derekescott

Well, Gemlins 4- Derek 2, I was under the shark the other day and noticed a considerable amount of oil....all over alternator brackets, sender unit (recently replaced) and oil filter. It appears as if it's coming from the oil pan. How hard is it to replace the pan gasket? Do I have to remove major components?

Thanks!

FlyingDog

Oil pan gasket is a PITA. Make sure you aren't missing any bolts and make sure they are at least finger tight.

Mine leaks like that also. I'me going to change the gasket when I have the crossmember out for the motor mount job. If you need MMs, you'll have everything apart to easily do the pan gasket at the same time.

heinrich

IMHO the only effective way to replace oil pan gasket is to suspend the engine from a crane, pull the cross member and pull the pan .....

SharkSkin

The leak could be coming from the oil filter, or more likely the cam cover/tower(depending on whether it's 16V/32V). It's not clear to me how a leaky pan gasket can get oil onto the filter. You need to find the highest "wet" point on the motor, and work from there. Maybe give it a shot of degreaser & run it again to localize the leak.

FlyingDog

Dave, mine sprays all over the bottom of the engine, body, exhaust, starter, bellhousing... I guess wind just throws it everywhere. Oddly the whole bottom of the car is coated in oil, but I haven't notcied any significant loss on the dipstick and it doesn't drip.

Derek, Dave does bring up an excellent point. It could be the oil pressure sender, oil filter, oil cooler lines or plug, or oil level sender (16V only?).

SharkSkin

What I keyed on was alternator brackets -- I don't see how a leaky pan gasket can get oil onto those or the filter, unless it's spraying out(unlikely). OTOH, (cringing as I type) a leak between block and girdle could spray oil on all of the parts Derek mentioned.

Daniel Dudley

Degrease and drive. Go to the hand held car wash and spray the engine. It may not be that bad, but check the oil and keep it topped. I wasted an engine once because I was going to the parts store to pick up a new gasket. Tighten the oil filter and check the front main seal as well as all the other stuff mentioned. Until you know how fast it is leaking, you cannot check the oil often enough. LOL

jeff jackson

Take a look at the Power Steering pump oil reservior as well...The hoses on it are "known" to leak badly in cold weather, and oil running down the hoses could blow off all over the alternator cooling ducting , and the front left side of the lower engine. I just fixed bad leaks on mine the other day. No new parts were required either...just removal, trimming and reinstallation of the hoses with securing the clamps.

DANdeMAN

Mine is leaking from the distributor, lots of oil on the front (behind TB cover) and some on the side of engine.

derekescott

thanks... i will degrease engine and look harder. I replaced the sender unit (big-right beside oil filter) and I then had the problem with the blocked exhaust...now for the leaks.....gremlins!!!
I also discovered my sunroof will open but is quite slow too close (gremlins 5-derek 2) so, it just another bit of work to get to perfection...will inform

jon928se

Oil from a leaking sump gasket does seem to get everywhere - Just the turbulent airflow throught the engine bay. I know the oil leak on my SE is the sump gasket, and it does get about halfway up the block and even onto the rear pu. Doesn't use much oil though, 1/2 pint in 3000 miles.

Jon in NZ

jpitman2

I would put some money on the power steering hoses or reservoir, that stuff goes everywhere once there is a weep. The colour and smell should confirm/deny. With the sunroof, drop the rear cover and lube the cables, should help. Also lube (lightly) the tracks while open. Dry stick type lubes are best as they wont attract dust.
jp 83 Euro S AT 50k

derekescott

will do...thanks