3.4L gusy, I have a potential seriosu problem need some help...

[MustangEater8251]

Well....

My car was leaking oil severely bad, about a month ago I noticed my oil filter was splattere with oil while getting an exhasut system installed, guy's opnion is the filter is leaking. Car wasn't driven too much, but now is I have been putting off but checking the oil very consistently, and it was slowly getting worse, at one point lost half a quart in a day. Got a drain plug I was needed, and was took awhile to find(was waiting till i got this to change oil/filter)

last night I flush the motor, change oil, filter, and draing plug.

When I took was under the car, I noticed oil, fell on my y-pipe, and leaked its way all the way over to my CAT. I took the filter off nothing apparently wrong with it, maybe the seal was bad?

i look around at where the oil filter connects nothing apparent but then again, its not an easy spot to get a view of.

I put new filter, on, new plug, fill up and drive. I am loosing some oil, but haven't been able to keep track of it, since I jsut swaped it last night, any ideas what it could be?

there ws something sticking out of the part where the oil filter connects, i am assuming the oil pressure sending unit, looked kinda like a big boot was over it.

How does it work, does it jsut stick in and test oil pressure, or does oil actually flow up inside of it? It had oil on it but if the seal was leaking on the filter, most likely would get oil all over the sending unit.

Any idea what could cause this, I thought possible valve cover, but I think its highly unlikely.

also anyone know if the part that the oil fitler connects to is known to fail?

Thanks in advance, I think I might cancel my plans to go autocrossing :( , I know if i keep oil in the cr it will be fine, jsut don't think pushing the car 2 hour round trip, and autocrossing is a good idean and I hate when people drip oil on the track.

[Camaro15]

well it could also the oring went bad that seals the hole where the distributor would go. i had this problem you have to take the intake off and everything to get to it just to change the stupid oring, i assume our blocks are almost the same as the blocks used to the 2.8L which had distributors and we don't so they had to block that off. you could check into that.

[00swartz]

Oil is amazing stuff...It doesn't take alot to keep an engine running and a little goes a long way...
Look at the sending unit and wipe away all the oil you can. run the engine and see if you can track it that way.
Oil pressure sending units do actually accept the oil and the pressure is transferred to an electronic impulse which then goes to your gauge, converts the electrical back to a reading. Those sending units can go out - How many miles and what do your valve covers look like? Any leaks?

[MustangEater8251]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Camaro15:
well it could also the oring went bad that seals the hole where the distributor would go. i had this problem you have to take the intake off and everything to get to it just to change the stupid oring, i assume our blocks are almost the same as the blocks used to the 2.8L which had distributors and we don't so they had to block that off. you could check into that.<hr></blockquote>

Ugh... I hope it isn't that... I have taken valve covers off, and had to basically take everytihg but the intake manifold off, its not fun.

[MustangEater8251]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 00swartz:
Oil is amazing stuff...It doesn't take alot to keep an engine running and a little goes a long way...
Look at the sending unit and wipe away all the oil you can. run the engine and see if you can track it that way.
Oil pressure sending units do actually accept the oil and the pressure is transferred to an electronic impulse which then goes to your gauge, converts the electrical back to a reading. Those sending units can go out - How many miles and what do your valve covers look like? Any leaks?<hr></blockquote>

I kind am suspecting the oil sending unit, and the car has jsut abotu 123,000 miles on it.
how the oil looked, didn't really look like it wsas coming form where the oil sending unit goes into the motor, but on the back more towards where the electrical connection is.

Valve covers are hard to see, but firs glance no oil leaks, like this.

[stagen]

Could be your oil gear as well. Oil gear sits on the top of the block on teh passengers rear. Oil sender is on the drivers side. Is there splatter all over the engine bay?

[Wolfy]

im not a 3.4 guy but could it be the rear main seal?

[stagen]

Don't think the rear main seal would run do the Y-pipe like that.

[MustangEater8251]

I think I pretty much ruled out it form being the oil pan seal, drain plug, rear main seal or valve covers.

I was tlaking to mike (94grayv6 at cz28.com) he had the actual part that holds the oil filter crack, and leak oil I am hoping thats not it but he said a local dealership di it for $50-60, it was cracked up by the block.

I am suspecting the oil sending unit, I found alort of oil in the boot that covers it, and it was oilnly $22 with 2 quarts of oil.