I was wondering what the pipe was in the photo I have attached and why it is covered in oil

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Since ive had the car a few people said it isnt a problem but its seems to be gettin worse and it is starting to smoke a bit now which must be from the oil burning. Would it be worth trying to clean the oil off this pipe when it cools down to see how fast it takes to leak again?

There is a little patch of oil on the drive which my mechanic said is due to a hairline crack in the sump which he is going to try and repair. I keep a very close eye on the oil levels and I never have to top up the oil so the leaks cant be that bad at the moment.

Thanks for any help

 

Mine looks a bit like that

Not sure what the pipe is - some oil return / feed pipe I guess. However you may find that the leak is coming from the front crank seal.

Apparently they should be changed on the 2nd cambelt change, but rarely are. They go hard and leak a bit and the oil gets flung around inside the cambelt covers, eventually builds up at the bottom and leaks out the bottom and can run down this pipe and drip off the lowest point.

I have changed mine, and the smelling has pretty much stopped, although I think my cam cover gaskets need doing

It's still a bit oily underneath, but holds the rust at bay

 

it is the water feed for the oil cooler where the oil filter screws into..

the leak is most likely as ClintUK says from within the cam covers.. most likely crank seal.

Simon

 

Is it pretty urgent I get the crank seal fixed and is it a big job?

 

Bloody hell.
I'm probably talking sense if JGM agrees :-)

and now we both know what the pipe is for.

 

I thought that was an oil pipe! as it went to the oil filter.. Learn something every day!!

 

i had this on mine was the crank seal dont think its anything to worry about unless your loosing alot of oil keep an eye on it do it at the same time as cambelt

 

Cheers for the replies guys. Me car is on 110k miles so aint due a cambelt change yet so will just keep a eye on it