Diesel injector leaking

[logicred]

Hi all, I have a 1998 HDI110 and it's running fine apart from a leaking diesel injector (according to my chap who serviced the car). I am relatively competent with cars, so want to know if this is a job that I should even consider doing myself, or does this need specialist tools and knowledge?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[omega]

is it the injector or the leak of pipe?

[logicred]

Hmm, no idea. Here is a photo if any use

http://s706.photobucket.com/albums/ww61 ... jector.jpg

There is black sludge everywhere over the two left injectors and it appears to be solid. It looks like thick oil, but it's possible to chip away.

[omega]

as you say it looks like oil not diesel
the leak of pipes are those that link the injectores but from your pic they look dry
think i would either clean of the mess, or run engine and look to see where it is coming from
it might be your rocker cover gasket leaking

[omega]

another thought is your engine in good nick?
might be a idea to take off the big hose on the rocker cover and check for oil in there

[logicred]

Hi all. I took a closer look this evening and all the black sludge is solid and just chips away. It's like coal! Definately not oil that I can see and there does not appear to be any leaking near the rocker either. When I started the car I can hear a quick 'puff puff' sound near the left injector where the black stuff is. But there does not appear to be anything leaking out of it that I can see.

Is there anything I can do? Any seal I can replace? Or should I just take it into a garage to get them to sort it?

The engine runs 100% with no other issues that I know of.

Thanks

[jasper5]

I think you will probably find that the mess is oil leaking from the oil filler cap.I've seen this many times on the HDi.

Fit a new oil cap and wash off the oily mess with gunk or something, don't spray water around too much when you wash it off or you may affect the electrics.

Check the engine breathers for being blocked as well.

[logicred]

Hey thanks for that. I just took a closer look and I think you are 100% right! All around the cap and just the other side show all the solid oil stains. If it was an injector, then I wondered how the oil would get all the way up there ;-) I will give it a really good clean up and monitor carefully. Thanks.

[colinmazu]

I had a similar problem:-



I removed the injector expecting to have to replace it. It turned out to be the copper washer at the bottom was leaking from where it had been replaced about 3 years earlier (by me) without cleaning out all the muck first.

The black stuff looks like its liquid in the photo, but its hard when then engine is cold and melts/softens when the engine has been running for a while.

After replacing the washer (properly this time) and cleaning off the black stuff, it has not reappeared in 2 months since.

Cheers

Colin

[logicred]

Wow Colin, this is identical to mine. If it's quite easy to I will have a go ;-) I think I have two that need doing ;-(

I tried the new oil cap as suggested by someone else and it's definately not that.

Thanks for htat.

[jasper5]

Well, you definitely had a leak from the oil filler cap, looking again at your photo there is baked on oil around the top of the cam cover spraying out in all directions.

Of course it's possible that you have both faults, best to clean up the engine properly and keep a watch on the area to see where the fault may lie.

[logicred]

Hi Colin, so in response to your email, how easy is it take take the injector out and replace the washer? I am reasonably competent. Can anyone point me to a place (GSF?) where I can get the replacement washer?

Thanks