Devia

Ooh, a self-made oil slick, right out of Speed Racer!

- Julie

Tom R.

from <a href="http://www.mobil1.com" target="_blank">www.mobil1.com</a> myths about synthetics

Mobil 1 will leak out of the seals of older cars.

Mobil 1 does not cause leaks. In fact, new Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ was tested in dozens of industry standard and OEM tests to prove its seal performance. It is fully compatible with the elastomeric materials from which all automotive seals and gaskets are made.

ExxonMobil engineers are wary of conventional oils that tout their use of additional seal-swelling agents. With extended use, these agents can over-soften engine seals, resulting in leaks. More to the point, an oil additive will not rejuvenate worn or damaged seals. The damaged seal may have been caused by a worn rotating metal component in the engine.

If an older engine is in good condition and does not have oil leaks, Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™ provides the same advantages as when used in a new engine. ExxonMobil recommends taking measures to repair the leaks, then using Mobil 1 with SuperSyn™. ExxonMobil also always recommends following the automobile manufacturer's manual for the proper oil to use.


just your humble cub reporter getting back to you.

chris, how long has your car been on synthetic?

AndyK

The question should be: How long has the garage floor been on synthetic (sorry)!

What timing, eh Chris? You just painted the rims and cleaned the car up (that's the nicest looking engine compartment I've seen!)...sucks!

Good luck.

Bryan

Let's not panic. It might not be a big deal. The oil pressure of a running engine can move a lot of oil though a small leak.

After I did the first overhaul of my 944 engine, I forgot to tighten the oil pressure sender. I put it in snugly by hand but forgot to go back and tighten it down.

After driving the car for only a couple miles, the low oil warning light came on. I put in a couple quarts, and in about 2 more miles, the light came on again. I pulled into my driveway, and as I was opening the hood (the engine was idling), a river of oil ran past my feet.

After figuring it out, I was amazed how much oil could get past the sender.

Under normal conditions, there's no pressure in the crankcase trying to blow the oil pan gasket out. In fact, a healthy engine will have very slight vacuum in the crankcase. If your engine had enough blow-by to blow out the oil pan gasket, the car wouldn't be even close to running.

Check the simple stuff - oil filter, oil pressure sender.

The "white smoke" was coming from under the hood, right? Not out of the tailpipe?

Bryan

MichelleJD

Is it me or does it appear that there have been a disproportionate amount of breakdowns recently?

SidViscous

Weather warming up, more people pulling them out.

And watch what you say. I'm scared enough to be doing a road trip right after a timing belt change.

Stan944

Chris,
FYI, I put synthetic oil on my 1983 944 last summer, and I didn't notice more leaking oil than before (i.e. with minearl oils). The bottom of the engine is a bit oily, though. If there is a difference (in my case), it's not dramatic.
I think, if a seal broke, it would have happened with mineral oil too, maybe a little later...
good luck, Stan

Chris_924s

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Devia:
<strong>Ooh, a self-made oil slick, right out of Speed Racer!

- Julie</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hmm I hadnt thought of THAT!
Looks like a gasket did blow, which coated the undercariage with oil. White smoke pouring out from underneath- last night most likely from the heat off of the catalytic. NO white smoke from the exhaust. (yay for one thing!) <img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/oil2.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/oil1.jpg" alt=" - " />

Most of the oil I dropped on the road- I just filled it up with oil- started it up and could spot no visible leaks from the oilpan, or anywhere underneath for that matter. I did get some white smoke from the rear of the engine bay after about 2 mins of running time. all of the oil on the floor was from last night's unexpected lube session.

I feel sick, and dont wanna really look at it for a few days..
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/oil3.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/oil4.jpg" alt=" - " />

schlag

I know how you feel..

'88-924S

Chris,sorry to hear what happened. I've been following your post about the 944 and my .02 is to keep the 924S. I've got an 88 924S and am always thinking about moving to a 944/951/968/911, but after thinking about it a long time, I'm quite happy with the 924S. why go to a 944 when your 924S is faster and if I remember correctly you like the cleaner lines of the 924S better. stick with it. take a few days off and come back and realize you CAN fix the problem and continue to enjoy the car. crap happens and you can't get past that. could you imagine getting the 944 and doing all this work to it and then this happening to it? your commitment and perseverance will pay off. either way I feel your pain, Porsche's are not like Honda's--you know that Honda commercial, "What are you going to think about when you have a car you don't have to think about?" or something like that. good luck and keep us posted.

Chris_924s

Oil cooler seals maybe (I hope, I hope..) How could I dtdremine if they are bad/ blown?

Bryan

From that first picture, it looks like the oil is coming from the passenger side of the engine. The driver's side of the pan and the front of the pan/oil pump both look clean.

Was the car running OK while this was happening?

I'm still thinking it's something simple. The lower balance shaft seal, when it leaks, leaks into the belt covers and the belt covers drip. The balance shaft cover has about 20 bolts holding it to the block. It's unlikely to suddenly start leaking vast quantities of oil. There's a plug at the back of the balance shaft cover, but the oil isn't under pressure when it's inside the balance shaft cover. And oil coming out here wouldn't make its way forward to the front of the oil pan.

This oil has to be coming from the area around the oil filter or the oil pressure sender. The oil is pressurized, and the wet parts of the engine correspond.

It could also be from the head gasket but I think it's unlikely to blow an oil galley to the outside while still keeping compression in the cylinders.

Did you do anything to this car just before this happened?

Bryan

Bryan

Blown oil cooler seals send oil into the coolant, not down the side of the engine.

Bryan

Chris_924s

Bryan- The car was (and still is, i might add) running very well. I noticed I was at 4 bar Oil Pressure on the way home last night- Topped off the oil this morning, started her up and pressure was right a 5. I didnt keep it on too long, as I was beginning to see white smoke from the rear of the engine bay. This could be oil from last night, or a pressure leak-
what's odd is that oil pressure seems fine, No loud clicking noise when running (not oil starvation.) however I've noticed a lot of oil on the drivers side of the engine- Pass side may not be so apparend due to header heat burning it off.

I really hope you are right and it IS something simple. I'm gonna check oil lines tomorrow for visible signs of ruptures. It stopped dripping oil last night, and no oil drips while running or immediately after the initial starting this morning.

Type_LT

My gut feeling it is a hose popped or something, I can see the oil pan gasket "blowing", I can see it slowly degrading and depositing increasing amounts of oil as time goes on. This looks like a hose has cracked or something similar. The oilpan isn't under pressure (right?) so I wouldn't expect the gasket to blow. Just seems weird to me. I second '88-924S's comments too!