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  #31  
Old 02-07-2005, 05:44 AM
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here is a sure thing, when you park the car, get a big piece of carton and put it underneath the car and let it for the next day. in the morning look at this paper and see from where the drops came from.
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  #32  
Old 02-12-2005, 09:31 PM
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Oil leak? my problem for 5 months

Hi guys, I've been reading all these posts tonight and I was dealing with this same oil leak problem for more than 5 months. I just couldn't find a mechanic who could work with this car and I didn't have the money for it. Not only I had the oil leak problem with it, my dash board lights (I call them dummy lights) were on all the time and I was always nervous driving it thinking my car would die on me anytime soon. I just replaced the battery and alternator last Feb 2004 and I wondered why those lights were on all the time and somehow my car never gone out of power. I'm a woman driver who doesn't know much about fixing cars nor diagnosing car problems. All I know is, I just love driving this darn high maintenance, money-pit car!

For 5 months I've been adding motor oil from 1 to 2 quarts a week and it was becoming too expensive because I use the Mobil One 10W 30. I kept replacing the cardboard underneath my car... talking about greasy garage floor! Anyway, I've been to a couple of auto shops already and turned me down because they've never worked with this kind of an engine before. I found one on my way to work. It says "Japanese Car Specialist". I gave it a try and there he was, a mechanic who's familiar with this engine. He looked at it and at the end of the day gave me an estimate of $900 parts and labor. I thought it would have been more than that. The next day I visited my car at lunch time and saw him took the right side engine cover off. That's where the leak was coming from. Also he found that my alternator was over charging my battery, that explained why all the dummy lights were on all the time while I was driving. It could have damaged my battery if I waited longer driving that way. He also showed me a bad water pump and a bad timing belt . So these are the things he replaced: The timing belt, cam shaft seals, right valve cover gasket, water pump and gasket, thermostat and coolant. He got my alternator rebuilt and put back in, because we couldn't find any alternator for this car available that same day. When all was done, we took a spin around the block. It was doing fine, then, my radiator was busted. It was leaking anti-freeze. I had to leave my car for another day. Since he couldn't find a radiator for my car, he fixed it for free, but he cannot guarantee how long it will last. So I better start shopping around. My new mechanic's problem is finding the parts for this car...it is somehow impossible. They're never available right away, they have to be ordered. He also said it is a little to tight under the hood. No space is wasted, it's so packed!

Now my baby is finally home after that whole week's ordeal, and I have a big hole in my bank account. Tomorrow, I will finally clean up the grease on my garage floor. No more messy cardboards and newspapers! I just thought of sharing this with you. I feel some relief now, though it did hurt my pocket book.
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  #33  
Old 02-12-2005, 09:56 PM
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Re: Oil leak? my problem for 5 months

Quote:
Originally posted by vzSvx
snip... it was becoming too expensive because I use the Mobil One 10W 30. ...snip
The Mobil One may have been the source of your oil leak in the first place. Synthetic oil is thinner then standard oil, and will leak more easily.

All things concidered, I think the $900 was a bargain for the work that was done, provided it was done correctly.
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  #34  
Old 02-12-2005, 10:05 PM
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not trying to hijack your thread or anything, but i am having the same exact problems (well says my mechanic)

I took my car in and they recommended i get the cam seals, crank seal, and the valve cover gaskets.

When i change my oil every 3k i always get about 6 quarts back. I just happen to smell oil when i drive the car after a while. Not while driving, but when i get out.

Will i notice anything after having these seals and gaskets done? (smoother engine) or is it more of a piece of mind knowing that your car is leak free?

It was kinda like what soobie said, my mechanic said that having these oil leaks could start a fire when it dripped onto the exhaust...

Thanks in advance, Chris
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  #35  
Old 02-12-2005, 10:20 PM
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Re: Re: Oil leak? my problem for 5 months

Quote:
Originally posted by BurgundyBeast


The Mobil One may have been the source of your oil leak in the first place. Synthetic oil is thinner then standard oil, and will leak more easily.

All things concidered, I think the $900 was a bargain for the work that was done, provided it was done correctly.
I bought this car from my brother 4 years ago and all he used for it was Mobil One Synthetic oil, so I just continued using it all these years. It's been doing good and this is the first time I experienced this oil leak problem. I actually switched to a cheaper oil during the last 2 weeks thinking it just get thrown out anyway on the daily basis. I think my car is just getting old and a lot of parts needed to be replaced sooner or later. It's been running great even during the cold winter. Other than the oil leak and alternator over charge, I never had any problems with it since my tranny and rear wheel bearing been replaced a couple years ago. And you're right. It was such a bargain and the my mechanic gave me a 6 month warranty. I actually saved up $1,500 just for this project. I'm glad it worked out fine.
BTW...what is a good alternative oil I can use for this car? Thanks, Steve
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  #36  
Old 02-12-2005, 11:01 PM
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all things considered I have a small leak from the front seal as well..the car was on dino oil when I got it and I switched to Mobil 1..same leak either way..tho I must admit its a bit more with the Mobil 1...would any of you recommend the engine restore or such while running synthetic? as opposed to high mileage oil? as a rule ive not run additives when I use synth....
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  #37  
Old 02-13-2005, 08:43 AM
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Significant Technical Input
The nature of the beast

Synthetics are fantastic lubricants but they are more difficult to control in regards to oil leaks. Eventually all gaskets and seals will leak, normally they harden from aging and heat. Synthetics will leak past these aging parts earlier than regular oils, that's all.
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  #38  
Old 02-13-2005, 08:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by SVXMAN2001
not trying to hijack your thread or anything, but i am having the same exact problems (well says my mechanic)

I took my car in and they recommended i get the cam seals, crank seal, and the valve cover gaskets.

When i change my oil every 3k i always get about 6 quarts back. I just happen to smell oil when i drive the car after a while. Not while driving, but when i get out.

Will i notice anything after having these seals and gaskets done? (smoother engine) or is it more of a piece of mind knowing that your car is leak free?

It was kinda like what soobie said, my mechanic said that having these oil leaks could start a fire when it dripped onto the exhaust...

Thanks in advance, Chris
Yea i notice the oil smell too when i get out of the car. Weird thing is that i have had the engine on and i have had it revved and ive checked under neath and nothing drips. Maybe a tiny drip once in a while. And when the car is parked and you move it you can see 2 drops of oil on the ground. Thankfully another member has offered to come over and help out with the work....when i can save enough money i will be doing the seals...timing belt...water pump ect. Tom will be saving me about 700 bucks by helpin with the work! Another member mentioned in the thread that if you keep replacing the oil your missing then your fine...he waited 3 yrs before he got his seals done. I switched over to mobil high mileage oil...it has seal conditioner and is good to help prevent seal leakage. This goes for any high mileage oil.
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  #39  
Old 02-13-2005, 08:52 AM
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This might be coincidental but i have noticed a smoother idle after my oil change. Engine purs right along after start up.
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  #40  
Old 02-13-2005, 10:44 AM
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oil leaks suck
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  #41  
Old 02-13-2005, 10:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by tomssvx
oil leaks suck
lol yes they do
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  #42  
Old 02-13-2005, 01:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by tomssvx
oil leaks suck
indeed.....im just glad the EG33 has a large oil capacity..hurts the pocket book when you are changing it with syth but its not the old 3 quart cap of some imports..that when leaking needs constant attention..not saying the SVX needs less when leaking but after a week im not showing much loss on the dip stick..not enough to add half a quart..still im fixing this in the spring..I dont like leaking cars..esp mine
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  #43  
Old 02-23-2005, 07:44 PM
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today marks 3 weeks since i noticed my oil leak problem. After getting my oil changed with high mileage oil and keeping my eye on it....it still remains completley full. I checked after the car was sitting for an hour. Cold engine and the oil was prolly all back in the pan. I'm feeling alot better
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  #44  
Old 02-23-2005, 10:48 PM
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<<The timing belt, cam shaft seals, right valve cover gasket, water pump and gasket, thermostat and coolant. He got my alternator rebuilt and put back in, because we couldn't find any alternator for this car available that same day. When all was done, we took a spin around the block. It was doing fine, then, my radiator was busted. It was leaking anti-freeze. I had to leave my car for another day. Since he couldn't find a radiator for my car, he fixed it for free, but he cannot guarantee how long it will last. >>

<<All things concidered, I think the $900 was a bargain for the work that was done, provided it was done correctly.>>

yeah, done correctly is the key word. sounds to me like he broke the radiator during the service.
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  #45  
Old 02-25-2005, 11:22 PM
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yeah, done correctly is the key word. sounds to me like he broke the radiator during the service. [/B][/QUOTE]

I think you're right, I suspected it too. Anyway, my car is leak free now and I did notice some kind of oil smell the next day but it didn't bother me because my mechanic warned me to expect that. I just feel much better now and some relief knowing that the oil leak problem has been fixed. I think he did a good job fixing the broken radiator. Hopefully it should last for a while till I could save up some money for a new one.
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