westija

Hi everyone,

I was inspecting my recently acquired '89 928 S4 for some leaks detected during PPI and found two issues at least.

1. Oil Pan gasket - I hope that is the culprit. While in there, any other work you would recommend? Is this a hard thing to do, or is it pretty much straight forward? Any tips are appreciated? Please notice the sensor wiring on top. It does not seem like this is the original set up, but something the PO did instead. It does seem this is a critical area, so I am considering not to mess up with the wiring and leave it as is, any thoughts or recommendations?

2. Power Steering reservoir lines - I read an excellent write up from Dwayne and will be following it to the letter. Again, any other work should I do while working in there?

3. Now, there seems to be something else further in the back, just under the driver's floor. Any ideas of what could this be, or do you think it is coming from the leaking oil pan and PS lines?

Thanks in advamce for any thoughts and tips

Jose

Speedtoys

Probly OPG + Front main seal.

I did my OPG, and that was 99% of my oil leak..but still a week from the main.

Will hit that in the summer.

WICruiser

I believe oil pan gasket is sort of a major and typically WYA includes motor mounts.

PS hoses are not to bad and pretty common leak point. General recommendation is to replace the reservoir because it includes a non-servicable filter in addition to any issues with the hose connection nipples.

I would recommend doing the PS, clean the pan area and see if you can detect for sure where the leak(s) are before taking on the pan gasket unless of course it needs motor mounts anyway.

rgs944

Rack boots with the PG, and MM's. If you have not changed MM's yet it is one of the best things you can do to make your car nice to drive again. Really smooths is out.

Speedtoys

Dont forget tranny mounts..just as flat as your MM's at this point.

supercedar

Steering rack bushings make a good feel.
Thomas

dr bob

Clean under there well, and then look to see where the oil leaks start. Your pics show a lot of oil above the sump gasket level. Might be the gasket leaking and the oil moving up. But generally the gravity pulls it down rather than up. A couple cans of engine cleaner on the bottom, followed by a JUDICIOUS rinse with the hose, will give you much better idea of what work is ahead. Even if it is the sump gasket, cleaning is the best first step, with particular attention to the bottom of the engine, the crossmember, steering rack, front suspension, and the surrounding area. avoid hard spray on the starter, oil sender, and alternator. otherwise have a ball.

fbarnhill

Well, I can tell you that a leaky power steering hose can make a mess. Mile was just caked in baked on grease. Yours looks better than many I have seen. The pan on my old 83 was just as dirty and some of the pan bolts you could screw back in with your fingers. I tightned them but never replaced the gasket. I don't think it ever used much oil or left many spots in the driveway. A good degreaser, while you are in there, if you do tb/wp, mm and oil pan gasket, it will look pretty new by the time you are finished. It is hard work but just tedious, one thing the the next etc till it is done. Good writeups on how to do it. Good luck, it looks like a nice car.

Bill Ball

Dr Bob always hits things on the head.

What I see is a lot of grime. With OPG leaks, there is usually fresh oil drops hanging from the oil pan bolt heads and on the bottom of the pan. So, either it is leaking rather slowly or the oil is misting or running down from somehwere else, as Dr. Bob suggests. You really need to clean this up and re-check after driving around a bit, again, as Dr. Bob suggests.

You do have some fresh looking oil running down the front of the oil pan under the the crank area, implicating the front main seal. The oil drops on the bottom of the starter could be blown back from things in front or from the OPG above it.