Paul Waterloo

Since I bought the car, it has an oil leak. It has appeared that it comes from the front of the engine, but when I was in there last fall I cleaned everything up. Didn't drive it but 100 miles and it sat with a cover over it during the winter.

When parked, it will continue to leak oil due to static pressure. So it's got to be something that is at the resting oil level, nothing above. It probably leaked 3 ounces over the winter if I was to guess, a 4" x 4" spot on the floor after it makes it out the belly pan on the passenger side.

The following pictures depict the oil leak, it appears it is running down the very front of the motor probably from the black plate at the bottom front of the motor, then it drips, falls on the sway bar, and then drips down into the belly pan. I know the oil pump is on the front of the motor, but to be honest, really don't know much more than that.

I imagine this problem has been discussed before, but want to show you pictures of the leak and any potential solutions. I don't know if there is anything I can do with the engine in the car/belts on or if I can do something with the belts off.

The good news is that the car started after about 1/4 second of cranking yesterday and the thing is a beast!

Thanks for your help.

You can see it dripping off the front of the motor down to the bottom of it.

<img src=http://audipages.com/944/tn_DSC_0724.JPG>

<img src=http://audipages.com/944/tn_DSC_0725.JPG>

<img src=http://audipages.com/944/tn_DSC_0728.JPG>

fiily

Hi Paul, it looks like a front crank seal is leaking. I see a darker oil line coming down from crank to the 2 oil drops from the pics you provided. If its your oil pump, you can remove/reseal it, and replace the front crank oil seal too.

Paul Waterloo

Thanks for the response fiily, I found a few threads on this.....looks like it will have to be a project for the future, maybe I can retrofit a kitty litter dropper over the belly pan to keep it absorbed in the meantime!

Don't really feel like removing/installing the timing belt at the present time, will look a little closer and maybe put this on the list for next winter. I will only drive the car a few hundred miles this year.

fiily

Same here, I drove mine less than 500 miles last year, only out on good sunny days with no inclement weather in the forecast.

Good luck with the job, and while your in there taking the tb off, check the other oil seals since there is one leaking potentially, the others aren't too far behind, and shouldn't run you more than $100 for parts from pelican to replace them all.

Then, you should be good for 35k miles and have a nice dry engine and garage floor. Also, make sure the oil leak didn't ruin your swaybar bushings, they will swell and fall apart if the oil leak has reached them.

Humboldtgrin

Im replacing mine right now. Just got done pressure washing the underside. The problem most likely is a groved oil pump sleeve. There needs to be a thin o ring behind the sleeve to seal the sleeves matting surface to the crankshaft.



Notice the new one has a bevel on the gear side.





If you can feel the groove where the seal rides at all, even a tiny bit with your finger nail it needs to be replaced.
Rubber will groove metal, it just takes a while.

Paul Waterloo

Thanks for posting!