Oil Leak in the front of the engine above the alternator.

Hi, I have an oil leak in the front of the engine above the alternator.

It looks like it may be coming out between the head and the engine block. has anyone had such a problem before?

I had the engine out thought it might be the front seal or sump, replaced the seal and sump gasket.

regards

Lee

Hi

leeevdnest wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:00 am It looks like it may be coming out between the head and the engine block.

Seems too obvious, but ... Head gasket?

The original OEM head gaskets for the TU3JP engines had a fault in a triangular shaped part of the head gasket at a point adjacent to where your leak seems to be.
Most leaked oil into the engine coolant but some could leak to the outside of the engine.
Look up TU3JP head gasket replacement on Youtube...there are dozens!!
I would seriously make preparations to replace the head gasket...BUT you have plenty of time. If it remains a SMALL leak I would live with it for the time being. A "small leak" does not produce drops of oil on the ground.
Keep an eye on the spherical expansion tank on the offside wheel arch in the engine bay. If you start getting "chocolate mousse" like stuff on the top of the coolant in there, or cream-like sludge in the oil...the head gasket MUST be replaced!
To replace the head gasket will cost the price of the gasket and cylinder head bolts . I would seriously look at the current life of the timing belt and perhaps replace that too.
I do not want to sound like the voice of doom and gloom, all of the above is just a worst case scenario.
Again, as long as it remains a small leak and nothing appears in the oil or coolant, just live with it.

You had the engine out? Any reason why? Is it still out? Which seal did you replace, camshaft or crankshaft?

Willing to bet it's the head gasket. Mine's had an oil leak from the same place since I've had it (14 months) and the head gasket failed last week. When I took it off, I found this – as said above, that triangular piece at top right (which corresponds to the front of engine, above alternator) was faulty - there should be an insert piece there, but it had parted company from the rest of the gasket.

Thanks for the replies, i removed the head and found the gasket damaged.

I have never done a head with torque-to-yeld bolts. They have all been old school cylinder heads. Judging by what I have seen, the day is coming where I will need to do it.

Let us know how you get on.