Oil leak through threaded hole above head bolt

[georryan]

So I have this oil leak and I finally think I've figured out where it is coming from.

Here is the link with a couple pictures of the location.

Here's the deal: I saw that little hole in the engine block there full of oil one day, so I sprayed down the engine with brake parts cleaner and got most of the oil you see there actually cleaned off. Then I drove the piss out of it on the way home from work one day and looked under the hood. That hole was full of oil again and the upper parts of the block had oilly colored fluid here and there. It really looks like it is coming out that hole when I am pushing the car.

Is there any reason other than head gaskets, that would explain fluid in that hole? I can't seem to find a leak on the turbo anywhere, and that is what is sitting behind and above that part of the engine.

-Ryan

edit: changed title to make it more appropriate

[legacy92ej22t]

Could it be from the PCV lines?

[azn2nr]

it looks like its dripping onto the uppipe, corect me if im wrong.

if it is, check the pcv lines for cracks. if you find none it might be your oil suply line for your turbo.

[Legacy777]

I'd say it's dripping into the hole. Check above the hole and see if it's oily.

[georryan]

I'll do some more checking. Everything looks dry from above, but I'll try to do some thorough checking next time I look at it.

Reason I mention head gasket is because there is an oil line that is really close to that head bolt. It is possable for the there to be a leak in the head gasket from that oil line to the headbolt hole without compramising compression.

I'll do some really thorough checks again and see if I missed anything the last few times.

-Ryan

[skid542]

I'm inclined to think that it's not coming out of the hole. Could it be that there is a slight splashing right next to the hole that it drips into and then burns off the surface but not down in the hole? The gaskets does sound reasonable, have you checked your coolant and oil?

[georryan]

Coolant and oil are fine, no mixing. The coolant keeps its level, but the oil needs adding once in a while (a given since it is leaking), but it takes a while to loose enough to require adding.

That hole doesn't stay full either. After I shut the car off and let it sit for a while that hole eventually will be empty when I come back to look at it.

I actually sat and reved the engine from under the hood for a while the other day and couldn't see anything leaking anywhere.

I'll check those pcv lines.

[georryan]

The problem was the headgasket. The bolt in the picture, when i pulled it from the head, was totally oil covered, and the whole threaded hole in the block was just filled with oil. The leak was definately coming from that head stud.