Oil leaks getting worse.....
07-24-2002 | 11:17 AM
#16
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Harleysville, PA
The camshaft "thrust plate" three-holed triangular-shaped paper gaskets are a likley suspect. Last winter we "fixed" four 964 engines which were leaking due to the paper gaskets under the thrust plates, while in there the thrust plate o-rings, timing chain gaskets, tensioner cover gaskets, main seal, and intermediate shaft o-ring were also replaced. One of the paper gaskets on my car was so hard it broke into many pieces as I removed it.
Prior to fixing the leak I would loose a quart a day at the track (all of which ended up on the back of the car!), but it did not leak when driving around town. The local dealer wanted nearly $2,000 for the fix. No doubt due to the labor involved (engine removal and reinstall). Retiming of the engine and shimming of the chain sprokets are necessary when the sprokets are removed.
After all this I still get a leak (6 - 10 drops) between each run session at the track, but it is dry around town. Considering that my car is a 1990 I fear that I have the dreaded cylinder to head leak. That will be fixed this winter when I rebuild the motor to a 3.8 or 3.9.
Identifing the leak will be challenging. Spend some time under the motor cleaning everthing. Your best bet would be to drop the motor and replace as many seals/gaskets as you can. While out you can adjust the vales, change plugs, and clean, clean, clean.
Myles
Prior to fixing the leak I would loose a quart a day at the track (all of which ended up on the back of the car!), but it did not leak when driving around town. The local dealer wanted nearly $2,000 for the fix. No doubt due to the labor involved (engine removal and reinstall). Retiming of the engine and shimming of the chain sprokets are necessary when the sprokets are removed.
After all this I still get a leak (6 - 10 drops) between each run session at the track, but it is dry around town. Considering that my car is a 1990 I fear that I have the dreaded cylinder to head leak. That will be fixed this winter when I rebuild the motor to a 3.8 or 3.9.
Identifing the leak will be challenging. Spend some time under the motor cleaning everthing. Your best bet would be to drop the motor and replace as many seals/gaskets as you can. While out you can adjust the vales, change plugs, and clean, clean, clean.
Myles
07-24-2002 | 11:50 AM
#17
Thread Starter
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 1
From: London, UK
Myles
Thanks for your post - but I fear you are over-estimating my DIY ability. I am having my local specialist fit 4 pot calipers with pads on the rear and servicing the brakes, so I will ask them to have a look under the car to identify the main source(s) of the leak.
You mention that you lost a quart each time at the track - well this ties in with what I have been doing recently. Whilst not actual track driving, I have mapped out a route where I can push on quite happily without too much danger to others and the car will spend 20 mins at a time in the 4500-6500 rev range. This is the only change in my driving profile in the last month or so and this has resulted in some oil being deposited on my drive. It did not do this before, and I notice that since the day after the last outing, it has not dropped more oil. Maybe coincidence?
Anyway, we shall soon know what the experts say.
Thanks for your post - but I fear you are over-estimating my DIY ability. I am having my local specialist fit 4 pot calipers with pads on the rear and servicing the brakes, so I will ask them to have a look under the car to identify the main source(s) of the leak.
You mention that you lost a quart each time at the track - well this ties in with what I have been doing recently. Whilst not actual track driving, I have mapped out a route where I can push on quite happily without too much danger to others and the car will spend 20 mins at a time in the 4500-6500 rev range. This is the only change in my driving profile in the last month or so and this has resulted in some oil being deposited on my drive. It did not do this before, and I notice that since the day after the last outing, it has not dropped more oil. Maybe coincidence?
Anyway, we shall soon know what the experts say.
08-04-2002 | 10:07 AM
#18
Race Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,140
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, UK
Christer,
Has your car been to JZM yet, and if so what did they say?
My oil leak was found by GT-One, and was nothing to do with the rebuild that happened 10K miles ago.
In fact - a few months ago I had a new oil pressure sender, since I had been getting 1 bar before even starting the car. The new pressure sender had actually sprung a leak. It was replaced under warranty and I now have a nice dry car again.
If only all the problems were this simple.
Dave
90 C4
Has your car been to JZM yet, and if so what did they say?
My oil leak was found by GT-One, and was nothing to do with the rebuild that happened 10K miles ago.
In fact - a few months ago I had a new oil pressure sender, since I had been getting 1 bar before even starting the car. The new pressure sender had actually sprung a leak. It was replaced under warranty and I now have a nice dry car again.
If only all the problems were this simple.
Dave
90 C4
08-04-2002 | 02:44 PM
#19
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Well, at least I'm not the only one with this problem. I do wish I had the DIY skills some folks on this site seem to have. I don't think I'll be droping my own engine anytime soon... I was out there swearing at the car just trying to get the rear relay box cover off. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
08-05-2002 | 05:25 AM
#20
Thread Starter
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 1
From: London, UK
Dave
I am going back to Norway for a wedding this week, so I will delay dropping the car off until Saturday week. There are no more oil spots now so my guess is that it was due to hard driving - but of course the problem still remains!
I'll keep you informed of the brake upgrade, the pain of the MOT and anything else that comes up. After all, the only thing that cheers you up after a big bill is someone else's big(ger) bill....
Christer
I am going back to Norway for a wedding this week, so I will delay dropping the car off until Saturday week. There are no more oil spots now so my guess is that it was due to hard driving - but of course the problem still remains!
I'll keep you informed of the brake upgrade, the pain of the MOT and anything else that comes up. After all, the only thing that cheers you up after a big bill is someone else's big(ger) bill....
Christer
08-05-2002 | 10:22 AM
#21
Race Car
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,140
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, UK
Christer,
Rest assured, mine will be bigger than yours...
GT-One don't expect the MOT to be a problem - the amount I've spent on repairs this year means there is not much that can be old and worn out.
But the brakes.... it's going back on 21st August. They will try swapping a few bits with other cars but if this doesn't work - hello new ABS unit, goodbye lots of money.
Dave
90 C4
Rest assured, mine will be bigger than yours...
GT-One don't expect the MOT to be a problem - the amount I've spent on repairs this year means there is not much that can be old and worn out.
But the brakes.... it's going back on 21st August. They will try swapping a few bits with other cars but if this doesn't work - hello new ABS unit, goodbye lots of money.
Dave
90 C4
