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The darndest thing: Oil leak from window washer pump wire.

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    The darndest thing: Oil leak from window washer pump wire.

    This is mainly a PSA and "lookie what I found" for posterity, in case somebody someday searches. My new iS has terrible oil leaks while running. I tracked down the 3 major leaks on the right side.
    1. oil pressure sensor.
    2. Somewhere above the AC compressor.
    3. The wire that goes to the windshield washer pump, about 2 inches from the pump, where the black sleeve ends

    So here's how it is as I see it:
    Crappy oil sensor leaks oil thru the sensor into the connector, which is covered by a beautiful, supple yet firm nipple. The nipple, being in perfect shape, directs the hot, pressurized oil into the black sleeve that covers and protects the wire.
    The wire then snakes along the block up above the compressor, where it joins with another sleeved wire into a larger black sleeve and travels above the fan clutch area.
    That "other wire" happens to be the wire that goes to the windshield pump.

    Pressurized oil is being pumped into my engine's wiring harness. Some is exiting immediately at the sensor. Some is making it above the compressor where the wires join and leaking down, and some is making it all the way back up to the windshield washer pump. I'm assuming some is making it to the left side of the engine and causing my leak on that side, but since I haven't traced the wires that far yet I can't conclude that for sure.

    I might take some photos tomorrow if there is interest.
    My new sensor gets here on Thursday along with my timing belt, so I should have a pretty good view of what's going where when I do that job.

    #2
    sounds bloody interesting!!!

    Take some pics of this madness, it is pretty hard to imagine. Still it sounds plausible.

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      #3
      Yep I was right.
      Fixed the oil leak. It was indeed a failed oil pressure sensor pressurizing the protective tubing over the wiring, squirting oil to the far, random reaches of my engine bay. Crazy shit. Replaced the sensor, no more problems. Can't believe how much oil it leaked (1 qt in 125 miles) before I fixed it. There were 3 distinct leak points on the right side of the engine and 1 on the left side, probably >1 drop per second. All fixed. Here's some photos.
      3 obvious points of leak on the rt side of the engine were a bit at the sensor, some at the windshield washer pump wire near the pump, and a good bit dripping down onto the compressor.







      And from the top

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        #4
        I've seen this happen a few times before at work, once we were trying to figure out how water was appearing at the top half of an electrical cabinet. Turns out the water flowmeter 20ft away had an internal leak and was forcing water through the cable into the cabinet. Always fun to solve haha
        1990 332i, 4 door
        2008 KTM 990 Superduke
        2018 Golf R, 6spd manual (Pending delivery)
        2017 Mazda CX-5 GT
        2007 Z4M Coupe - Sold to very nice people

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          #5
          Thats crazy! At least you won't have to worry about that wiring getting all corroded any time soon!

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            #6
            Wires act like capillaries which wick up the moisture/fluid.

            Some Passat owners found coolant in their tail lights, among other oddities.

            "Coolant Migration"

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