OIL LEAK[S]

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Firstly, can anyone identify where this leak is coming from please?
Took this photo on my phone, not the greatest but you get the idea.
For orientation this is underneath a Mk6 90/330 just behind the sump.
Any ideas as to the cause, remedy, cost etc etc most appreciated.



Also, I have another minor oil leak from the vacuum pump. Would this be from the actual pump or more likely the gasket?

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Thought i may aswell post the other two photos I took.

[gNo]

Hi, leak will be from the rear crank oil seal. Mine is just starting to leak

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Rear Crank Oil Seal eh??
Looking at other posts here & online there seems to be two trains of thought:
1: Do nothing but keep an eye on it - most vehicles have a wee leak in this department & unless it's spewing out & losing gallons of oil it isn't much of a problem.
2: Get the seal replaced or the world will come to an end.
Has anyone anything else to add??
Words of wisdom??
Previous experience??
I'm gonna be running it past a few mechanical types in the next couple of days so i'll post anything of interest.

Also: what is a PCV??? If it's blocked could it be the route of all evil oil leaks??? Does my 90/330 have one??? What about an oil leak stopper [y'know those chemical addittives??] or is that a bodge too far???

[whitemice]

PCV positive crankcase ventilation won't effect oil leaks, don't go bunging any of that seal fixer muck or anything else other than fresh oil in your engine, it will do more harm than good.

Keep an eye on it but it won't hurt anything to keep topping up with fresh oil ihmo, if it is not a bad leak live with it.

[APH]

PCV positive crankcase ventilation won't effect oil leaks, don't go bunging any of that seal fixer muck or anything else other than fresh oil in your engine, it will do more harm than good.

Keep an eye on it but it won't hurt anything to keep topping up with fresh oil ihmo, if it is not a bad leak live with it.

would feel inclined to second that, but if you get clutch / flywheel done some time, do it then.

As for your Vac pump leak, don't waste your time doing just the gasket, it rarely ever works for more than a short journey. Change pump and gasket, shouldn't cost more than about £60 for parts, and takes less than 15mins to do. There was a problem with these pumps failing due to a small crack in the casting, allowing oil to leak past the mating faces of the gasket. A mate of mine took his van to a garage with same leak, had gasket done, took back 2 days later, had gasket done, took back week later, had gasket done.......get my drift, this whent on for 8 visits till I told him i'd do it one weekend for him. Did pump and gasket whilst he made us a brew .................that was 2 years ago and still no leak (or cuppa, come to think of it he was so shocked at how easy it was, as garage had van all day each time)

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Many thanks for your pearls of wisdom.
I knew the Leak Stopper idea was bonkers!!!
The clutch is not in need of anything doing to it at present so if I was to wait to get it done it could be sometime.
Am gonna run the Crank Leak past a few other mechanical types still & find out the extent of the work in £'s & time.

New Vac Pump is definitely the way to go although I wonder if the price of £60 above is for genuine Ford part???
It's less than half the price quoted by garage without labour cost to fix it.
Anymore info on the part would be appreciated.

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[APH]

Many thanks for your pearls of wisdom.
I knew the Leak Stopper idea was bonkers!!!
The clutch is not in need of anything doing to it at present so if I was to wait to get it done it could be sometime.
Am gonna run the Crank Leak past a few other mechanical types still & find out the extent of the work in £'s & time.

New Vac Pump is definitely the way to go although I wonder if the price of £60 above is for genuine Ford part???
It's less than half the price quoted by garage without labour cost to fix it.
Anymore info on the part would be appreciated.

Probably gonna be quite dear to do seal, as its basically a clutch / flywheel replacement job to get too it, plus then changing seal, then put everything back.

As for Vac pump, no don't go to fords for it, they wan't £££££ mine came from TRANSITPARTSUK on ebay, have had many bits from them, including brakes, clutches, flywheels, vac pumps, accelerator pedals, ok there probably copys of fords, but still seem as high quality, some of those bits have been fitted for over 4 years now (vac pump, accelerator pedal, rear brake shoes), on my own van and thats done over 160,000 miles on them no problems yet.

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Yeah from what I've read it's pretty involved getting to change the seal.
Would like to talk to someone who has done it to get an idea of how long it'd take.
Online estimates between 3-4 hours??!! The seal will probably cost pence relative to labour cost so it seems.
Also what risks are there in not getting it done?? I want to keep it in perspective y'know?!
How soon will the world end if i don't do it immediately or ever??
I'd be happy to live with the leak & keep an eye on it. I check my fluids regular & they're not in any state of hemorrhage despite both them minor leaks!!

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[whitemice]

That crankseal could be a slow leak till your van rots, sometimes it can creep along and centrifuge onto the clutch after longer trips with no de-clutching and give a bit of judder now and then but it burns off pretty quick, i would not worry and just get a new seal fitted when clutch needs replacement as the gearbox needs dropping etc. as others have stated.

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I've consulted 5 mechanics about this today & everyone seems to be singing from the same sheet.

Many thanks to all concerned for their time & responses.

Bunnies Be With Ya!!
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Oh, BTW: One mechanic in 5 advocated the use of Leak Stopper. It's not scientific but it is a statistic.