4 replies to this topic

[mr cooke]

Hi all , can anyone help my wife has a 1.9 TDI 130 se Seat leon 2004 , it has started leaking oil from the intercooler ?

I dont know much about TDI engines

anyone got any ideas

thanks chris

[M J W J]

You will usually find that there is some oil in an intercooler as it has got past the seal in the turbo.

 

You can flush an intercooler out using diesel, paraffin or something similar. If the problem persists then it is a sign that the turbo is on its way out as there should only be a tiny amount in an intercooler at best. Oil isn't really supposed to be there.

[Kam]

As above there should be a tiny amount in the intercooler pipes. Where is the leak coming from? Is it from the pipe or the intercooler fins themselves? I've got the 150 so similar

Can you get to the underside and pull off the undershield? You may find there is either oil leaking around the turbo, a split intercooler pipe or maybe just a poor connection as the 'lugs' for the pipes themselves have been known to wear and cause a boost leak, usually a symptom off this is a whistling sound at low revs

[Carlos W]

As above, you often get a smear of oil in there, but the intercooler is between the turbo and the engine isn't it, so a hole would mean you're losing boost

[robminibcy]

I have a golf which is the same as one of these underneath. A bit of oil is normal in the intake pipe work. A leak suggests a damaged intercooler or the pipe connecting to it. Its fairly common for the pipes to fall off as they age but simply put it back on and sorted . The intercoolers can also come apart. Mine did this but dead easy to change. Do you notice a drop in power/fuel ecomopy at all? They will usually make a louder hiss under acceleration as well.