Blown Turbo? Dumped all my oil! Dead Delica L400

[Mr. Flibble]

I just pilled over, lost all my oil, seems to have come from the turbo or a pressure line. I can't tell. :(

Good mechanics in Victoria? I don't think my warranty will cover just anyone.... If it even covers this.... :(

[jessef]

Oil pressure light come on ?

How much oil did you loose and for how long did you keep driving ?

If oil dumps quick you'll hear the engine rattle and complain quickly.

Lost oil via line at clamp or oil filter ?

More info please

[Mr. Flibble]

Oil blinked at idle - thought it was wierd, blinked at idle again, then smelled oil, pulled over immediately. Oil dipstick dry. Constant trail of oil from near turbo - can't see in dark exactly where. Just had van toed to apt as I can't get it worked on for 3 weeks. "Eaving to US for work.

[Mr. Flibble]

Sorry, back at apartment now. I had to have the van towed here because I have to leave for work for 3 weeks, and I won't have time to oversee it being worked on at a shop here in Victoria.

I noticed some oil near it when I got in, but assumed it was not me. The low oil light started blinking when I was at a light, but only at idle. This happened with my 4 runner whenever my oil was low - but not critically so, so I assumed I would just need a quart of oil or so to top off. Next light, same blinking at idle, this began to concern me, then I could smell oil and the light was blinking at 2000 rpm. I pulled over ASAP and saw a trail of oil from the van. I probably drove about 2 km throughout this entire experience.

Dipstick was totally dry. oil sprayed around the drivers side of the engine, but not with so much force as to hit the hood. However, all the components in the general area of the turbo are coated with oil.

I did not hear any strange engine noises or any engine distress of any kind.

[jessef]

Check the oil pipe feed

[lopar]

Had a similar mess, less dramatic, to my L400 about 3 weeks ago......... turned out to be the oil filter. Was strange, started leaking just shy of 5,000km.

[thedjjack]

Oil light is not level it is pressure the usually are 5-10PSI depending on the vehicle (no idea what is in the Delica).

If the light was not on above idle it had more then 5PSI but was it enough? Probably it sounds like you shut it down quick enough.

Best of luck with it.

[Mr. Flibble]

Check the oil pipe feed

That is most likely the issue, cost of a new pipe and repair estimate?

[jessef]

I haven't heard of the pipe cracking or breaking under normal conditions but that's not to say it doesn't happen.

The best thing to do is to first and foremost use a degreaser and remove all the external oil. Then add oil and top it up. Look for signs of leaking. Anywhere, rear valve cover seal, oil filter, oil switch, crank seal, etc ... You would be surprised at how well oil moves up, down and gets at places far away from the source leak.

If you cannot trace the leak without starting the engine, then make sure the oil filter is on good and the seal has a snug fit against the oil casing on the block.

Have someone start the engine with you/person at engine bay giving signals of when to shut off the motor if need to be done suddenly. Communication is important.

If no leak persists, then the best solution is to have a shop insert a chemical dye into the oil crankcase and then run the engine to have the dye circulate. Once circulated and running warm while monitoring the oil level frequently, the dye will present itself if leaking somewhere (uv glasses).

I use this method on coolant leaks and it's amazing.

Hope this gives a head start.

[solanoid]

Mr. F.

I know we have had our differences in the past, but I wanted to wish you the best of luck. I didnt mean it when I called Starbug ugly, I hope shes back on the road soon at a minimal cost to you.

Sincerely,
Aaron

[Mr. Flibble]

Thanks solanoid! :)

To think all this happened when I am potentially moving to the States, and will almost certainly have to sell Starbug. :(

Good news is I took a look at the Deli in the sunlight, I could not see much, but, the Oil Filter was nearly totally free from oil. Only minor drops on it. The leak happened more rearward than the filter. The turbo seems fairly clean as well, so it was not the turbo.

It seems VERY much like one of the oil pressure lines got a crack in it and started spraying oil out of the crack. So, it was not a total full on dump of oil from something like the pan, but the oil pressure itself pumping out where one of the high pressure lines are. My best guess is a crack in one of the lines that is above the oil filter from what I can see.

So, hopefully very minor damage done to my Deli!

[JHelzer]

I have no idea if the alternator/oil pump setup is the same on a 400 as a 300 so you can likely ignore this post.

I have an L300 and a similar situation happened to me a month ago. Something in the oil pump gave way and blew all my oil out on the road around/through the alternator. The mess was under the turbo on the driver's side. Dipstick was dry and a flicker of the oil light is what warned me. Had to get a reconditioned alternator to solve the problem (the oil pump and alternator are a single unit).

Good luck!

John