oil leak on passenger side, 98 gt.

[kind153]

Masters,

after having taken care of a leak (http://www.grandprixforums.net/isnt-supposed-dry-63223.html), I still noticed drops in the morning. so I left a cardboard under it.
I'm not sure this is related or not..so I am going to link both threads together.

this was where the cardboard was in the morning. I'm not sure if they are moved.


looks like some kind of oil....with some...stuff.

I am not sure that was wet before replacing the gasket -- (again, i am very unsure). but the locations match.


Thanks in advance,

edit: updated the title for better search

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

check out your oil pressure sensor, they leak oil right out of the plug. its right by the oil filter.

if thats not leaking, get some engine de greaser and clean up the whole engine top and bottom and the trans. then go back to the card board and try to trace it.

i thought my oil pan was leaking but was the rear cover. i changed it and and still dripped oil for a few days till i cleaned it all up, then a week later i found oil again, and found out i over tightened the bolts and the cover was leaking again.

if your oil pan is all wet clean it up with brake cleaner and a rag, as far up the block as you can reach, after that you'll need to drive it some and re check for wetness, when its clean you can see the trail of oil and that should lead you to your leak.

oil leaks sometimes are a pain to track down, its up to you how often you can get under it to check it out. car ramps are my best friend, nice and easy to get it up in the air.

so you got all this to check out.

oil pressure sensor.

oil filter, they come loose sometimes.

oil pan gasket.

valve covers, i know you just did them.

timing cover.

and the seal for the crank ( in the timing cover) that the harmonic balancer slides over.

those are all on the pass side of the car.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

wow thanks scottydoggs! I will certainly check those out. I will update as soon as I find it!

 

[ExLimey]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

It looks like the same oil leak location I had. Right below the oil filter and passenger side axle shaft. My leak showed up right at the same time as an oil change so I figured I'd over-torqued the filter and created a leak where the oil filter adapter bolts to the front cover. I cleaned the whole area and replaced the gasket. When I started it up there didn't appear to be a leak so I thought I was good. After a few more minutes I saw the leak. It was exactly as Scottydoggs said, the oil pressure switch was leaking out the connector. Fortunately I had another. After changing them out, no leak. I wish I'd read a thread like this a month ago! It may sound too simple a fix but it looks like it's a more common problem than you'd think.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

i'm attaching the diagram for someone who will find this later. I haven't had a chance to check the sensor yet, though.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

Ok..checked this morning but couldn't find it?? Where exactly is this?

Thanks,

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

if you turn your tires to the left, and look from behind the front pass tire, look at the oil filter, now 4 or 5 inches further past the filter you will see a plug on a straight sensor in the oil filter housing.

looks like this. if its leaking the oil will drip/pour out of the where the plug plugs into it. look at it with the car running.

 

[twol8uluz]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

Mine did the same thing, oil pressure switch for sure! Cheap easy fix!

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

thanks scottydoggs. and I assume I can't replace it from above? without lifting it?

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

jack the car up, take the pass side tire off. unplug it and with a pair of channel lock pliers remove it. to get a socket or wench is doable, but sucks, its a big nut size on it, the channel locks work best. the new one will have thread locker on it, just screw it in till its nice and snug. dont over tighten it.

they cost about 10 bucks too.

oh have a small pail to catch some oil, its going to leak some, not a whole lot but why make a mess.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

so i need a new sensor? I was under impression that I needed to reseat it?

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

nope, you need a new one. the one i posted is about actual size too lol they are cheap. and real easy to fix. dont let it go to long if its leaking, it may only be a drip thing now, it will get real bad and pour out of the plug like warm maple syrup, you can and will run out of oil and kill your engine. so fix this one asap.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

OH... like the gasket last time?!
I will check and replace sometime this week. thanks again!

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

i lost 3 quarts when mine blew out on the highway, i knew it was leaking, and then it just got real bad, if you dont know this, if your oil light ever comes on with these cars, you just killed your engine. so with only 2 quarts left and no oil light coming on i dodged a big fat bullet.

10 bucks and the time it takes to change a flat tire is all it really takes to get done.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

ok..update: I could not replace the switch.
1. I don't seem to have a right angle to unscrew it.
2. now that I have a better look, it doesn't look like it's coming out of it??
I cleaned the area to check back....in the meantime, please see the attached.

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

your right the sensor looks dry. first things first, clean that engine up good. then start leak hunting. it will be real easy to see where its coming from when its clean. get 2 cans of engine de greaser and have at it, get the car on ramps or jack stands and spray under it first, then the top, rinse it with a a hose. do it 2 times if need be tough spots use a paint brush to loosen the much up. re spray it, rinse it.

if you have the stock air box, you can literally hose everything down with out worry. if you have a cai intake, remove it, and bag the throttle body opening.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

OK. I will do that after work today.

I don't know if you noticed it..but it was wetter(?) behind the oil pressure switch. some looked fresh.
It seems to be getting a little worse........and lucas engine oil additive is starting to look better.

 

[Scottydoggs]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

yeah your all wet, it looks like the timing cover is wet behind the balancer. clean it all up nice, and watch it over the next few days. you'll see the new clean oil leaking.

 

[kind153]

Re: isn't this supposed to be dry?? 2 (not sure if they're related?)

cleaned it, got home, and it was already leaking. this is getting worse..I would REALLY like it fixed ASAP.
I found where it is dripping from, but i could not find the trail...please see below.



in the circle was where the fluid is dripping. one drip per about 5 minutes I think.



below are pictures from other angles. thanks.

 

[Scottydoggs]

it looks to be wet by the balancer, that area under the car with the 4 holes are is where the motor mount is bolted in the frame. the balancer is directly above it. and so is its seal, or it could be the oil pan gasket.

if you have some brake cleaner and a rag go back under it spray and wipe the pan and bolts down around as much as you can. clean up as far up the block as you can on the sides too, if they are still noticeably greasy. the area under the balancer it tight, and maybe the hardest place to get clean, your only going to get your hand in there so far, then you'll hit the motor mount bracket and that as far as you can really go. de grease and spray the hose right at this area.

the engine mount area, spray de greaser into it from the top side of it real good and hose the crap out of it till clean water comes out of them 4 little holes.

then leave it up in the air, start it up, get back under it, and wait for it to leak. taking off the pass side wheel can help you to see your leak area better.

flash lights in the day time works great too, seems worth less but trust me it helps a lot, i use my mag light all the time to look for stuff, in day light.

and mirror on a stick tools are great also. you can shine the flash light into the mirror, and see all sorts of stuff you would have never seen by looking into the mirror, its east to figure out, just play with the light and mirror.