oil leak

[frusciante fan]

every once in a while my car will leak a small bit of oil. it leaves a spot about the size of a nickel. i had my car on a lift a couple weeks ago and it was a bit greasy, by what i believe is called the main oil seal.

anyway it appears the leak is coming from right after the oil pan. the oil pan gasket was replaced last fall. it leaked only one other time and that was the day after i changed my oil, and then took a 150 mile trip.

everything else is fine. should i be worried about this?

[CDNFB]

Re: oil leak

Not considering the enviroment, it is a question of what is acceptable on your part. What can you live with? All the engine cares about is that the right amount of oil is in the oil pan. Let it get low and suffer the consequences. At the extreme, you might be able to live with adding a quart of oil every day, maybe not.

I've owned cars that leaked oil from the main seal for many years, as long as it wasn't excessive I was OK with it. Never presented any drivability problems.

If you have a Forced Induction set up (turbo or supercharger) or plan on installing such a system, the oil leak can be agrivated due in increases in crankcase pressures.

[MikeA]

Re: oil leak

Have you changed your PCV valve? Ive read that too much pressure in the crankcase can force small oil leaks. edited: Maybe if i had read the last post I wouldn't have written basically the same thing. :spank:

[frusciante fan]

Re: oil leak

the rear main seal area has been greasy ever since i test drove the car and had it up on a lift.

last night it just leaked about 5 or 6 drops on the floor. it's not like i'm losing a quart for every mile i drive. i drove into town 6 hours ago and there's nothing on the floor now.

also...i have 1 new head/valve cover gasket, new oil pan gasket, and the intake manifold does not leak.