Symptoms: After a 5 mile journey on a very cold morning I found oil sprayed all over left hand side of engine and cambelt area with no oil registering on the dipstick ( it was full before!). If it's filled back up with oil, no leak apparent until the car is driven then it simply sprays everywhere! The engine runs normally with no funny noises so obviously something is pressurising the crankcase? I've taken it to the local garage and they've yet to find the source of the leak although they suspect some sort of blockage in the breather system. A bit of a mystery and as the car is only worth about £800 I'm obviously reluctant to spend ££££'s on investigating the fault, especially as it's going to need a cambelt change now anyway! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Nic

Welcome to the Forum.

I'm a little confused here, as you say that the oil is on the left hand side of the engine and has contaminated the timing belt, which is on the right hand side.

You say that 'something is obviously pressurising the crankcase', yet there is no loss of performance. A simple compression test and leak-by test would prove if there were any problems with pistons etc.

Are you sure that the crankcase is in fact pressurising, or could your problem be down to a failed camshaft oil seal?

You may be able to save yourself some garage charges if you buy a can of degreaser (Gunk or Jizer type of stuff, brush it over the affected area and hose it off with a garden hose, protecting items like the alternator, distributor and air intake with a plastic bag.

Once that the engine is clean and it has dried off, upon running the engine, you should be able to see just where the oil is coming from.

Regards.

Hi,you haven't written what motor you have but i pressume

your problem is oil separator,or canals going from the motor in him..This picture will help:

So there is possibility that oil separator(19 or 19a-depending on motorization) is blocked,or canals going from the block,or even hose(28,28a,28b,33)..

You have to take it apart and degrease it thoroughly.Best thing is to buy a new one but its pretty expensive...

So after you degrease everything look at the canals in the block and try to clean them..After you clean it,change oil because you have grease in sump..

This should help..