It ain't a gusher, but I am still leaking oil....

lmwatbullrun · #1 05-05-2011, 05:14 PM

after due consideration, I am reasonably sure I have a bad oil pump gasket.

Here's the question: Am I better off pulling the motor out in toto, or can I jack the engine enough to pull the pan? Which is the better approach? When answering, please keep in mind that I do not have a garage.

Jason · #2 05-07-2011, 08:49 AM

I really cant see how you could drop the oil pan with the engine in the car very easily. By the time you get the engine up high enough to get the oil pan out of the way to get the two bolts that are holding the pickup tube to the oil pump housing, your pretty much already pulling the engine out. Everthing would have to be disconnected at that point to allow the engine to move that far.

Jason

m-reg · #3 05-07-2011, 11:35 AM

doh i never read this thread before could have suggesed oil pump -they allways leak on the tdi`s

lmwatbullrun · #4 05-27-2011, 05:09 PM

ok, looks like an engine pull. Sigh. Anything else I ought to do while I have the engine out?

v8volvo · #5 06-01-2011, 11:39 PM

Sorry to hear that outcome. At least it will be a cheap repair, parts-wise... heavy on the labor, and even when it's your own it's hard to think of that as "free", but at least you don't have to pay for it. Agree that it sounds like an engine pull job.

Any cooling system work would certainly be worth doing with the engine out. If you haven't had a new radiator or thermostat in a while, now is the time, and carefully check all hoses. I posted a way to cheaply create a set of new heater hoses from easily-obtainable parts to replace the expensive stock ones that, if original, are 25+ years old now... that is worth doing if yours are in questionable shape. Radiators are available new, or if you have an original all-metal one, you can get it re-cored. Or still get a new one, but if you have a metal rad, don't throw it away... someone here will want it as a core someday.

Anything else that is tricky to do/reach with the motor in situ is worth doing too. #5 and 6 glow plugs, timing belts (you'll have the front one off anyway for pulling the oil pump), little coolant hose on the back of the head that always gets covered in oil, rear cam seal, etc...

lmwatbullrun · #6 03-10-2012, 04:21 PM

Where can I find an oil pump?

I have finally gotten to the point that I am going to pull the motor and replace the gasket, and as long as I have it out I am going to replace the oil pump, if possible.

I also will need an oil pan gasket, which I have not been able to source. Any suggestions on that?

Volvoist · #7 03-11-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmwatbullrun

Where can I find an oil pump?

I have finally gotten to the point that I am going to pull the motor and replace the gasket, and as long as I have it out I am going to replace the oil pump, if possible.

I also will need an oil pan gasket, which I have not been able to source. Any suggestions on that?

To be honest, these pumps are very robust. I doubt it needs to be replaced. New ones are very expensive if you do decide to replace. I would reseal it. I believe the oil pan needs to come off in order to change it as the lower portion shares the pan gasket. Perhaps someone else has done it without pulling the pan though.