Can you help identifying source of oil leak?

[BlueAndWhiteClassic]

Edit: Might help if I said the engine is a 1.6 K-series... 

There's a small oil drip onto the exhaust branch which appears to be coming from the area highlighted below. I have negligible technical knowledge so any help with naming the highlighted part and describing the possible source of the leak and views on seriousness would be greatly appreciated.

 

Another angle

Any help would be much appreciated!

Malcolm

 

[Jonathan Kay]

While we're waiting for the experts...

... I thought that the horizontal black metal pipe carries coolant from the heater bypass valve to the top of the radiator. But on my 1800 K that doesn't have the slightly smaller pipe on the R coming up from it. And the support brackets are above it not below as in your photos.

What's connected at either end?

Jonathan

[K7 VCT]

The pipe is a water rail on a kseires

[Wrightpayne]

Jonathan,

You are right - the black horizontal pipe is coolant - there have been a couple of different designs. The cap head bolt is supporting / retaining the coolant pipe.

Ian

[BlueAndWhiteClassic]

Thanks both - sorry for delay in uploading these shots.

[Wrightpayne]

I'd check the joint between the cam cover and cam carrier - you might have to take the plastic cover off to have a proper look (the bit that says caterham 16 valve with 3 bolts holding it on.

Ian

[John Vine]

Are you sure it's oil and not coolant?  (I was wondering whether there might be a fracture in the water rail around the mounting boss.)

Presumably, it burns off when you run the engine.  What sort of smoke do you see?

JV

[BlueAndWhiteClassic]

Thanks everyone. Will  investigate.

[timb2117]

I note from the overhead photo that the exhaust manifold under the head of the bolt is a different colour to the rest of the pipes - so looks like the liquid has been leaking down onto it then frying.....It would make way more sense to be coolant unless the bolt is too long and has gone through the block? - that would be hard even for me to do :) -so tracking down from top gasket as Wright payne suggests would make more sense. 

[BlueAndWhiteClassic]

Whitish smoke while it burned off. Can't see any further sign of leakage at the moment. 

Will leave it to cool down and check again.

Thanks again all.

 

 

[John Vine]

If/when it does drip again, collect a sample and add a drop of water.  If it's coolant, it will mix ok, whereas oil will not.

JV

[SM25T]

Get a drop on your finger. Very different smell and feel between oil and coolant

[BlueAndWhiteClassic]

So far just got it up to temp idling - with result above and no sign of a drip since. I will take it on a gentle run to see if that causes anything. Really appreciate your comments.

[Beagler]

Undo the securing bolts and move the tube away from engine. If it leaks after separation in the same place it will be coming from cam cover. If it follows coolant tube its water.

[revilla]

Errr ... Not sure that's a good plan! It's a bolted flange onto the head at the other end of the water rail, and a joint that is prone to leakage and gasket failures. You don't want to be pulling the water rail away from the head at the front or disturbing the joint at the back without very good cause.

[Dixa1225]

Good advice from revilla ( Andrew) as always. The flange at the back of the head can be a nightmare to seal . 

[Beagler]

Soak some of the liquid on a piece of kitchen toll the drip a drop of water on the patch. Disappears its water globules its oil.

[BlueAndWhiteClassic]

Been out on two short runs so far and no repetition. All seems fine so will keep under review.

 

Thanks for your thoughts on the subject.

 

Malcolm

[John Vine]

That's promising.  Were the runs long enough to get the engine up to temperature?  Some coolant leaks (if that's what you have) only really become apparent when the system is fully pressurized.

JV