OIL leak!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Corpus Christi TX
St. Jude Donor '05
OIL leak!
My 2000 6-speed has developed a rather sudden oil leak. It is apparently hitting something hot on its way to the ground because there is a definite burned-oil smell when I get out. It started about 2 weeks ago and it is driving me crazy.
Can anyone offer any clue as to where to begin to look for this leak? I know this may seem obvious... but is there a "typical" spot where these can pop up? (rather suddenly) I hope this will not be expensive! My car just hit the 80,000 mile mark.
Can anyone offer any clue as to where to begin to look for this leak? I know this may seem obvious... but is there a "typical" spot where these can pop up? (rather suddenly) I hope this will not be expensive! My car just hit the 80,000 mile mark.
Last edited by glerma; Feb 10, 2009 at 09:07 AM. Reason: added information
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Some common places to leak engine oil are the front and rear crankshaft seals, and the oil pressure sensor in the rear.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Corpus Christi TX
St. Jude Donor '05
It appears to be coming from the rear of the engine. It is so darn tight in there... That makes it hard to look up to see where it is coming from. My oil pressure sending unit failed about a year ago (pegged at 180 psi) and I have not replaced it. I wonder if that could be the culprit. Crankshaft seal sounds expensive... is it?
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Replacing the crankshaft seals is pretty labor intensive, and therefore expensive.
Since you're smelling burnt oil, I would suspect that the leak originates
at the top of the engine. The oil pressure sensor would be my best guess.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Corpus Christi TX
St. Jude Donor '05
The oil pressure sensor is a VERY good possibility. Many have started leaking at the time, or shortly after the initial failure.
Replacing the crankshaft seals is pretty labor intensive, and therefore expensive.
Since you're smelling burnt oil, I would suspect that the leak originates
at the top of the engine. The oil pressure sensor would be my best guess.
Replacing the crankshaft seals is pretty labor intensive, and therefore expensive.
Since you're smelling burnt oil, I would suspect that the leak originates
at the top of the engine. The oil pressure sensor would be my best guess.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
