Oil leak from timing cover. Bad news?

wapow

If there is an oil leak from a timing cover, but since last top up its been two weeks and has not required a top up, is this something serious? What could the potential problems here and what's the best way to go about fixing it?

TrickyWicky

When you say timing cover do you mean at the side of the engine? - Does it have a chain or cambelt?

Or do you mean from the top of the engine - the cover where the spark plugs are but around the edges?

If it's the latter I wouldn't worry too much. It's called the rocker box cover and yeah some seals can let oil through but it's nothing major.

If it's at the side of the engine you need to get it looked at. Timing chains have to be lubricated. Likewise cambelts must not be lubricated or they slip on the teeth and then major carnage occurs.

bigjl

I don't agree that a cambelt will slip due to oil contamination.

It is a possibility i suppose. But have seen many contaminated cambelts and they either get caught in time or snap. Never seen one jump.

But the oil will certainly degrade the rubber causing the belt to start to break up.

Agree that OP needs to get it checked properly.

SailorSam

If you haven't lost oil since the last top-up, are you sure there was a leak in the first place, could it just have been spilt when you first topped-up and run down the engine.
Clean your engine with gunk and a hosepipe and see if you see a fresh leak.