Oil Leak Tips?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 171
From: Oklahoma City OK
Oil Leak Tips?
I have had a small leak for some time now, but I was not sure where it was coming from. I am certain now it is an oil leak. Originally I thought it was a power steering leak.
Anyways, it showed up over the summer some time after the a&a install. Is there a best way to track this sucker down? I have a self contained vortech unit.
Anyways, it showed up over the summer some time after the a&a install. Is there a best way to track this sucker down? I have a self contained vortech unit.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
I have had a small leak for some time now, but I was not sure where it was coming from. I am certain now it is an oil leak. Originally I thought it was a power steering leak.
Anyways, it showed up over the summer some time after the a&a install. Is there a best way to track this sucker down? I have a self contained vortech unit.
Anyways, it showed up over the summer some time after the a&a install. Is there a best way to track this sucker down? I have a self contained vortech unit.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Clean the car up with brake cleaner, simple green or whatever you choose. Clean it well and then run the car to full temperature and inspect, looking for the highest point that the oil could have originated from and working your way down. If you find nothing after running it for a while, take a mild drive around, jack it up again and reinspect.
If your supercharger is oil-fed, pay close attention to the fitting on the side of the block. Consider removing it and applying a liberal amount of teflon tape to the threads and changing the copper washer or putting a thin film of silicone on the base of the fitting.
It could also come from the valve covers and seep down. It's possible that you have too much crankcase pressure only under boost causing your leak.
If your supercharger is oil-fed, pay close attention to the fitting on the side of the block. Consider removing it and applying a liberal amount of teflon tape to the threads and changing the copper washer or putting a thin film of silicone on the base of the fitting.
It could also come from the valve covers and seep down. It's possible that you have too much crankcase pressure only under boost causing your leak.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
I have had a small leak for some time now, but I was not sure where it was coming from. I am certain now it is an oil leak. Originally I thought it was a power steering leak.
Anyways, it showed up over the summer some time after the a&a install. Is there a best way to track this sucker down? I have a self contained vortech unit.
Anyways, it showed up over the summer some time after the a&a install. Is there a best way to track this sucker down? I have a self contained vortech unit.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 171
From: Oklahoma City OK
Cleaned up everything last night. Used a whole can of break cleaner and some cardboard to catch it all.
I checked the v covers during my spring install and didn't see any leaks. Nothing is getting on the headers or the front top accessories, but it is getting on the stuff towards the front of the motor about mid way down from what I can tell.
No catch can, I thought about buying one, but was un sure.
I checked the v covers during my spring install and didn't see any leaks. Nothing is getting on the headers or the front top accessories, but it is getting on the stuff towards the front of the motor about mid way down from what I can tell.
No catch can, I thought about buying one, but was un sure.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Cleaned up everything last night. Used a whole can of break cleaner and some cardboard to catch it all.
I checked the v covers during my spring install and didn't see any leaks. Nothing is getting on the headers or the front top accessories, but it is getting on the stuff towards the front of the motor about mid way down from what I can tell.
No catch can, I thought about buying one, but was un sure.
I checked the v covers during my spring install and didn't see any leaks. Nothing is getting on the headers or the front top accessories, but it is getting on the stuff towards the front of the motor about mid way down from what I can tell.
No catch can, I thought about buying one, but was un sure.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
There are no sensors on the side up front that involve oil. Just the temp sensor in the back above the oil filter. The supercharger feed line is front and almost center on the side. Could be power steering pump, hose or connection leaking since it's front and mid way up on the driver side. Not ruling it out until the actual source is discovered.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
There are no sensors on the side up front that involve oil. Just the temp sensor in the back above the oil filter. The supercharger feed line is front and almost center on the side. Could be power steering pump, hose or connection leaking since it's front and mid way up on the driver side. Not ruling it out until the actual source is discovered.
Bret, for sure you know a ton more than me. Was just thinking someone in here said one of his sensors in front had a small crack in it and was leaking a small amount of oil out.:crazy2. I was thinking the same here they only clip on and hook upto the sensors. I didnt think his unit was are had a feed line. If and for sure can be P/S but hope he can tell the diff in oil & P/S.. Can a seal on the head unit be going out and leaking some of that oil out..... Robert
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 171
From: Oklahoma City OK
Mine is self contained and it's oil level was good, in fact I just changed its oil for the first time.
Can the oil pump be going bad and leak? Only thing I can think off other than that is the front main seal or timing chain cover.
Can the oil pump be going bad and leak? Only thing I can think off other than that is the front main seal or timing chain cover.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Out of what you have said here is front seal oil pump and timing chain is isside behind the timing cover. Plus look at you balancer really good if the oil is no higher on the front cover than that but is all down under and on the oil pan front seal for sure...Robert
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Also check the tq on the bolts of your front oil pan bolts if a alittle loose you may be getting it from that also.... Robert
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 171
From: Oklahoma City OK
Took some pictures to give you an idea of the oil leak area on the front of the motor. I am unsure as to how much of this is from me not having the dip stick in (about 2 years back after the header install) or the current leak.
Tomorrow I am going to clean the front area with break cleaner and hopefully do the UV test.
Tomorrow I am going to clean the front area with break cleaner and hopefully do the UV test.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 171
From: Oklahoma City OK
Cleaned up as much as I could with two cans of break cleaner. I then put in the dye, ran till it hit 200 temp. Used the light, nothing to be found.
Maybe it is leaking under boost? I am going to give it another shot tomorrow. Let it run for 20-30 min and see what shows up.
Maybe it is leaking under boost? I am going to give it another shot tomorrow. Let it run for 20-30 min and see what shows up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Cleaned up as much as I could with two cans of break cleaner. I then put in the dye, ran till it hit 200 temp. Used the light, nothing to be found.
Maybe it is leaking under boost? I am going to give it another shot tomorrow. Let it run for 20-30 min and see what shows up.
Maybe it is leaking under boost? I am going to give it another shot tomorrow. Let it run for 20-30 min and see what shows up.
Robert
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Robert
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
That thing needs to get totally cleaned up. Buy a gallon of mineral spirits and put it in a spray bottle, take a floor jack to the car wash with you, jack it up, spray the engine down good with the mineral spirits and then give it a good pressure washing. Get it spotless and then go from there. It's too difficult to find the origin of leaks when it's that dirty. Once you get it clean, you can make a boosted run and anywhere you see oil at all should only be from a small list of possibilities. It's all about the 3 basic troubleshooting rules. Identify the problem. Isolate the problem. Eliminate the problem.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 171
From: Oklahoma City OK
I am going to clean it this weekend with the power washer and my race ramps. Thanks for the mineral water tip. Hopefully I can get it next to spotless on the bottom.
Good news! I found the leak.
Looks like it is a loose bolt on the oil pan. How should I go about fixing this? Torque the bolt to spec? Whats the tq spec?
Also, is the UV dye safe to keep in the oil? Or should I change the oil?
Good news! I found the leak.
Looks like it is a loose bolt on the oil pan. How should I go about fixing this? Torque the bolt to spec? Whats the tq spec?
Also, is the UV dye safe to keep in the oil? Or should I change the oil?