Oil Leaking from the Oil Pump Area

[GalantGreg]

Well, I've been taking my time on my rebuild, but for the most part it is done. I am getting a massive oil leak by the oil pump / oil filter adapter area. When I did the first initial start up, oil was leaking from what I thought was a bad oil oil pressure sending unit. I replaced that, and topped off the oil. When I started up again, oil is pouring out from that area. What can the problem be?

 

[slinarez25]

Can you see the exact spot where it is pouring out of?

 

[wondersb]

I had some oil down there too. I traced it back to my valve cover. It was running down the front of my motor.

 

[slinarez25]

I had some oil down there too. I traced it back to my valve cover. It was running down the front of my motor.

Yeah thats why i was asking if he could see the exact spot because it could be running down from someplace above like the cam seals or valve cover.

 

[GalantGreg]

I'm going to have to get a second set of eyes to properly pin point it, but it seems to be coming from the bottom area by the oil pump and oil filter.

 

[slinarez25]

I only thing i could really think of is the oil pump gasket is bad or a bolt isnt tightened all the way. But i would really look to see if its runing down from some place above like the valve cover or cam seals.

 

[Boot92]

The Seal on the Oil Pump Pulley maybe bad. If its not the Gasket. maybe you just didn't tighten your bolt(s) enough.

There are lots of other pulleys and seals down there maybe one of those is bad, have you replaced all of your seals?

Is it getting on your timing belt?

If not its probably the part of your Oil pan on the Belts + Pulleys end that maybe isn't sealed tight enough, or is bad.

Check it along with...
Front Main Seal
Oil Pump Seal + Gasket
BS Seal
but i would double check head gasket on that end, along with Cam Seals + Valve Cover Gasket

 

[agentorange313]

I just had this repair done for me. I had a massive leak right where the oil filter housing is and the oil pump cover. It was the balance shaft seal. I bought the car with the balance shafts removed, there must have been a problem when they installed the kit. My 1g runs great now, great oil pressure.

If you dont have your balance shafts removed, I suggest removing them if you are going to be doing work in that area to resolve the oil leak issue.

 

[GalantGreg]

I'm seeing a collection of oil gathering at the bottom of the oil filter housing.

 

[Hubbell91Tsi]

I'm seeing a collection of oil gathering at the bottom of the oil filter housing.

I have the same problem. Idk why but both housings ive had on the car do it.

 

[Boot92]

I just had this repair done for me. I had a massive leak right where the oil filter housing is and the oil pump cover. It was the balance shaft seal. I bought the car with the balance shafts removed, there must have been a problem when they installed the kit. My 1g runs great now, great oil pressure.

If you dont have your balance shafts removed, I suggest removing them if you are going to be doing work in that area to resolve the oil leak issue.

What he said.

your oil filter may be leaking, common on DSM's to have a small drip drip down there.

 

[Jafro]

Pull your timing cover off. Some people do messed up stuff to plug the balance shaft hole like using freeze plugs, JBWeld etc. My machine shop put a 1 3/8 freeze plug in it, and it leaked like a donkey.

I used MD092785 and plugged it up like feline urinary tract disease. It can't leak.

Other causes could be a cracked housing from an over-torqued oil feed line, wrong bolts holding the OFH on, (like if you've swapped to a different OFH, you need the right-length bolts for that engine, not yours) bad OFH gasket, bad front-case gasket. There's always the rare but frustrating possibility of a hair in the gasket. But you're not going to be able to tell where it's coming from with all that stuff covered up. Could even be a crank seal if it leaks from the timing cover, but I'd bet on the balance shaft seal or the balance shaft tensioner bolt missing.