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I have an oil leak that is leaving puddles underneath the lower intake manifold and also leaks out onto the top of the transmission. Any ideas? I am hoping for something small like the intake manifold not being torqued right or the valve cover gaskets needing to be replaced. Worst case scenario the knock sensor. I have no codes. Any ideas.
ddsand, fro mwhat you are describing, it is most likely the valve cover gaskets. Normally they leak into the plug wells. But, there is always the option of it leaking out, on to the engine. I would start there and see what you find at that point. Make sure to tighten the bolts to the valve covers evenly. If you don't, you will get all sorts of oil leaks from the gasket not sitting flat.
If it's oil it's likely the valve cover gasket, but my guess is given the amount of pooling that it's coolant. That's a pretty dirty part of the engine so any coolant will look like oil quickly. Give it a lick, if it's bitter you have coolant, likely coming from coolant pipe in the area.
I will look at the coolant hose when I am in there. Since I will have to pull the intake manifold to get to the back valve cover gasket. I am not excited about the whole lick the oil idea so I will probably look for other signs. I do have a very small coolant leak I need to track down so this may solve two problems in one afternoon.
Which side of the engine is it in. If it's the right side (LHD = passenger) right in front of this sensor =
It's coolant coming from the metal hose. There is an o ring (size #17) that shrinks and goes bad leaking coolant. Sometimes is pretty major and easy to see. Other times it's harder to see (and in pic, see reflection of small pool way down) and hard to see remnants of the leak. I seen it after looking all over the place because I could smell hot coolant after a drive.
Yup! You Nailed It!!! Big puddle underneath the sensor i the top photo. Every time I drive it smells when I stop. I thought it was oil dripping onto the exhaust, but looks like you are are right. Sorry for misleading everyone with the oil comment. Transmission side is just sweating oil not major leaks. Is it the o ring for the metal pipe in the top photo or do I need to dig deeper?
And when I found mine, I had to use a long metal rod with some paper towel taped to it to stick down there to see what it was. It was cooked like tree sap. Very sticky, but Brown (orange coolant), but taking a whiff was coolant.
Last edited by Dell Gailey; 05-14-2019 at 03:36 PM.
xtypeHI, I see you are experienced with this. Dell sent me a link that had you in the chain. That was very helpful. Thank you all. Will let you know when I get it done.
So as you know not everything is as easy as you would like. I checked the coolant and it looks like there is no moisture around the o ring leak we were hoping for. It also appears to be oil that is leaking. I pulled the intake to look and see if there is a valve cover gasket leak. No such luck. They look pretty dry. There is definitely oil pooling on top of the engine though. Being the eternal optimist, I am hoping that this is not a head gasket leak. No coolant mixed with oil. That is good.
My other options boil down to a few questions.
1. Is there a gasket or o ring around the knock sensor that could be leaking?
2. there is a cover over something underneath the main coolant pipe on top of the engine. Could that leak oil?
After reviewing my photos and taking a closer look, I noticed silicone around where the gaskets had been. It looked to me like there might have been oil leaking from the lower intake manifold. I have now cleaned the block and re-assembled and am hoping that was the issue. I did have quite a bit of oil that came out of the intake manifold when I removed it. Is that anything I should worry about?
OK. so the majority of the oil leak is gone and the car is getting back to normal. First I replaced the gasket under the plate shown in the photo. The oil dripping onto the transmission has stopped. Immediately afterward my 3 year old coolant reservoir cracked. (That's what I get for buying the cheapest one online) I started getting some crazy wheel sensor codes that alternate from C1155 to C1165. I am wondering if I shorted something out with the coolant spraying all over the engine. Oh well. Another day, Another repair.
05-13-2019, 11:47 PM
Oil pooling on top of engine
I do have a very small coolant leak I need to track down so this may solve two problems in one afternoon.
