HeadGasket, Another QUEstion for ya's! clutch this time Options

[PolliS_5S-FE]

Hey everyone. I have a '94 celica with a 5s-fe which I love 2 bits, I've had it for just about 2 and a half years but when I went for my last warrent I was told that the head gasket could be leaking as there was a fair bit of oil on the underside of the car. Just wondering if anyone could give me some tell tale signs for a leak as I dont fully trust this mechanic cause tried to rip me off b4. And also if it would be worth fixing myself (im no expert but i can do basic things myself oil change, coolant etc etc) or whether i should take it to a 'professional' to do. i hear gaskets can be quite tricky. any help is greatly appreciated!

Guys this time im wondering about the clutch fluid. ive never changed it myself, so i wouldnt even know where to start. does it need to be changed regularly? and would changing it make any difference? ive heard its the same stuff used as brake fluid but that doesnt sound right to me

This post has been edited by PolliS_5S-FE: Sep 2, 2008 - 10:03 PM

[Culpable04]

head gasket leaking because he saw oil under the car ? hhmmmm don't know man, if your headgasket is gone you'd have white smoke coming out of your exhaust, oil under the car means you have a leak, but an oil leak, not a bad head gasket. are you sure he didn't say head " cover " gasket ?

[Bitter]

oil can and does leak from a headgasket externally, but its not that common.

more than likely its a valve cover leak, oil pan leak, etc.

[Batman722]

oil can and does leak from a headgasket externally, but its not that common.

more than likely its a valve cover leak, oil pan leak, etc.

rear main seal...

[Bitter]

oil can and does leak from a headgasket externally, but its not that common.

more than likely its a valve cover leak, oil pan leak, etc.

rear main seal...

or front main
or oil pressure sending unit
or left over oil ran down the front of the engine and blown all over from sloppy oil changes.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

So it could be coming from any where really huh lol. I was told if theres a bit of frothy stuff coming in the water just under the radiator cap that it could also mean head gasket leak. but i only seen that happen when i just changed coolant. I guess thats the problem with oil leaks is that it gets everywhere so its hard to tell where its coming from with a casual check. although from the underside of the car theres ALOT of oil and sludgey crap around. ive cleaned a bit up to see if it helps me see where its coming from to no avail. one thing for sure its not from sloppy changes im reeeeeally careful when it comes to my car.

its def not blowing white smoke. tho i do get a puff of blue when i start up from cold

[Bitter]

get several bottles of engine degreaser and several cleaning brushes of different types, get under the car and spray it down, scrub it, spray it, scrub it, do the top side as well, the sides, the front, the back, etc. clean the WHOLE thing down, and when you've got it all scrubbed and clean then spray it off with the hose.

let it air dry for a while, start it up, and drive around some. park, take a look, see if you can see where and how much its leaking.

and from now on, clean the engine down from time to time. it makes finding leaks ALOT easier. i do my engine about once a year so i can track any leaks.

[Batman722]

oil can and does leak from a headgasket externally, but its not that common.

more than likely its a valve cover leak, oil pan leak, etc.

rear main seal...

or front main
or oil pressure sending unit
or left over oil ran down the front of the engine and blown all over from sloppy oil changes.

are you trying to make a bigger list just to be cool ?

there's many things you could list but when he says "there was a fair bit of oil on the underside of the car" I wouldn't think the oil pressure sending unit (located on the front in plain site on a 5s) would give that result

As for the first few things you listed, you are right, they are common things that would leak on a 14 year old 5s as well as a rear main seal.

[bouch-11]

my oil pressure sending unit was leaking before and it was a huge leak. there would be a pool underneath my car after i parked it for a few hours. there cheap to replace.

[PolliS_5S-FE]

ouch a puddle! i get maybe 2 or 3 drops over night. ok ill get some degreaser tomorow (payday WOO) and have a go at it. so its ok to hose the engine etc? just not the air filter i suppose.

[D-Man]

So it could be coming from any where really huh

No. You will definitely not be leaking oil from the headlights or radio

For real though, Do some cleaning to track it down. Or keep some newspaper under your car, and first thing in the AM, track the drips to the source. (although a combination would be best ) Good luck with that. (they make car-washes with undercarriage washings that'd be premium to your needs!!

[PolliS_5S-FE]

No. You will definitely not be leaking oil from the headlights or radio

lol na cause i replaced my stereo gasket last month jk jk jk. i put cardboard box under the car as im beginning to get oil on the garage floor (the owner of the house luvs me lol) and ill do a clean up and keep ya's posted.

thanks 4 the help so far guys

[Bitter]

oil can and does leak from a headgasket externally, but its not that common.

more than likely its a valve cover leak, oil pan leak, etc.

rear main seal...

or front main
or oil pressure sending unit
or left over oil ran down the front of the engine and blown all over from sloppy oil changes.

are you trying to make a bigger list just to be cool ?

there's many things you could list but when he says "there was a fair bit of oil on the underside of the car" I wouldn't think the oil pressure sending unit (located on the front in plain site on a 5s) would give that result

As for the first few things you listed, you are right, they are common things that would leak on a 14 year old 5s as well as a rear main seal.

no, im not trying to be cool. the rear main seal isnt a walk in the park if you're inexperienced and isnt cheap to have a shop do for you. he needs to find where its coming from to fix it or decide if he's going to have a shop do it. it would be a shame if you said 'its the rear main seal' and then he goes and pays $450 for a shop to do that seal and it still leaks. some times people take advice as a diagnosis.