I recently had a new clutch (Sachs Stage 2.5 - to replace my slipping clutch), and new after market diverter valves.

After I got it back from the mechanic, it seemed to drive better (and I am loving the new clutch) until a short time later when the car started to idle strangely (higher and then lower in a short period of time, and then even sometimes completely turning off) and also PSM & ABS disabling themselves. I thought this was a sensor issue, so I didn't take it too seriously, I ordered a Durametric cable to see if I could troubleshoot which sensor might be playing up myself (still waiting for the cable to arrive now).

However, last night things seemed to have gotten a lot worse. I noticed smoke coming from the engine, and when I parked the car it appears a serious amount of oil is leaking from the car. I left the car overnight, and checked again today and the problem is still there. After 15 minutes it has started leaking a serious amount of what appears to be oil.

https://i.imgur.com/nLZYWYM.png
https://i.imgur.com/QiM8vW4.jpg - The oil appears to be spraying/leaking from the top of the engine somewhere. You can see on the air box a spray of oil. Also, the belts seem to be covered in oil

https://i.imgur.com/9PwewCk.jpg - From below, as you can see there is a serious amount of oil leaking out.

https://i.imgur.com/Sdgfi83.png

Once I stop the car, the leaking appears to stop.

Does anyone have any suggestions what these problem(s) might be?

Do you think it will be safe to drive it to the mechanic (~20Ks/~13 miles), or should I be getting this towed?

 

tow it.

 

If you cant see an obvious leak have it flat bedded. Can you do the repair yourself if found? Was the oil changed or added to recently?

 

Are you sure that's oil? Pics are a bit hazy, but it almost seems to be pentosin from the hue and viscosity.

 

rmc1148, nope can't repair myself! Not that I'm aware, unless the shop did it while I was getting my clutch & diverter valves done. I did go to the dyno recently, although it's been a few drives since I went to the dyno.

TeCKis300, no I'm not 100% sure. I did check the consistency and it did seem more watery than I thought the oil should be. How can I tell the difference?

 

Check your cooling reservoir level. Did you check your oil level recently?

 

Also check your power steering level. The smoke could be from fluid hitting exhaust.

 

Power steering fluid is Pentosin which is water soluble. Engine oil is not of course.


If it proves to be Pentosin then one has to wonder if the power steering lines were not damaged in replacing the diverter valves.


My tech sources tell me that often the power steering lines, actually the fitting, are damaged and will leak after by being incorrectly disconnected then reconnected.


There's a "special tool" along with a specific technique to use in disconnecting the power steering line fittings.

 

the petosin is also corrosive to rubber. preventative way is rinse the engine with water and engine cleaner

 

Kind of looks like coolant to me, not oil. Don't even start the engine, get it towed to shop ASAP.

 

Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated.

I attempted to use the check oil feature in the car, however it didn't seem to work and it kept saying the engine wasn't warm enough (when I believe it was). So I'm not sure what the oil level is, I haven't received any warnings about it.

I will likely have to start the car to get it out of the car park, it's in a residential apartment building 3 floors underground. So I suspect when I get it towed I'll need to bring it out of the building. What's the impact if it is coolant and it I do start it and use it for 2-3 minutes to get it out of the building?

Could be... I didn't notice anything while I was driving the last time, but it could be a problem now. A large amount of fluid has already come out, so whatever it is there needs to be a large amount of it.

 

before you drive it anywhere you need to determine what the fluid is. coolant not a big issue for a short 2 minute drive up to the surface. petosin again no big deal. engine oil could kill the motor in a few minutes if the level goes to low and starves the engine of oil.

 

I would make sure and ask for a flatbed truck. You can probably push it out and get it pulled onto bed. Have you checked the coolant level?

 

Note when I say push it out I mean the parking spot not garage lol =the driver should be able to go in garage and pick up.