Turbo Clamp Oil Leak

[Coronach]

So, I was changing the oil and I noticed a VERY little bit of oil seepage from above the oil pan. Took the car in to Ford to have it checked out (I had a couple other items for them to check before I was out of bumper to bumper mileage). They cleaned the bottom, out some dye in the oil and had me drive it for a few days. Got the results, it is leaking oil from the turbo clamp (their words). It's covered under powertrain, so it goes in next week to get fixed.

I'm not well versed on the Ecoboost engine (or non-normally aspirated engines in general). So I don't quite understand exactly what is leaking where. You can't actually leak anything from a clamp, but I take it to mean that a clamp has broken and is allowing a gasket to seep oil. If that's not correct, please let me know.

Anything I should be watching for after the repair is done? Also, will Ford be changing any fluids? I assume oil ...

FWIW, the car has no driveability issues, no codes thrown, no oil dropping on the ground, so hopefully it's as minor a problem as it seems.

Mike

 

[SHOdded]

Possibly a loose clamp on the turbo piping, a split hose, or an oil feed line. Def ask them if oil was pooling in any of the hoses, or check yourself. Pooling oil indicates need for maintenance - either PCV system (including bank 1 valve cover), or turbo seals. Maybe ask directly about the turbos.

 

[luigisho]

If your b to b is running out, I would consider an extended from a discounter if you plan on keeping it over a good amount of time. There are several different tiers of coverage and pricing. Something to think about

 

[Coronach]

I'll ask about the status of the turbo and what, exactly, was leaking. I won't really have an opportunity to pull hoses myself to check before I have to drop it off, unless I can do it right after I get home from work tonight. Which lines should I be checking?

So, what should I expect Ford to do, fluids-wise? I want to make sure they're not cutting corners.

Mike

 

[mrhighcaliber]

Are you talking about the turbo housing (hot/exhaust) to center section clamp? If so, thats an indication that your turbine shaft seals are leaking. But if the turbo drain pipe ****** is leaking, it will have the same leak pattern, coating the bottom of the turbo and soaking the clamp. Those oil drain tube flanges warp and it no longer seals to the bottom of the turbo. Use a felpro gasket, make your own gasket from a felt gasket maker sheet or change the whole drain tube/****** assembly. They use a steel gasket stock, and once the drain ****** warps, it won't seal. But the felt gaskets will. If the oil persists, it's your turbos internal turbine piston seal that's leaking or broken. That will require a new turbo, or rebuild.

You're probably catteddownpipes,but do you detect any burnt oil smell from the exhaustpipes?

Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk

 

[Coronach]

Well, I'm not fixing anything. Ford is. This is a warranty repair. I'm not sure exactly where it is leaking from, but I'll ask for specifics.

And I have had zero issues, performance-wise, and noted no smells or smoke. I only noticed that I had an issue when I was changing the oil. There was a very slight sheen of oil on the outside of the oil pan bolts and ****** of the oil pan, on the back side. I figured it was coming from the oil pan gasket, but Ford said it was the "turbo clamp."

 

[SHOdded]

There is a big hose running from the rear turbo behind the engine to up and over the engine. It frequently leaks from weak clamps (sometimes the hose is split underneath the clamps).

 

[abs]

Given that the leak was showing up at the bottom of the engine, I would guess that this issue is from a turbo drain line which we know can leak. The upper oil feed lines to the turbo use a banjo style connector with copper washers which are less likely to leak. The lower drain line has a different design using a flat rubber gasket on one side and o-rings on the other and can leak. Ford had at least a couple of revisions to this part to help solve that problem.