Severe Oil Leak
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Rock Crawling
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
Severe Oil Leak
Hi All!
I am a new owner of a 96 Disco that I picked up for a song and a dance. I knew going into the deal that I was taking on a few risks, and a few of them revealed themselves quickly.
Nonetheless, I must push on to get them fixed.
I bought the Disco today, but I have been lurking on this site for a bout a week looking for tips etc before I buy. However, I still need help with a few rather major problems.
I seem to have a rather severe oil leak. On quick inspection, it seems to be pooling on top of the engine block underneath the intake manifold. It is also dripping down the fron and pooling on the water pump. When I park the car for 30 minutes, there are drops of fresh oil on the ground. The car also smells of burnt oil and there is some light smoking when I am stopped..
I am thinking that I have a leaky intake manifold gasket, but I have only had this car for 1 day. Are there a few other common problems I should be looking at?
Thanks in advance!
I am a new owner of a 96 Disco that I picked up for a song and a dance. I knew going into the deal that I was taking on a few risks, and a few of them revealed themselves quickly.
Nonetheless, I must push on to get them fixed.I bought the Disco today, but I have been lurking on this site for a bout a week looking for tips etc before I buy. However, I still need help with a few rather major problems.
I seem to have a rather severe oil leak. On quick inspection, it seems to be pooling on top of the engine block underneath the intake manifold. It is also dripping down the fron and pooling on the water pump. When I park the car for 30 minutes, there are drops of fresh oil on the ground. The car also smells of burnt oil and there is some light smoking when I am stopped..
I am thinking that I have a leaky intake manifold gasket, but I have only had this car for 1 day. Are there a few other common problems I should be looking at?
Thanks in advance!
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 16,322
Likes: 88
From: Savannah Georgia
Welcome. Download the RAVE tech manuals for free below. Go to the Discovery 1 section of the forum, technical sticky listing, inside you will find lots of things to do for high miles new-2-u Disco. You will have lots of fluids to change and places to grease, U joints to replace if not greasable, etc.
Now to your problem - oil smell and smoke is most likely oil on exhaust manifolds. The valve cover gaskets can usually be snugged up and bring this to a stop. You'll need an 8mm 12 point socket, can buy these one at a time at larger auto parts chain stores.
The gasket under the intake manifold is called the valley pan gasket. But your oil is most likely coming from the valve covers and leaking down there.
Do the valve covers first and see if that makes improvement.
Change oil early and often, like every 5K. Lots of owners like the extra cleaning and sludge removal of a diesel rated oil, like Shell Rotella 15W40.
Keep an eagle eye on water temp for any sign of overheating, which is basically anything above 10:00 on the temp guage. Check fan clutch - should be stiff to turn when fully warmed up, should not freewheel even 1 revolution. Overheating is the greatest enemy of the Rovers.
Keep in mind that with a Rover if there is no oil under it, there is none in it.
Now to your problem - oil smell and smoke is most likely oil on exhaust manifolds. The valve cover gaskets can usually be snugged up and bring this to a stop. You'll need an 8mm 12 point socket, can buy these one at a time at larger auto parts chain stores.
The gasket under the intake manifold is called the valley pan gasket. But your oil is most likely coming from the valve covers and leaking down there.
Do the valve covers first and see if that makes improvement.
Change oil early and often, like every 5K. Lots of owners like the extra cleaning and sludge removal of a diesel rated oil, like Shell Rotella 15W40.
Keep an eagle eye on water temp for any sign of overheating, which is basically anything above 10:00 on the temp guage. Check fan clutch - should be stiff to turn when fully warmed up, should not freewheel even 1 revolution. Overheating is the greatest enemy of the Rovers.
Keep in mind that with a Rover if there is no oil under it, there is none in it.
Thread Starter
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Rock Crawling
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
If you think that's all it is, I can snug them up in the morning and give it a bit of a cleaning. I have a (never quite) complete set of mechanic tools in both SAE and "The rest of the world."
Thanks for the tips!
Winching
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 522
Likes: 1
Welcome as well! You just bought the best fix-er-up-er in the world! I hope you are mechanically inclined. 
You will need the RAVE which will save you! I have been through thick and thin with my rover. I know a lot about these Discovery ones.
You will need the RAVE which will save you! I have been through thick and thin with my rover. I know a lot about these Discovery ones.
Baja
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh PA suburbs.
I fully agree on the oil leak due to loose bolts on the valve covers. I had already purchased a complete gasket set before I learned that. The set is on my shelf for later on.
Those bolts tend to vibrate loose with time, so snug them carefully then check them often. A few can be a challenge to get to.
Which Song did you sing and what dance moves did you employ in getting it for a song and dance? Lots of people do buy them then dump them quickly when they develop problems, but there are some serious addicts on here that can help you with almost any problem that arises.
Besides updating all the fluids and filters, make sure the wheel bearings are greased well. It may be good to go ahead and buy new ones just in case the old ones have not been serviced in a while. One friend of mine here had bought a D1 that crapped out on someone else on a long business trip. The previous owner got frustrated with it, called the local Rover dealer and had them pick him up on the PA Turnpike with a brand new RR Sport and gave his broken down DI to the tow truck driver that came to get it.
My friend "Disco Bill" bought it from the tow truck driver after he made a few repairs.
While caravanning to the MAR event, Bill had a wheel bearing weld itself to the stub axle while driving down I-95 South near DC. Luckily for Bill, the other Rover Owners that were with him had all the necessary parts, tools, and knowledge to make the repairs right there on the shoulder of I-95. It was near midnight, so Rob parked his Disco right behind Disco Bill's and used his off-road lights to illuminate the area while a couple of other club members spread a tarp, crawled underneath with tools and tore it all down, and within a couple of hours they were all back on the road again.
Without the collective knowledge, spare parts and tools that the group had with them, Bill would have been stranded and facing a rather expensive tow and repair job as the failed bearing had welded itself in place to the stub axle. Robs rig was equipped with a compressed air setup, he had the necessary pneumatic grinder to free up the welded bearing and between the rest of them, there was adequate replacement parts on hand to accomplish the repairs on the spot.
Disco Bill happily treated the group to a Steak and Beer dinner the next night with the money he saved.
Those bolts tend to vibrate loose with time, so snug them carefully then check them often. A few can be a challenge to get to.
Which Song did you sing and what dance moves did you employ in getting it for a song and dance? Lots of people do buy them then dump them quickly when they develop problems, but there are some serious addicts on here that can help you with almost any problem that arises.
Besides updating all the fluids and filters, make sure the wheel bearings are greased well. It may be good to go ahead and buy new ones just in case the old ones have not been serviced in a while. One friend of mine here had bought a D1 that crapped out on someone else on a long business trip. The previous owner got frustrated with it, called the local Rover dealer and had them pick him up on the PA Turnpike with a brand new RR Sport and gave his broken down DI to the tow truck driver that came to get it.
My friend "Disco Bill" bought it from the tow truck driver after he made a few repairs.
While caravanning to the MAR event, Bill had a wheel bearing weld itself to the stub axle while driving down I-95 South near DC. Luckily for Bill, the other Rover Owners that were with him had all the necessary parts, tools, and knowledge to make the repairs right there on the shoulder of I-95. It was near midnight, so Rob parked his Disco right behind Disco Bill's and used his off-road lights to illuminate the area while a couple of other club members spread a tarp, crawled underneath with tools and tore it all down, and within a couple of hours they were all back on the road again.
Without the collective knowledge, spare parts and tools that the group had with them, Bill would have been stranded and facing a rather expensive tow and repair job as the failed bearing had welded itself in place to the stub axle. Robs rig was equipped with a compressed air setup, he had the necessary pneumatic grinder to free up the welded bearing and between the rest of them, there was adequate replacement parts on hand to accomplish the repairs on the spot.
Disco Bill happily treated the group to a Steak and Beer dinner the next night with the money he saved.
Last edited by Danny Lee 97 Disco; Sep 16, 2011 at 10:10 PM.
Thread Starter
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Rock Crawling
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
Fantastic Story Danny!
I think I might have found the right car for me.... I am a wrench head and I love to solve puzzles. I am new to Land Rover, but I cut my teeth wrenching on old BMW's for the last 10+ as well as a Buell motorcycle. if any of you know bimmer guys, you would know that they are enthusiasts and there is a wealth of knowledge and information to be had... I see the same passion here
I am still keeping my fingers crossed that this oil leak is only a few valve cover bolts. That would be a relief. Has anyone tried some loc-tite on them? Anyway, I have been all over town looking for an 8mm 12 point socket. I finally found on for a 1/2" drive and it looked way to big to fit in the gap. I will need to try Sears. They are a bit out of the way for me, but if anyone has it, it should be them. I wanted to do this work today and drive the disco tomorrow since the insurance goes into effect. Oh well....
Thanks for all the help! I downloaded the pdf manual as well as the RAVE. I am on a mac, so I will have to build a windoze vm or something so I can run it.
I think I might have found the right car for me.... I am a wrench head and I love to solve puzzles. I am new to Land Rover, but I cut my teeth wrenching on old BMW's for the last 10+ as well as a Buell motorcycle. if any of you know bimmer guys, you would know that they are enthusiasts and there is a wealth of knowledge and information to be had... I see the same passion here
I am still keeping my fingers crossed that this oil leak is only a few valve cover bolts. That would be a relief. Has anyone tried some loc-tite on them? Anyway, I have been all over town looking for an 8mm 12 point socket. I finally found on for a 1/2" drive and it looked way to big to fit in the gap. I will need to try Sears. They are a bit out of the way for me, but if anyone has it, it should be them. I wanted to do this work today and drive the disco tomorrow since the insurance goes into effect. Oh well....
Thanks for all the help! I downloaded the pdf manual as well as the RAVE. I am on a mac, so I will have to build a windoze vm or something so I can run it.
Baja
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh PA suburbs.
12 point 8mm
As far as finding an 8mm 12 point deep well, good luck. I ended up having NAPA order one for me, asking for a 1/4 drive but they only were able to provide a 3/8 drive. I had figured that if I absolutely had to, I could put it on my bench grinder and take a little off the outside but luckily it did fit on 7 of the 8 bolts with some careful shifting around of things like wire bundles, hoses and such. Snugging those down took care of the leak. Just be careful not to over-tighten and damage the heads or strip the threads in your eagerness to stop the leak!
After hearing about Disco Bill's roadside rescue, I promptly bought a set of Timken wheel bearings and all the other things necessary to service mine. My existing wheel bearings were all good, so I just repacked them and put the new ones away for future use. It is good to have a spare set of those on hand.
After hearing about Disco Bill's roadside rescue, I promptly bought a set of Timken wheel bearings and all the other things necessary to service mine. My existing wheel bearings were all good, so I just repacked them and put the new ones away for future use. It is good to have a spare set of those on hand.