leaking oil from somewhere, need suggestions where to look

[TheKrazyRaven]

the other day my car was smoking when i stopped and it was doil burning off from somewhere, i looked underneath and it wasent anything major, i topped it off and went on my way


today i took the intake off to install my enw plug wires and checked the back valve cover seal to see if maybe i rolled it while installing it and there is no evidence of oil leaking anywhere from the upper part of the motor


one of my friends said check the oil level sensor, any other ideas where to look for this leak?

 

[SHOtimer]

I would be suspect of your cam seals and front main seal, especially if they are original.

Doug

 

[seraphiem]

Oil drip locations really tell a lot here.

Does it seem to leak from the passenger side or driver side?

Does it seem to drip on the rear or front or both cats?

Front crank seal, the two cam seals, and the front pan seal leaks will dribble onto the front cat.

The rear cam seal will leak directely onto the rear cat.

The oil pressure switch/sender will leak down the block on the drivers side.

So degrease that sucker and watch the drips!

 

[Mr Anonymous]

In order for it to be burning, it's leaking on to either the manifolds or the cats. Start looking for a buildup of oil residue on those parts.

Another thing you can do is put a large piece of cardboard on the ground under the engine overnight (or even just idle the car for a while) to see if there are any spots in the morning that point you to the leak.

 

[Ace]

Steve what i would do is since you have the intake off i would take off the rear cover again and reseal it...this time using a very thin bead of black silicone on each side of it...it is very possible that the gasket didnt seat when you put the cover on as it is very easy to do so and not know it...im assuming that this is something new that developed after the seals were done....

 

[TheKrazyRaven]

Steve what i would do is since you have the intake off i would take off the rear cover again and reseal it...this time using a very thin bead of black silicone on each side of it...it is very possible that the gasket didnt seat when you put the cover on as it is very easy to do so and not know it...im assuming that this is something new that developed after the seals were done....

i cant remember if it did that before, but around the whole thing there was nothing that suggested thats what was leaking


it prob is the front main seal

 

[shoebilly]

Pull the DIS end of the intake off and take a peek in the plenums with a flash light, if there is lot of oil in there, Then you've found you're leak...the piston rings. when you accelerate hard the forward plenum dumps directly into the left cyl. bank and when you brake hard the rear plenum dumps into the rt. bank. You're going to smell it. and not nessesarly see it out the pipes. the cats do a good job. at night with head lightts behind you, you will see the smoke.

 

[Jonny Cash]

Get under there, and look for build up like Chris said. You have to look under the car. Theres many things that could be leaking to just say.." oh.. its this. "

(Like mentioned before) I put cardboard under my car, came out next morning, and knew exactly where it was when I got under there. It was leaking out of the starter side of the oil pan. If you can smell it burning its more than likely higher than the pan though.

 

[steellll]

I just fixed a oil leak on my 93ATX. i had oil dripping onto the cats and burning(smoke).
It was the oil pressure sending unit, $6 part - pain in the ass to change.

 

[willy]

dont rule out your oil pan gasket.it has rubber gasket on front and rear and they can turn hard and leak lots of oil. i just fixed major oil leak by replacing those.

 

[TheKrazyRaven]

i am gonna do the cardboard trick tonight jay, but in the meantime when it smokes it comes from the right front wheel well

 

[Jonny Cash]

i am gonna do the cardboard trick tonight jay, but in the meantime when it smokes it comes from the right front wheel well

Its probably the pan gasket where the crank pulley is. The old gasket is most likely to leak on the corners. But I would still get underneath because something is burning off your manifold. Which means the leak is a little higher.

 

[TheKrazyRaven]

Its probably the pan gasket where the crank pulley is. The old gasket is most likely to leak on the corners. But I would still get underneath because something is burning off your manifold. Which means the leak is a little higher.

i'll get a cahnce to get under there tomorrow

 

[TheKrazyRaven]

ok its comming from the middle of the car, 2 seperate puddles, also its comming from the middle/back of the motor

 

[Rebelricky]

IT is the valve cover gasket