I have an 05 Vauxhall Vivaro 2.5 deisel turbo
It has done just 51,000 miles. Starts first time, loads of power smooth, no smoke. However it leaks oil if I tow with it. ie I am a caravan dealer and if I tiow caravans with it, it leaks and spreads the caravan with oil. As the oile is coming out of where ever and getting on the drive belt it is spreading it all around the engine. Doesn't seem to leak much if at all under usual circuumstances, just when under load and especially in 5th or 6th gear. There is a pipe hanging down under the engine, what is that for???

It has been in the garage and they took the top off the engine cleaned it all down and could find no leak???

Nigel

Nigel, October 2009

The answer has already been given you it's the inlet manifold gasket on the head leaking and pressurising the crank cases

Marc geraghty, October 2016

hi I'm having the same problem.. After spending hundreds I've found that one of the cogs which is connected to the timing belt has play in it which slightly leaks oil causing it to leak on to the crank spraying it every were. .. I don't no how to fix this other than get my engine reconditioned or does any mechanics no how to fix this problem.. The seal has been changed but it still moves enough to leak... even wit this going on the engine runs really good.. but I no its a big issue because it's leaks to the timing.

james, November 2014

hi I'm having the same problem.. After spending hundreds I've found that one of the cogs which is connected to the timing belt has play in it which slightly leaks oil causing it to leak on to the crank spraying it every were. .. I don't no how to fix this other than get my engine reconditioned or does any mechanics no how to fix this problem.. The seal has been changed but it still moves enough to leak... even wit this going on the engine runs really good.. but I no its a big issue because it's leaks to the timing.

james, November 2014

My vivaro I brought yesterday for £7000, soon as I got home in it I noticed a lot of oil underneath, opened the bonnet and oil all over. Any info on how to fix it would be appreciated. As the dealer I got it from is 3 hour drive. Other than that it's a great van really powerful.

Darren dyche, February 2014

Got the same problem and found this thread which offers a couple of solutions

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-39656.html

Pjttlk, January 2014

hi all i recently bought a vauxhall vivaro in jan 2012 and ive had problem after problem with it its on a 55 plate and cost me £3.500 pound first thing to go on it was the fan belt it snaped and took my cambelt out which broke 3 piston injector in the engine total cost to get it fixed £1.300 to get it fixed then gearbox cable went costing another £497 an now the rocker box is leaking oil this has happen twice now with in the space of a mounth these vans these vans may look nice but not up to the job there very unreliable my advice dont buy 1 there sh t

dave, July 2012

hello

i am from Belgium i know about the problem with the blown plug.
all you have to do is replace the rocker cover gasket, it is blowing compresst air from turbo into the engine through little cracks in the gasket.

johan, March 2011

hi had this problem so booked in for cambelt service new clutch, with new oil seals both ends of crank, garage found slight oil leak from turbo, so that was done allso, the turbo supply company said they have been selling quit a few of these and have found drivers notice slight drop in power (not loads) and bit exsive smoke from exhaust(night drivinging with a close vechical behind will pick up when looked in rear view mirror) what happens is turbo puts pressure into the engine oil gallery causing increased preasure blowing oil from seals, company recomended change turbo first, my garage did and NO MORE OIL LEAKS AND FULL POWER RESTORED, STEAMED CLEANED ENGINE BAY AND UNDERNEATHE 1000 MILES AGO AND NO MORE OIL LEAKS, USE GOOD FULLY SYN ENGINE OIL AND LET OIL GET TO TURBO BEFORE DRIVEING OFF,AND WEAR KEEPED TO A MIN.

ian lazenby, September 2010

has the gear box been over fill ,or look at turbo oil pipe

simon, April 2010

Hello I have a vivaro 2.5 deisel 59000 miles running great, i got it serviced and noticed a pipe hanging down underneath which i never saw before. i then noticed an oil leak which started to drip on the belt and throw oil everywhere i took it into Vauxhall at warrington where i was told it was this plug blowing out oil from the pump after two times it was fixed i had to get it towed back into Vauhall the same day after another week i am told i need a new oil pump and if that doesnt solve it i will have to get a new engine at £3000 fitted. Can anyone tell me am i being told a load of rubbish as i am fed up with Lookers messing me around.

Dave, April 2010

Hello I have a vivaro 2.5 deisel 59000 miles running great, i got it serviced and noticed a pipe hanging down underneath which i never saw before. i then noticed an oil leak which started to drip on the belt and throw oil everywhere i took it into Vauxhall at warrington where i was told it was this plug blowing out oil from the pump after two times it was fixed i had to get it towed back into Vauhall the same day after another week i am told i need a new oil pump and if that doesnt solve it i will have to get a new engine at £3000 fitted. Can anyone tell me am i being told a load of rubbish as i am fed up with Lookers messing me around.

Dave, April 2010

yep, add me to the list, We are having this exact issue too. 2.5 70K miles and keeps blowing out the bung intermittantly.
Does anyone have a conclusion on the matter yet?

tim, February 2010

its fooooooked

jon thomas, January 2010

Van has now gone into a Vauxhall dealer, looks like it's the breather value at the back of the rocker box that is not working when the engine is under load to much pressure and pop goes the bung hence oil everywhere so if your only losing oil only when it's under load then get the valve changed.

richard, December 2009

RICHARD, NIGEL, I OWN A GARAGE - I THINK I'M DOING YOU'RE VAN RICHARD. VAUXHALL SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW OF A PROBLEM, RENAULT SEEM TO BE AWARE OF IT BUT WILL NOT GIVE OUT INFORMATION. CAN ANYONE HELP?

ROB, December 2009

Nigel, i also a 2.5 78.000 miles, which has just stated having a similar problem in that drove from Bristol to Reading noticed a little oil on the floor lifted bonnet oil every where AA came out could not find any thing wrong topped the oil up every thing OK drove home fine garage looked into it and found that a bung/plug had blown out from the timing area replaced the plug next day pop plug had gone again breather system checked out OK now on the third plug Vauxhall say that there is nothing wrong with van, does anyone know differant ?

Richard, December 2009