Oil leak after service

[Brett]

My brothers 1.2 Clio was serviced late last week now we have noticed an oil leak. I'm thinking a likely cause will be either they have reused the sump plug washer or not put the filter on properly. Does that sound about right?

I've not had chance to have a look yet as we only noticed earlier and it's pissing down with rain. I'm going to get him to return it to the garage this week regardless.

 

[Tommo.]

Did they do anything else, besides changing the oil and filter? If not, i'd say you're probably right about it being either a loose oil filter or the sump plug washer being reused.

Of course, it could just be a coincidence and something completely unrelated...

 

[DaveDreads]

Without knowing where the leak is or how much it's leaking it's difficult to say.

 

[Brett]

It isn't a massive amount - when mixed with rain it's probably about a football sized patch.

I just haven't had time to have a look at it but they were my initial thoughts.

 

[RS Charlie]

If I were a betting man I would say that it is the oil filter. Many people seem to struggle to tighten them IME as a result of the location and not removing things which make life easier there. My first 1.4 Clio II leaked here. Failing that, I would look at the sump plug, the washer should have been changed. That is if the right tool was used (an 8mm square drive socket, you will be surprised what people put in there!).

 

[clioben182]

I would say as its a 1.2 (if its the one I'm thinking of) the filter is above the subframe behind the drivers wheel and they haven't cleaned the oil of from where they have changed it.

 

[iimushroomzii]

Might just be garage numpties missing the fill hole when topping the oil back up. Or is the level dropping on the dipstick?

 

[JamesBryan]

I would say as its a 1.2 (if its the one I'm thinking of) the filter is above the subframe behind the drivers wheel and they haven't cleaned the oil of from where they have changed it.

Could be this. When they took the old filter off, some oil would have spilled out on to surrounding areas.

I always use a bit of brake cleaner to remove it all.