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  #1  
Old 09-19-2011, 11:42 AM
vrkSVX vrkSVX is offline
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Help!!!! Oil Leak

Have a 1992, bought new. Oil pools (on left side) on top of engine, under the collector. Eventually spills over and we get smoke. Sometimes drips on the floor under the engine. Not a real lot. Any suggestions on where it is coming from? Thanks for any help
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  #2  
Old 09-19-2011, 12:00 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

9/10 times it's usually the valve cover gaskets.
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  #3  
Old 09-19-2011, 12:53 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

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Originally Posted by Chuckls View Post
9/10 times it's usually the valve cover gaskets.
+1 headgasket
worst case, severely cracked block
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Old 09-19-2011, 01:24 PM
1986nate 1986nate is offline
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

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Originally Posted by Gamesy View Post
+1 headgasket
worst case, severely cracked block
WTF???
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  #5  
Old 09-19-2011, 02:12 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak



It is possible for head gaskets to leak externally, but this is very uncommon. And if he had a severely cracked block I doubt the engine would run. The only time I've seen blocks crack are when a rod tries to exit the engine, or if they don't have enough anti-freeze and the coolant freezes, expands, and cracks the coolant jackets.

Does your dip-stick ever pop out on it's own? If so (and even if it doesn't) you may want to change out your PCV valve. The intake manifold can collect oil and it will leak out slowly through the large IRIS valve in the center.
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  #6  
Old 09-19-2011, 06:52 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

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Originally Posted by 1986nate View Post
WTF???
I think he miswrote (is that a word?) what he was trying to say. Still, your response is pretty funny. I would add that he should verify the headgasket by checking his engine temperature. Apparently, if the engine runs cooler than normal, you might need a headgasket. At least, that's what people on this board once told me.

Back to being serious...I agree that it is probably the VALVE COVER gasket and that you should also check the PCV. I have a suspicion that comprimised gaskets are pushed open to full-leak mode when the PCV clogs.
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  #7  
Old 09-19-2011, 07:29 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

Quote:
Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot View Post


It is possible for head gaskets to leak externally, but this is very uncommon. And if he had a severely cracked block I doubt the engine would run. The only time I've seen blocks crack are when a rod tries to exit the engine, or if they don't have enough anti-freeze and the coolant freezes, expands, and cracks the coolant jackets.

Does your dip-stick ever pop out on it's own? If so (and even if it doesn't) you may want to change out your PCV valve. The intake manifold can collect oil and it will leak out slowly through the large IRIS valve in the center.
hence why i said worst case, which i think is the worst possible case for the engine, and actually it happened to my friends forerunner, minor crack in the block, coolant and oil was mixing)
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Old 09-19-2011, 07:29 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

Quote:
Originally Posted by vrkSVX View Post
Have a 1992, bought new. Oil pools (on left side) on top of engine, under the collector. Eventually spills over and we get smoke. Sometimes drips on the floor under the engine. Not a real lot. Any suggestions on where it is coming from? Thanks for any help
OK, first of all which side is left?
The left side of a car is determined/defined by the/from the prospective of a driver sitting in the car, be it in the left side(US)




or the right side, as experienced by people who drink warm beer and have their babies eaten by dingo's.
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  #9  
Old 09-19-2011, 07:30 PM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

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Originally Posted by svxfiles View Post
OK, first of all which side is left?
The left side of a car is determined/defined by the/from the prospective of a driver sitting in the car, be it in the left side(US)




or the right side, as experienced by people who drink warm beer and have their babies eaten by dingo's.
Too soon?!
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  #10  
Old 09-19-2011, 10:57 PM
1986nate 1986nate is offline
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gamesy View Post
hence why i said worst case, which i think is the worst possible case for the engine, and actually it happened to my friends forerunner, minor crack in the block, coolant and oil was mixing)
The only time that happens on an SVX is when you would notice there was a hell of a lot worse issue and not be worrying about oil sitting on top of the block.
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  #11  
Old 09-20-2011, 07:18 AM
vrkSVX vrkSVX is offline
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

Thank you to all who replied. We have a shop manual, which is of no real help. It is on the left side only (driver side). Thanks again for help.
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  #12  
Old 09-20-2011, 07:22 AM
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

I agree with the PCV valve needing changed. There is not supposed to be any oil above the block anywhere, so if it's puddling up there it is because oil has gotten into the intake. That is caused by the PCV valve being clogged or too dirty. I HIGHLY doubt it has anything to do with head gaskets, or valve cover gaskets. Maybe the latter, but I doubt it. Good luck. Just swap the PCV, it is less than 10 dollars.
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  #13  
Old 09-20-2011, 07:49 AM
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svxfiles svxfiles is offline
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

I would then go to a coin operated car wash and spray off the engine.
This will make it easier to find the leak.
Since the oil puddle is on the left side of the engine, I would check/replace both
O-rings at the oil fill tube and cap.
803942020 Gasket $4.22
806923060 O-ring $3.28

Had the pool been on the passenger side, I would suspect a power steering reservoir leak.
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Last edited by svxfiles; 09-20-2011 at 07:55 AM.
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  #14  
Old 09-20-2011, 11:45 AM
Cam Cam is offline
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Re: Help!!!! Oil Leak

Quote:
Originally Posted by svxfiles View Post
I would then go to a coin operated car wash and spray off the engine.
This will make it easier to find the leak.
Since the oil puddle is on the left side of the engine, I would check/replace both
O-rings at the oil fill tube and cap.
803942020 Gasket $4.22
806923060 O-ring $3.28

Had the pool been on the passenger side, I would suspect a power steering reservoir leak.
+1

234567
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ECUTUNE STAGE 2AV1 ECU
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Balanced & Blueprinted
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