Persistent Oil Leak Back Of Motor

93notchlx · December 10th, 2011, 02:16 PM

Hello,

My girlfriend's 2002 3.8L coupe has been leaking oil from the back and bottom of the motor. It was pooling pretty bad...about three tablespoons after running for 10 minutes. A local shop did both valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gasket. They said one of the valve covers was in really bad shape.

After this, it got a LOT better but it's still slowly dripping....maybe a teaspoon on cardbord after running for 10 minutes. We brought it back to the shop but they couldn't find any leaks. They said they tightneed a few bolts( don't remember which ) applied some sealant, and poured some additive to the oil. They said to keep and eye one it, and if we still see a leak, they'll do the rear main seal.

I was still dripping about a teaspoon each morning so we took it back for the rear main seal job. I thought that this would solve things, but it's STILL slowly dripping!

Today, I got under the car with it running. I found a droplet of oil hanging where the tranny meets the motor, BUT it did not drip once the motor was warm. So, my theory is that it only drips in the morning when the motor is cold. Once things heat up and expand, the drip stops.

Anyone seen this before?

mustangmike! · December 10th, 2011, 02:24 PM

rear main seal

93notchlx · December 10th, 2011, 02:30 PM

The shop did the rear main seal and it's still dripping at the same rate. That's why this thing is driving me nuts. I'm wondering if they damaged the crank while removing the old seal. The tech showed me the old seal and it looks like he pryed it out with a scewdriver or something.

mustangmike! · December 10th, 2011, 02:40 PM

thats how id get it out ?

mustangmike! · December 10th, 2011, 02:41 PM

what color oil is coming out ?

93notchlx · December 10th, 2011, 02:49 PM

Mostly clear. Just changed it a couple of weeks ago.

mustangmike! · December 10th, 2011, 02:57 PM

auto or 5 speed ?

93notchlx · December 10th, 2011, 04:39 PM

Auto

mustangmike! · December 10th, 2011, 04:42 PM

shit job on replacing rear main seal
oil pan
head gasket
lower intake gaskets
valve cover gaskets
Dip stick tube
timing cover
oil filter
oil pump
oil pan drain bolt

Pick an area

mcqueen · December 10th, 2011, 07:53 PM

Is the oil running down any parts so you could trace it back to where it's leaking from? Have you tried laying around and waiting for oil to start dripping? Definitely check around the oil pan. I had a leak from my oil pan gasket, didn't fix it because it stopped leaking, and one day the gasket blew out, spewed oil everywhere, and seized 2 of the crank bearings.

stephen · December 10th, 2011, 08:27 PM

One possible leak point is the corner of the lower intake manifold gasket. There needs to be RTV in the corners to seal that area. It could cause an oil leak near the back of the engine.

mustangmike! · December 11th, 2011, 09:28 AM

im pretty sure I put a light coat of RTV across both of those smaller gasket peices and a lot in the corners lol

93notchlx · December 11th, 2011, 11:56 AM

Thanks musntangmike, mcqueen, stephen for all the ideas.

This morning, I put the car up on jack stands, started it up and got under it. Of course, the SOB wouldn't leak! I did notice a droplet of oil hanging from the bottom of the back of the motor

but I ran it for 25 minutes and it never leaked. Go figure. I checked all surrounding areas like oil filter, timing cover, dipstick tube, valve covers, intake manifold gasket, headers, oil pan, and drain bolt. Everything was dry excepet for the small area in the image. I think I'll take back to the shop and have them check rear seal again.

mustangmike! · December 11th, 2011, 12:19 PM

Yes sir I would do that.

mustangmike! · December 11th, 2011, 12:21 PM

Another thing, double check the oil pan bolts back there, my dumb ass the first time I did my cam, drover 200+ miles with the back bolts only screwed in by a couple of threads ... had a tiny bit of oil like that, never leaked to a puddle though, just enough to make the surface damp. Lucky they never fell out lol

93notchlx · December 11th, 2011, 01:30 PM

Will do. Thanks again.

93notchlx · January 2nd, 2012, 12:37 PM

So the shop did the rear main again. This time, they kept the car for three days to make sure it didn't leak and they said they didn't see a drop. But sure enough, we could still see a few drops on the ground each morning. The shop came to the conclusion that any car with over 100K miles on it ( ours just hit 100K ) will leak a bit if parked on an incline. Im not really buying that especially since ours is parked on a decline, not incline. I think were just going to live with the drip.

Anyway, has anyone heard of vehicles leaking just because they're parked on ahill?

Also, we're using 5w-20. Would switching to 10W-30 help?

93notchlx · January 2nd, 2012, 12:39 PM

BTW, checked the oil pan bolts. They were snug.

dgt_mustang · January 2nd, 2012, 01:09 PM

switched to thicker oil. at over 100k you should be using it on that anyway.

stephen · January 2nd, 2012, 02:07 PM

I'd replace the PCV valve if it hasn't been done recently.

December 10th, 2011, 02:16 PM	#1
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	Persistent Oil Leak Back Of Motor Hello, My girlfriend's 2002 3.8L coupe has been leaking oil from the back and bottom of the motor. It was pooling pretty bad...about three tablespoons after running for 10 minutes. A local shop did both valve cover gaskets and intake manifold gasket. They said one of the valve covers was in really bad shape. After this, it got a LOT better but it's still slowly dripping....maybe a teaspoon on cardbord after running for 10 minutes. We brought it back to the shop but they couldn't find any leaks. They said they tightneed a few bolts( don't remember which ) applied some sealant, and poured some additive to the oil. They said to keep and eye one it, and if we still see a leak, they'll do the rear main seal. I was still dripping about a teaspoon each morning so we took it back for the rear main seal job. I thought that this would solve things, but it's STILL slowly dripping! Today, I got under the car with it running. I found a droplet of oil hanging where the tranny meets the motor, BUT it did not drip once the motor was warm. So, my theory is that it only drips in the morning when the motor is cold. Once things heat up and expand, the drip stops. Anyone seen this before?

December 10th, 2011, 02:24 PM	#2
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	rear main seal __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 10th, 2011, 02:40 PM	#4
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	thats how id get it out ? __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 10th, 2011, 02:41 PM	#5
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	what color oil is coming out ? __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 10th, 2011, 02:57 PM	#7
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	auto or 5 speed ? __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 10th, 2011, 02:30 PM	#3
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	The shop did the rear main seal and it's still dripping at the same rate. That's why this thing is driving me nuts. I'm wondering if they damaged the crank while removing the old seal. The tech showed me the old seal and it looks like he pryed it out with a scewdriver or something.

December 10th, 2011, 02:49 PM	#6
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	Mostly clear. Just changed it a couple of weeks ago.

December 10th, 2011, 04:39 PM	#8
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	Auto

December 10th, 2011, 04:42 PM	#9
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	shit job on replacing rear main seal oil pan head gasket lower intake gaskets valve cover gaskets Dip stick tube timing cover oil filter oil pump oil pan drain bolt Pick an area __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 10th, 2011, 08:27 PM	#11
stephen Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,262 iTrader: 0 reviews	One possible leak point is the corner of the lower intake manifold gasket. There needs to be RTV in the corners to seal that area. It could cause an oil leak near the back of the engine.

December 11th, 2011, 09:28 AM	#12
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	im pretty sure I put a light coat of RTV across both of those smaller gasket peices and a lot in the corners lol __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 11th, 2011, 11:56 AM	#13
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	Thanks musntangmike, mcqueen, stephen for all the ideas. This morning, I put the car up on jack stands, started it up and got under it. Of course, the SOB wouldn't leak! I did notice a droplet of oil hanging from the bottom of the back of the motor but I ran it for 25 minutes and it never leaked. Go figure. I checked all surrounding areas like oil filter, timing cover, dipstick tube, valve covers, intake manifold gasket, headers, oil pan, and drain bolt. Everything was dry excepet for the small area in the image. I think I'll take back to the shop and have them check rear seal again.

December 11th, 2011, 12:19 PM	#14
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	Yes sir I would do that. __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 11th, 2011, 12:21 PM	#15
mustangmike! I Post Entirely Way Too Much 2004,1994,1967 14.37 @ 96 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6,018 iTrader: 1 reviews	Another thing, double check the oil pan bolts back there, my dumb ass the first time I did my cam, drover 200+ miles with the back bolts only screwed in by a couple of threads ... had a tiny bit of oil like that, never leaked to a puddle though, just enough to make the surface damp. Lucky they never fell out lol __________________ 227whp N/A V6 Now w/ 8th Mile 8s ! How To Jmod Your Late Model 4R70W

December 11th, 2011, 01:30 PM	#16
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	Will do. Thanks again.

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January 2nd, 2012, 12:37 PM	#17
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	So the shop did the rear main again. This time, they kept the car for three days to make sure it didn't leak and they said they didn't see a drop. But sure enough, we could still see a few drops on the ground each morning. The shop came to the conclusion that any car with over 100K miles on it ( ours just hit 100K ) will leak a bit if parked on an incline. Im not really buying that especially since ours is parked on a decline, not incline. I think were just going to live with the drip. Anyway, has anyone heard of vehicles leaking just because they're parked on ahill? Also, we're using 5w-20. Would switching to 10W-30 help?

January 2nd, 2012, 12:39 PM	#18
93notchlx Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 reviews	BTW, checked the oil pan bolts. They were snug.

January 2nd, 2012, 02:07 PM	#20
stephen Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,262 iTrader: 0 reviews	I'd replace the PCV valve if it hasn't been done recently.

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