Where is the oil leaking from? Advice please!

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

It's not a fun job, but better on the 32V as the terminal is much shorter. You may find a standard 24mm socket will fit over that switch. If not, a long socket could be cut down so it fits between the switch and the chassis leg, and then grind some flats on to the body of the socket so you can get a spanner on it.

It doesn't need a lot of torque to reattach as it has a crush washer. If you can get enough torque on it to get it out, you can easily get enough to put it back in.

Thanks for the hints. I tried a normal socket for fit but the terminal almost pokes out the back end, meaning that I would at least have to cut the terminal off or bend it over.

I think I may have seen long sockets with flats before. Maybe I can look for one of those. I have a breaker bar with a small profile so maybe things aren't as difficult as I am imagining.

It looks like the oil could be leaking from the plastic part of the switch near where the terminal is. Is that a thing?

[MikkiJayne]

Yep thats the normal failure mode for them

Standard long socket + angle grinder = long socket with flats

[C4R 100N]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Yep thats the normal failure mode for them

Standard long socket + angle grinder = long socket with flats

So, it was a soda in the end. I got a replacement part in hand today and so, was able to begin the replacement. I broke the switch to facilitate removal with a short socket.

You can see (maybe) in the picture, that the plastic had cracked along the seam, and this, as you indicated, was the reason it was leaking I guess.

I had to buy a deep 24mm socket, and I did butcher it with a bench grinder in order to fashion some flats. This was not needed in the end because the socket that I purchased had a hole conveniently located, where i could insert a flat bladed electricians screwdriver, which gave me enough torque to fasten the new sensor to the oil filter housing.




I ran the car for twenty minutes to satisfy myself that the sensor was installed tightly enough (no oil leaking!).

I wish that I had gotten around to this job ages ago. My carport has lots of oil stains from my lack of effort.

Just went for a drive (risking the attention of the Corona police) and no drips on the driveway....YAY!

[MikkiJayne]

That's a scaffolding socket - they have a pin through the 1/2" drive instead of the usual sprung ball so the socket doesn't fall off and hit someone on the way down. Also useful for getting to Audi V8 oil pressure switches