oil leak mondeo tdci - wils81
I have a mondeo tdci nov 03 registered so is just out of warranty. My battery light recently came on and i thought i had an alternator problem but today when i took it to a alternator specialist they had a look and noticed an oil leak. This has leaked onto the belt and made it slack which is why the warning light has been coming on.

The leak seams to be coming from an area on the drivers side and in front of the alternator. The problem is there is quite a lot of oil under there and its hard to see exactly where its coming from. One thing i have noticed is there seems to be some kind of sealant aroung a particular area and was wondering if this is the likely culprit and if so what is it.

oil leak mondeo tdci - cheddar
There is a crankshaft oil seal in the timing chain cover, most likely culprit though could be the cover itself.
oil leak mondeo tdci - wils81
any idea how much something like this costs to repair?
oil leak mondeo tdci - Aprilia
Best thing to do is wash it down, take it for a run, and then see where oil is coming from. Crank seal is most likely, but there are a few other possibilities.
oil leak mondeo tdci - milkyjoe
makes you wonder if ford design oil leaks into there cars , 30 years ago you could blame the technology but jap cars dont have these leaks ....open to debate
oil leak mondeo tdci - cheddar
makes you wonder if ford design oil leaks into there cars 30 years ago you
could blame the technology but jap cars dont have these leaks ....open to debate


How many people on here have mentioned Ford oil leaks? In discussion there is a guy who's Corolla of a similar age needed a new engine due to oil consumption though he is a one off as well so also not statistically representative.

Not helping the OP though on which note Aprilia's approach sound right. Otherwise just to say sure it is not diesel?
oil leak mondeo tdci - wils81
no pretty sure its oil. Is this an expensive repair on eitheir cases (sump or cranshaft)?
oil leak mondeo tdci - Aprilia
no pretty sure its oil. Is this an expensive repair on eitheir cases (sump or
cranshaft)?


No. In either case it will be a bit under an hour's labour plus the cost of an oil seal and/or gasket. Which won't be a lot. Even at main dealer should not really exceed £100 I would of thought..?
oil leak mondeo tdci - cheddar
No. In either case it will be a bit under an hour's labour plus the
cost of an oil seal and/or gasket. Which won't be a lot. Even at main
dealer should not really exceed £100 I would of thought..?


To be fair the aux belt arrangement is quite complicated, depending on how much needs to be dismantled it could be a couple of hours labour.

Would not have thought it is the sump.
oil leak mondeo tdci - Aprilia
To be fair the aux belt arrangement is quite complicated depending on how much needs
to be dismantled it could be a couple of hours labour.


Just double checked. Ford database says 40 mins for crank front oil seal. 55mins for sump. Don't let 'em charge you for more...
oil leak mondeo tdci - cheddar
Just double checked. Ford database says 40 mins for crank front oil seal. 55mins for
sump. Don't let 'em charge you for more...


Thats not bad, it takes 10 or 15 mins to take the engine under tray off and on again.
oil leak mondeo tdci - Micky
Leave it, the rust could do with some treatment .....
oil leak mondeo tdci - wils81
thanks alot fellas. To be honest im a bit p'ed off with fords and not sure if i will use them as it went in last time the battery light came on and they gave it back saying everythings now fine there was something missing from the alternator. They did however say that the alternator belt needed changing which at the time i thought was strange as it had not snapped. They charged me 80 quid for the diagnostic report.

My guess is they see oil on the belt and thought it was a spilled oil change from myself and just tightened the belt up and didnt notice the oil leak.