MTU 2000 series oil leaks

[jaffa66]

Hi everyone, I have two 12v MTU 2000 series which have both done about 5000hrs, and both are beginning to leak oil. Both engines run fine, don't burn any oil. One is leaking from what seems to be from around the front of the sump, and the other from where the intercooler mount bolts to the flywheel housing on the starboard side. Both engines have had this gasket replaced under warranty by MTU 2 years ago, but now on one it seems to be leaking again. The original gaskets looked like it had been sucked in, not blown out, my local guru marine mechanic advised removing the breather filters and running the breathers overboard rather than into the intakes, which I have done but the problem seems to have come about again. I change oil and filters every 150hrs so I don't think its an old oil issue. Spoken to MTU and they reckon I'm the only one with this problem. I would just like to know if anyone else has had a similar problem.
Any thoughts would be apreciated

 

[Drillmech]

We also have a 12v that has recently begun leaking oil in behind the damper. I can't determine if it is the timing cover or the engine bedplate. Please excuse my part names if they are incorrect, as these engines are new to us and information is scarce. Could you tell me where yours was leaking on the damper end of the engine? Thanks.

 

[omega2]

oil leak

not up to scratch on these engines, but it sounds like the timing case oil seal? i.e. were the crankshaft pokes out to accept the pulleys for the belts? If so then maybe due to there age they are begining to "breath", if when running you remove the oil filler cap can you hear/see puffs of air? if so you will either have to live with it or do a complete o/haul rebore and all that goes with it. or it could simply be too much oil in the sump. Have the dipsticks been calibrated? on our fords which are mounted at 15% angle we had the same problem, trying to keep the level up to the mark, with uncalibrated sticks we were over filling the poor beasts, and the excess has to go somewhere. We eventually sussed it and drained completely, then filled up the specified amount, gues what the oil was halfway down the sticks, remarked the sticks no problems since.

 

[jaffa66]

oil leak

Hi, have since original post, pulled sump pan off and found sump gasket split around front bolt holes. gasket even looks like it has been sucked in. Checked oil level while sump off, all good, even with the 100ltrs that it holds it is nowhere near the crankshaft. As the engines sit at about minus 1 degree stationary and approx 5 degrees underway there is not a crank splash problem. looking through the original sales brochure it mentions that these engines have a negative pressure crankcase to reduce oil leaks. Since i have removed crankcase breather filters and run breather hoses overboard i think the gasket was on its way before I did these mods. Interestingly the new gasket is not a one piece as per the original rather a jigsaw style with a silicon bead on the sump pan side. The sump pan surface is an almost polished surface which i don't think gave good adhesion for the original gasket. So we roughed it up with emery paper before refitting. I suppose now I will just have to see if it happens again. Jaffa