Vw Polo 9N3 Question...

[Donquixote]

Hi all!

It's been a long time since I was last here - it's good to be back!

A quick one for all the mechanics/petrol heads out there...

My fiancée just bought a 2006 VW Polo (9N3), nice and clean, but this morning there was a patch of oil under the car. Unusually, it was at the rear. When I looked underneath it seemed to be coming from a round rubberised circle, roughly 3-inch in diameter, directly underneath the well for the spare wheel. Weird! There are about 4 of these circles under there, each one quite soft and rubbery. The one that's leaking has a broken seal.

So my question is... what on earth is this? And what is leaking?

I'm relatively au fait with the layout of car but I've no idea what this might be.

Many thanks in advance,


DonQ

[Hopkirk]

Have you looked under the spare wheel?

I suspect the rubberised circles are just bungs in drain holes.

[TWR]

Have you a can of oil in the boot that's tipped over? the bungs are drain bungs as said by Hop, if the car was turned around I think you will find the oil coming from the front some where, the only way to find the cause is to steam / de-grease the engine compartment / underside.

[Hymie]

While I would agree with TWR that it is likely that the oil was deposited when the vehicle was turned around, before spending money on cleaning the engine – I would recommend you take a close inspection to see if you can locate the leak.

I’m not familiar with this vehicle, but even a VW of that vintage is likely to have an engine floor pan made of a fibrous flexible material (under the engine), making this difficult – with the oil leaking on to the floor pan, and then on to the ground.

But knowing that the most likely places for an oil leak are where gaskets have been fitted – and that gravity will result in any leaking oil heading towards the ground, may help.

Look closely all around the rocker box cover/head join, the join of the engine head to the block, the sump to the engine, gearbox/engine and don’t forget the oil filter and drain plug. Besides visual inspection, run your finger over suspect areas to check for oil.

[tonyav]

Hymie the car is a 2006 VW Polo, engine is at the front oil leak at the rear.

[Hymie]

That is why it is likely that the oil leak was deposited when the vehicle was turned around.

[tonyav]

Maybe, but not if the op saw it dripping from the damaged blanking grommet.

[Donquixote]

Sooooooooo...

Thanks for all of your answers, they're very much appreciated!

I had a look under the spare wheel and, yup, I'm an idiot ;/
...it looks as though the previous owner had spilt oil in the spare wheel recess, which then leaked through the blanking bung. So no oil 'leak', just an oil spillage. Doh!

Nothing an old rag and some soapy water won't sort.

Thanks again. It seems that everyone here was right.

DonQ

[TWR]

Soapy water will not clear the residue, you need a Bottle of de-greaser to do the job right.