So I've had a pesky oil leak for some time now, it's got to be dealt with. Sadly it's in just about the worst place possible, the oil filter tree. So today I started, I've learnt a few things already.

It's damn near impossible to remove the top bolt of the starter motor without a 1/2" UJ, I say damn near, I did manage it.

Next up the top two down pipe bolts also require a 1/2" UJ (guess what I'm off to halfords for tomorrow afternoon)

In summary, the actuator arm completly blocks the top bolts of the filter tree, and the bolts to remove the actuator are also in a PITA location, hopefully removing the water pipe will allow access.

 

Found this worrying oil deposit though...I immedidately thought turbo failure, however I seem to remember that the turbo can't leak like that. So I assume it's from the other leak, but I dunno....

So I've had a pesky oil leak for some time now, it's got to be dealt with. Sadly it's in just about the worst place possible, the oil filter tree. So today I started, I've learnt a few things already.

It's damn near impossible to remove the top bolt of the starter motor without a 1/2" UJ, I say damn near, I did manage it.

Next up the top two down pipe bolts also require a 1/2" UJ (guess what I'm off to halfords for tomorrow afternoon)

In summary, the actuator arm completly blocks the top bolts of the filter tree, and the bolts to remove the actuator are also in a PITA location, hopefully removing the water pipe will allow access.

 

Found this worrying oil deposit though...I immedidately thought turbo failure, however I seem to remember that the turbo can't leak like that. So I assume it's from the other leak, but I dunno....

 

one of the worst jobs on these cars..working on or around the drivers side turbo when still in the car. goodluck mate.

Tell me about it. One of those days as well, everything was 10 tines harder than it should of been, it took me ages to get the starter motor off. By this time tomorrow hopefully il be a load further forward. I can see me having to remove the turbo in situee at this rate though. Thank god I didn't bend all the tabs on the exhaust gasket back over.

Tell me about it. One of those days as well, everything was 10 tines harder than it should of been, it took me ages to get the starter motor off. By this time tomorrow hopefully il be a load further forward. I can see me having to remove the turbo in situee at this rate though. Thank god I didn't bend all the tabs on the exhaust gasket back over.

 

Ahhhhh they are a killer when you need to open up them tabs in the car LOL. Just like not putting the 2 front stubby water hose clips so the open ends are at the top and you can sqeeze them open with the water pipes fitted:lol:

REmove the clip that locates the actuator arm and push it up it makes access easier to the top filter tree bolt.

Of corse why didn't I think about that, I've already got that off. The clip itself projectiled off across the drive though so i need another.

Have you ever done it in situee jimmer?

Right so some more done. A trip to Halfords got me the 1/2" UJ I needed 2 minutes later the down pipe was off. Like this,

I then got 3 of the 4 filter tree retaining bolts off.

Sadly the actuator arm is in the way of the top front bolt...so removal of the actuator is necessary, to remove that the 19mm bolt on the turbo for the coolant feed needs to come out the way. Like this.

Dont be fooled though, the two 10mm bolts for the actuator are extremely fiddly, the last bolt on the filter tree is equally tight and 100,000 1/8th turns of a 12mm swan neck will see it come free. Some aggression later and we are here.

Want to guess why it leaked? Well I realised half way through the top two bolts weren't securing the tree, once it was all out I can see why. The top two were full of gasket sealant, so they had bottomed out about 3mm short, also the gasket was absent. Nice one.

who,s the guilty bodger Steve that plays John Wayne with his silacone gun and leaves vital gaskets out..:wacko:

Some shit "mechanics" in derby that specialise in Japanese cars, breaking cars doesn't make you a Mechanic, just a bodging con artist.

Wel done for sticking with it!

hi steve, had to this myself last year after mine started to drip oil onto the exhaust coming back from beaulieu last summer.

That top right bolt was a right pig to get out, had to walk away from it a few times.

I kept the actuator clip in as was worried I'd never get it back in but I took the 2 bolts out and that just gave me enough room to access the top bolt.

 

Good luck with putting it back.

Well done mate, it's honestly a pig isn't it. The rear clip pinged out when I was looking at it funny, lost it as well so I got two new ones from CR turbos which they kindly donated.

The thing that's concerning me most at present is getting those pesky actuator bolts back in.

You coming to japfest bud?

Yes am at japfest, although I broke my foot mountain biking 3 weeks ago so got a mate driving my car. I'll proberly still be on crutches so will be easily spotted!

What I done with those bolts when putting them back was dap a bit of blu tac or sealant on the end of your finger and push the bolt head into it, The bolt should hold and you should be able to gently feed the bolt using your finger, once the bolt holds enough then tighten using whatever spanners will fit in there.

Its tricky but your get there in the end. Good luck.

No worries mate. Il be there when you arrive to guide you all in. :D

Well the plot thickens, I took the time to clean the mating faces and threads up today. I've got 4 different length bolts... Can imagine that's correct. It would explain the excessive play in the top two though. I'm quite tempted to fit x3 studs and do this way will make replacement easier as well.

Great write-up mate.

It's much appreciated that you have taken the time and patience to not only post your progress, but to also post pictures.

Very helpful, it's good to see the detail and complexity up close.

Educational to say the least.:thumbup1:

I've got 4 different length bolts... Can imagine that's correct. It would explain the excessive play in the top two though. I'm quite tempted to fit x3 studs and do this way will make replacement easier as well.

 

The parts diagram has 3 different bolt types (which you have):

 

That's really helpfull thankyou Andrew, shame is doesn't list the thread length. Think I've got my head round which go where now though.

Great write-up mate.

It's much appreciated that you have taken the time and patience to not only post your progress, but to also post pictures.

Very helpful, it's good to see the detail and complexity up close.

Educational to say the least.:thumbup1:

 

Not a problem mate, if it's helpfull for myself and others in future then that's a real bonus.

Interesting I wonder if that's where my oil leak is coming from I've always got oil round the oil filter I thought it was coming from drivers side cam cover seal .It did tend to smoke under full throttle from driver side .

It's possible of corse, next time you have the car I the air have a good look. If the oil is magically appearing on the tree but no where else, that's the answer. I didn't do this job when I had my engine out, in hindsight it would have been a lot easier. However I was told it's extremly rare for it to leak, so I assumed it was just the leaky rockers, turns out it was both. Especially seeing as I had no gasket in there, it's not surprising. Bit of a misnomer my engine.

Got an hour or two in this afternoon after work, firstly I changed the 'O' ring inside the tree this helps regulate pressure within the system, mine was flattened and solid.

Filter tree is now back in, just got to make sure im happy with them before full reassembly.

A selection of the tools I used for the filter tree bolts, yes that's right 4 different 12mm spanners.

Also I took this picture with human interest, the rear two turbo flange bolts are accessed quite easily from the rear, the front ones which at first glance seems impossible, this photo shows that actually they're likely easier than the other two :)

well done Steve...thats a bastd of a job too:wink:

Yes well done Steve, bet you don't want to do that top right bolt in a hurry again Lol.

I must say when I did mine I didn't remove the starter motor or my divorced down pipe or remove the actuator arm clip, so properly

made life more awkward for myself.

I do like a challenge though.

Have you got the actuator arm clip back in? And did removing the starter motor help?