Hi guys,

I changed my accessory belts over today and noticed that there is a bit of oil on the power steering tensioner.
It isn't too much and doesn't drip but was wondering if this is a common fault and what is the fix if anyone knows?

EDIT: It looks like it's the power steering pump leaking but the oil color was that of engine oil, ie it was not red.

Pics:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c104/spetz83/IMG_0632_zpsde3a4e5e.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c104/spetz83/IMG_0631_zpsf2ca4405.jpg

It does look like the power steering pump leaking. Check the colour of the oil in your resivour, mine is normal oil colour, not red. If your lucky it could be the rear rocker cover leaking onto the pump, might pay to clean it up with degreaser and keep an eye on it.

Thanks Jimbo.
I know that the rocker covers are leaking heavily enough that I can smell oil burning as it leaks onto the exhaust manifold but it didn't seem like enough to accumulate that much oil on the power steering.
I will have a look at the color of the power steering oil and degrease the affected area to check where the leaks are coming from.

I was just thinking that maybe this is a common issue that someone could tell me about

Get a piece of white paper and dab it. Will make the colour more obvious. Though old power steering oil can be pretty dark!

I checked the color of the power steering oil and it is bright red so this is definitely engine oil.
Could it be from the rocker cover gasket? They do leak, but it does not seem like enough to make that mess (judging by the front one though as I cannot see the rear one well)

Oh, I thought you ruled the rocker cover out for some reason. It is more than likely your rear rocker cover seal. If I remember correctly... My rear was also leaking more than the front. Get a torch and get a good look. Or just order a set of seals and get crackin!

I assumed it wouldn't be the rocker covers seals purely by making a judgement considering how much the front bank leaks.
I already have the kit to swap them over, just need to either find or buy a 1/4" torque wrench

EDIT:
Also I seem to lose about 500ml of oil every 2,000km or so.
I assume leaks account for this rather than burning?

Generally is rocker cover gaskets, we see this all the time

Hi Spetz,

This is what was happening to my car. Mal picked it up 1st look but the Nuffies at Bridgestone went and put a new power steering pump on it. They thought that was the problem. It does also pay to clean up your engine bay so you can see what is coming from where?. Also be careful doing this as the Nuffies at Bridgestone also got water into my distributor and wrecked it. Make sure u support the engine properly bc they also look like they have squashed & disfigured the other engine mounts which Mal thinks may be causing the vibration in the engine. It may also pay to change the other belts there as well, my power steering pump belt was the original (over 12yrs old) and was pretty badly deteriorated. If they don't snap, they can shred back in through the timing belt and cause engine failure/damage.

Madmagna, thanks for the info, I've already bought the rocker cover kits from you and plan on changing them when I get the chance and a torque wrench that reads down to 3.5nm.

Pombonted, I remember reading your thread about the Bridgestone incompetence. Seems like they really went all out with your car :(

I've had a belt snap on me (different car) and it ended up costing me hundreds in towing and fixing because it took out the crank angle sensor. But the belts have been changed to new (this is how I noticed the leak in the first place)

Did u do the seals as well? Mal picked that up on mine. They hadn't changed the seals or the hyd tensioner??? I see u spoke to Mal and bought the kit from him. Good work, he'll have told you what u need.

Great that u have managed to do it urself. I tried a little DIY on replacing my electric aerial mast and got it perfect, except I didn't screw the whole thing in and then it all fell out. Hours later it only winds up and won't wind in. I've pulled the motor apart and I think I may have messed with the springs in the pulleys??? God, I'm starting to think I cursed :(

So with a very sore back and really mad at myself I have taken the easy way out and posted a "wanted to buy" listing.

It's not the timing belt that I swapped over, it's the two accessory belts

Oh sorry, my mistake. I thought u did good for a DIY timing belt, they are supposed to be pretty hard to align.

No I don't think I feel confident enough to tackle it on my own