it almost as far as it would go and there was no oil or smoke. The engine runs really well starts first time every time and pulls fine, wouldn't a piston ring give rough running or lack of power?

 

Edit - the dipstick is not popping out. Could I have overfilled with oil or maybe using the wrong grade?

Edited February 15, 2013 by dt_

[pug_ham 240 3 Cars]

You could have over filled it, how much did you put in?

 

A GTI takes a full 5l container for a service with filter to have the right amount in but depending on the year of your auto, it might take less.

 

g

[dt_ 7]

Again cheers for the help, stripped down the airbox pipes and breather hoses, cleared out a fair but not excessive amount of mayo, blew them all through and the oil problem has stopped. It seems to run a bit sweeter too!