Another Newbe Opti Spark Question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,198
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
Another Newbe Opti Spark Question
I've been reading posts about optispark problems for a couple of days now, trying to find out as much as I can about them. I have an oil leak down there some where and I'm scared to death to try and clean anything off for fear of killing that darn thing. At first I thought it might be the front of the manifold, but after I looked at it, it looks like all that is just old road grunge. It does have fresh wetness down on the passenger side where the lowest plug wire comes out of the Opti unit. Can't see much down there for all the crowd of other stuff. Is there any way oil can leak out from behind that opti, or is it most likely something else down there? How do you clean up a mess like that without flooding that thing? I wouldn't pressure hose it, but I'd like to de-grease everything so I can see where the leak is. Will any water that just flows over it get in, or does it take a pretty hard spraying to goof it?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
The newer style vented optis are so posed to be much more water resistiant than the early ones. I spilled a little coolant on my 92 (and I mean very little) changing the thermostat, the damn thing wouldn't start for a few hours and gave me problems for a few days after that until it finally dried out and went back to running properly. Some people say they wash their LT1 every day and have no problems.
Based on my personal experience, I woudn't get a water hose anywhere near it. I clean my engine with a wet rag and purple soap.
Yes there is an oil seal behing the opti that can leak.
Will
Based on my personal experience, I woudn't get a water hose anywhere near it. I clean my engine with a wet rag and purple soap.
Yes there is an oil seal behing the opti that can leak.
Will
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Electrical contact cleaner will work as long as you don't spray the top of the Opti with it.That is where the most intrusion occurs around the plug especially.The opti has a seal as does the WP.If the top of the opti is oily it is either the WP or front of the intake.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Highland Park IL
Klondike,
Don't worry about the Opti so much. How many miles do you have on yours? The dealer replaced my opti, water pump, a couple of O2 sensors and other parts at 48,000 miles on my '94. Not cheap, however owning Audi's & BMW's the vet is much more reliable and costs less when service is needed. Drive yours and enjoy. You will have plenty of warning if the opti is failing.
Don't worry about the Opti so much. How many miles do you have on yours? The dealer replaced my opti, water pump, a couple of O2 sensors and other parts at 48,000 miles on my '94. Not cheap, however owning Audi's & BMW's the vet is much more reliable and costs less when service is needed. Drive yours and enjoy. You will have plenty of warning if the opti is failing.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,198
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
Just got this 40,000 mi. '96 LT4 a couple of weeks ago. Clean as showroom on top but 18 wheeler nasty under things that would take a little bending to get at. The Intake looks dry all around. Just road grunge in front and on the waterpump face. Pump also seems dry, but there is some fresh oil (not much) down behind the crank pulley on the front of the engine and right side of the Opti. Really hard to get in to see in there with all the hoses & harnesses. It needs a good bath, but I don't want to start a nightmare by being a clean freak 
! I guess I'll roll it out in a day or so and see what I can reach in there and clean with. I want to find and stop a leak before it gets out of hand and rots any wiring or hoses.
! I guess I'll roll it out in a day or so and see what I can reach in there and clean with. I want to find and stop a leak before it gets out of hand and rots any wiring or hoses.
