Need help locating possible source of oil leak on my 850 non turbo

dubsetter · Post by **dubsetter** » 23 Mar 2016, 20:24

Check the previous update. I have not had a chance to bring it back to the shop because I have been training for work all week. I will be taking it in on Friday. I have been driving it all this week to work and got blue smoke after idle once every day after idle( didn't happen until the car had been driven for over an hour) except for today. Crankcase pressure seems to have normalized. I have been keeping a close eye and topping off my oil as needed.

The shop replaced 2 cam seals and oil pump seal(they thought this was where the leak was) and pcv. Right after they replaced the pcv and seals there was still positive pressure which took about 4-5 days to normalize and get a slight vacuum with the glove test. Is it possible they didn't fix the leak or did the remaining crankcase pressure blow another seal before it normalized? I noticed the leak the second day of driving it after I picked it up. I checked because that was the first day I got blue smoke after idling in traffic. Also, any thoughts on the blue smoke and why there was leftover pressure? I plan on doing a compression test myself this weekend if I have time. Thanks again. I will update again on Friday.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Mar 2016, 03:56

I think you blew another seal. If you have crankcase pressure it won't go away by itself. You have to pull the dipstick and ideally run a hose to the ground if the glove inflates, until you fix the PCV

dubsetter · Post by **dubsetter** » 24 Mar 2016, 05:19

Right after I picked it up after having the pcv and seals replaced I noticed there was pressure so I continued to drive it with the dipstick until the pressure normalized. I guess even with the dipstick out it stillblew a seal again.

dubsetter · Post by **dubsetter** » 24 Mar 2016, 06:49

Well, my starter died after stopping to pick up breakfast on my way to work. Having it towed to my house, going to replace it myself. While waiting for the truck, I pulled the timing belt cover to get a photo of the leak...

dubsetter · Post by **dubsetter** » 24 Mar 2016, 06:52

Timing belt area

dubsetter · Post by **dubsetter** » 24 Mar 2016, 06:54

Hard to get a good pic but it looks the leak is coming down the lower left side

Post by **erikv11** » 24 Mar 2016, 08:49

Leaks down the left side of the timing path are usually from the top of the engine, have you pulled the plastic cover over the spark plug boots to see if it is oily up there?

Keep in mind that front cam seals rarely go out, even if there is PCV pressure. Almost always the rear seals pop from that pressure. Although if the fronts were recently changed then all bets are off, it is too easy to end up with junk parts in there.

dubsetter · Post by **dubsetter** » 30 Mar 2016, 19:34

I checked under the spark plug cover and didn't notice any fresh oil except around the oil cap, which was from me topping off the oil and spilling a few drops. The car has been sitting since my starter died last Thursday. I looked under the car tonight and noticed another leak, but this time on the driverside (see pic). Fresh oil was dripping.

Post by **scot850** » 30 Mar 2016, 20:04

In the last picture that looks like red oil in the flash where the drip is. If it is it isn't engine oil, it is either trans or power steering oil (ATF).

The other point looks like the rear cam seal. Clean the area off and leave the cover off and run the engine to see where it starts leaking from.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 31 Mar 2016, 04:38

Nice spot Neil!!