A leak on PS pipe going into the intercooler.

[aboo]

I have a leak of some sort.

Noticed a mark on the front bumper when I came home today. I'v had a quick look & it looks like the pipe on the PS going in to the IC is covered in what looks like oil. The car is running fine & all fluids look ok.

Could it be the IC is on its way out?

Anyone got any ideas?

[elnevio]

Um - the PS cooling pipe is separate from the intercooler. Maybe one of the joints has started leaking though. What sort of oil is it - ATF?

[aboo]

Dont think its ATF Nev.

[elnevio]

Is it on the driver's side, on the bumper/lower grille in a direct line below where the headlight and upper grille meet (if that makes sense!)?

[aboo]

No passenger side bottom of the bumper right where the pipe connects to the intercooler.

[aboo]

Some pics.

[Turbo_Steve]

Looks like you've got a boost leak to me.

[aboo]

I will have to wait till the weekend to have a proper look as it gets dark with in an hour of me getting home.

Everything is running fine though Steve. Boost gauge is still hitting 12psi & not dropping of on full throttle.

[Nutter_John]

I know you said it aint atf but it could be from the gearbox cooler circuit ?

[Turbo_Steve]

It only needs to be a pinhole leak, and it will spray oil vapour everywhere.
It will make almost no difference to the car.

I know you said it aint atf but it could be from the gearbox cooler circuit ?

It's as good a logical leap as any - I was put off by the "aerosol" pattern on the bumper.


Last thought: It could be coolant and you have a little hole in the rad at the top.

[aboo]

Is that the bit that the ATF cooler would connect too?

[aboo]

It only needs to be a pinhole leak, and it will spray oil vapour everywhere.
It will make almost no difference to the car.




It's as good a logical leap as any - I was put off by the "aerosol" pattern on the bumper.


Last thought: It could be coolant and you have a little hole in the rad at the top.

Its not coolent there is oil but I dont think its atf but I maybe wrong. The gearbox its self is dry as a bone.

[Turbo_Steve]

If it's definitely engine oil, I'd suggest it's almost definitely the intercooler pipes.
The only other possibility is something behind the rad.....oil filter? Turbo oil lines?

[aboo]

Thanks for all the help guys will have a proper look this weekend & report back.

[Nick Mann]

Just one thing - the PS system uses ATF too, so if it definitely isn't ATF, then it isn't PS either. I would suspect a small boost leak too from the pictures, but it's not so easy to tell.

[peter thomson]

I have a couple of standard pipes Andy if it's just a hose and spare IC here as well.

[aboo]

Cheers Peter.

I'm still going to run it on the RR on Saturday so may fined out if its a boost leak.

[aboo]

Its deffo engine oil. I had too put 1L of oil in yesterday to top it up.

Will be stripping the front of the car down on Sunday to fined out for sure.

[swinks]

Oil line to front turbo?

[kiteman]

Do you have a dump valve fitted where the recirculating valve use to be.
A dump valve gives off a spray of oil in the exact position shown in the photo.
Just my tuppence worth