Forgive the ignorance but do intercoolers leak oil ?
 

Please forgive my ignorance , I did try googling it but as far as I'm reading your oil doesn't go through the intercooler. Why am I being told by a mechanic that my oil leak is coming from where a pipe comes out of the intercooler ( and that the intercooler 'must' be replaced).

Helpfull folk her have pointed out that intercooler o rings are known to perish but , I dont understand that this would cause a fairly major engine oil loss can someone explain for me does oil go through there or is it not just air ?.

Regards

Mas

Turbo seals tend to leak oil vapour most of the time

When the intercooler rings fail and they do all too often then there is ALWAYS an oily mess at the front passengerside under the bonnet. it is only 30mins job to replace them and the upgraded ones are only a few pounds from jules or someone similar. VERY unlikely the intercooler needs to be replaced. :)

Edit, speak of the devil :)

So the idea that intercoller o rings failing would cause major oil loss from around the intercooler is it right ? , I'm reading and interpreting that something else failing pushes oil the intercoolers way in the first place.

I'm trying to look around the forum and learn and am seeing things from PCV valce failure to turbo seals, I dont know what to take for a possible cause.

Regards Mas

Don't know how to make it any clearer really :shrug:

I'm not questioning your knowledge m8ee I'm just making sure you know that I dont just mean a bit of an oily mess in there but its more a case of I put 4 litres in the other day and its gone :}

Because I dont understand how oil goes through the intercooler ( as opposed to air) I couldnt understand that such heavy oil loss would come from there.

Regads Mas

Ouch, 4 ltr is an awful lot !! cannot see that being down to the seals :o

see here for a bit more info

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...96&postcount=1

thats not a intercooler leak methinks the engine does not hold much more than that .that is a large amount to get through x2 things you are wiping the dip stick then putting it back then checking the level?and not going by whats on the stick when you 1st remove it ?secondly how many miles has it done and has the pcv filter been done if not i have one for it at home

Oil is not as such meant to be in the intercooler, there will be a mist which builds up over the years but the best way to get oil into the intercooler is if the turbo is going or leaking too much oil _ 4L if in the intercooler is a shot turbo.

If the o-rings are also failing then the oil collected in the cooler will leak out from there.

If you've lost 4 litres!!! of oil thru the intercooler then as said your turbo oil seal is shot and i wouldnt use the car until sorted.