oil leaking. . update.. More problems.., Need some more help! :/ Options

[bseaman_5]

Ok well I'm guessing car has been leaking it ever since I got it over a year ago, its not a fast leak, I have to add a quart maybe 2 every month tho, and I would prefer that it was just fixed. . Idk if it would be leaking from the oil pan? Basically I have oil all over the underside of the engine, nothing on the front but the bottom side is coated. I will try to get some pics on here to show but that will prolly happen tomorrow when I'm putting my header on. . Any help or ideas on where or why its leaking would be great! My dad thought it just burned oil but if it was just burning oil then I wouldn't have all this oil on my engine, it doesn't leak on the garage floor maybe a few drops in over a month, I think it burns on the engine but yeah. . Thanks in advance

UPDATE:

OK well it's been a while but, I replaced the valve cover gasket and the problem pretty much let up for a while. Didn't really see much oil on the driveway for quite some time things were looking good, But within the last 2 weeks it's been leaking pretty bad.. I just did a degreaser and what not but it's still so coated on there I'm trying to wipe everything down and trying to pinpoint it but not having much luck.. It's on the passenger side backside of the engine, it looks as tho to be low as if out of the oil pan but there isn't a ton of oil all over it.. yes some but if that gasket is leaking its not the main leak and not that bad of one, any other ideas???? anything you would recommend I look at or try to replace? I'm a do-it-myselfer so if you can be descriptive..

This post has been edited by bseaman_5: Aug 15, 2008 - 1:51 PM

[Spider77]

Had that problem too, oil all over stuff in the bottem of car but not enough to drip on the ground. The mechanic guy told me that it was because of a bad seal around the valve cover. Havent fixed it yet (waiting till im on leave) but im guessing its never been replaced, so its about time that I would haev to do that.

[bseaman_5]

Ok. That would make sense! Thanks! I'll prolly give that a shot. I should be able to do that myself right?

[stephen_lee]

valve cover gasket isnt sht to do. took me like 10 min

[bseaman_5]

Sweet! Did you have the same problem?

[stephen_lee]

well my car was leaking worse than yours, and then burning oil too.
it was so bad at one point that oil was coating my passenger side.

[bseaman_5]

Yeah, I would say that's pretty bad! Say any ideas how to get all that oil cleaned up off my engine once I replace that?

[Remy]

My car used to leak oil like crazy too when I first bought it, all I did was give it a tune-up then the problem disappeared my oil doesn't drop anymore. Also check your rear main seal they like to leak on these 5sfe motors over time. Theirs also some stuff you can pour into your oil and it'll make it change color or something like that I've never used it but I'm sure you can find that stuff at your local auto store it'll help you pinpoint the leak.

[bseaman_5]

Rear main seal?? Sorry I'm dumb. .

[stephen_lee]

rear main seal is the seal where your crank comes out of the block. its like a gasket, but allows rotation.

i'd say just take your car to a good car wash that has some of that "degreaser" and give your whole engine bay/under body a good spray

[bseaman_5]

Sounds like a plan! I think I'm going to just go ahead and replace the valve cover gasket tomorrow I'll clean up the engine and see what happens after that

[stephen_lee]

if not, could be your oil pan gasket too
which is.. "fun" to replace

[bseaman_5]

now looking at the valve cover.. How do I go about getting it off??? So confused, call me an idiot its ok!

[stephen_lee]

not sure on the 5s, but the 7a there are like 4 bolts on the valve cover
it'll take some persuasion to take off. but do NOT pry it off

[bseaman_5]

well I looked for some bolts but I didn't see anything!

[bseaman_5]

well I looked for some bolts but I didn't see anything!

wow I def feel like an idiot! I'm pretty sure I figured it all out!

[bseaman_5]

bump need new help, updated above..

[Celi94bk]

bump, I feel that this is the problem that I'm having as well..... Update requested...

This post has been edited by Celi94bk: Sep 4, 2008 - 4:25 AM

[pepsiman]

if you are asking about the bolts to get the valve cover off on a 5s-fe take out the rubber things that go to the spark plugs and there are bolts under them (i just did this a few days ago and had to look on here to find out where they are) be careful when you torque them down, too tight might cause issues.

[Tigawoods]

get a UV kit at a NAPA auto parts store or at an auto store.

you put it in your oil and then use the uv light it comes with to see where the water comes out of.