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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Smokey Oil Leak....
Posted by: MikeM Aug 27 2012, 06:05 PM
Hi guys...I just paid a ton of money to have my pushrod tube seals replaced along with a valve adjustment. When I got it home, there is just as much smoke from the engine compartment as there was BEFORE!!! I'm going to take it back obviously, but where else should I look for a leak? Guys at the shop tell me the oil cooler seals look fine. I'm pretty sure something is dripping onto the heat exchangers and burning. Very, very frustrating....
Thanks,
Mike
Posted by: Vacca Rabite Aug 27 2012, 06:13 PM
Start the car on ramps.
Lay down there with a flashlight and start looking.
It could well be that all that smoke now is the existing oil/tar burning off the exchangers, and the smoke will go away. Or you could be leaking from elsewhere. With the car idling, start looking for drips. You should be able to see them.
Zach
Posted by: 914itis Aug 27 2012, 08:22 PM
Posted by: matt5596 Aug 27 2012, 08:24 PM
I've been chasing a similar smokey oil leak. I suspected valve cover gaskets - replaced but still smoking from heat exchanger area. I can hear it sizzling but I can't see any drips. 
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 27 2012, 08:36 PM
heres my suggestion, which i just had to do recently to locate a pinhole leak. clean it up real well and sprinkle baby powder in the suspected area while its running. fresh oil is kinda hard to see. powder it up and look for the wet spot....LOL
Posted by: MikeM Aug 27 2012, 08:56 PM
OK....lol.
Posted by: Jgilliam914 Aug 28 2012, 12:13 PM
mr Bubblehead that should work for this application! I have never thought of that but however I have heard using it for similar applications 
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 12:16 PM
mr Bubblehead that should work for this application! I have never thought of that but however I have heard using it for similar applications
it does work....its a little messy. but i would rather clean up baby powder once than have oil leaking every day.
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 12:18 PM
mr Bubblehead that should work for this application! I have never thought of that but however I have heard using it for similar applications
it does work....its a little messy. but i would rather clean up baby powder once than have oil leaking every day.
oh i get it.....! it is the same principle that you are thinking of....
where do you think i got the idea
Posted by: 76-914 Aug 28 2012, 12:34 PM
Remember to check the oil pressure sending unit.
Posted by: MikeM Aug 28 2012, 02:00 PM
Yes, I tried to check it but don't seem to have a deep socket that fits down there.
Do you know off hand what size it is? I'm thinking maybe 20 or 21mm?
Mike
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 02:08 PM
its 15/16 deep socket. if it was my car, i would be real nervous about trying to tighten it. i would go ahead and remove it and reseal it. with my luck, i would try tightening it and the damn thing would break. the i would be dead in the water....
Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Aug 28 2012, 02:11 PM
"Reseal it"? It's a pipe thread, and needs to be grounded, as well. NO sealant, EVER. You shouldn't need a socket to see if it's leaking, just look at it with the engine running.
The Cap'n
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 02:14 PM
do you have an idea where it is leaking from? front of the engine? back of the engine? above the cylinders or below. unfortunately oil tends to travel especially with the car running. the wind from the fan pushes it. does it drip only when its running/under pressure? what if it sits for a few days? still driping?
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 02:16 PM
"Reseal it"? It's a pipe thread, and needs to be grounded, as well. NO sealant, EVER. You shouldn't need a socket to see if it's leaking, just look at it with the engine running.
The Cap'n
YUP! reseal... never ever had a problem with not grounding.
Posted by: MikeM Aug 28 2012, 02:26 PM
Well, I've just spent about an hour under the car and I can't find any oil leaking at all. Possibly it was just the residual oil from the pushrod tube seals replacement.
I doubt I'm that lucky however. I've been fighting with this thing all summer.
Thanks for the advice.
Mike
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 02:28 PM
fingers crossed
Posted by: MikeM Aug 28 2012, 02:31 PM
To answer your question about where it leaks...I can't see where it's leaking but I get alot of smoke out the top through the engine lid grill.
Frustrating....
Mike
Posted by: 76-914 Aug 28 2012, 03:06 PM
Mike, it can take awhile for the oil to burn off. If you want to expedite this process take a few rags and mop up the oil that is setting in the channel on top of the HE then drive it for 30 min's. That should burn any remaining oil off. BTDT
Posted by: mrbubblehead Aug 28 2012, 03:10 PM
Mike, it can take awhile for the oil to burn off. If you want to expedite this process take a few rags and mop up the oil that is setting in the channel on top of the HE then drive it for 30 min's. That should burn any remaining oil off. BTDT
hose the heat exchanger down with brake cleaner will help too.
Posted by: MikeM Aug 28 2012, 03:52 PM
I have cleaned the heat exchangers really well. The guys at the shop that did the pushrod tube seals gave it the brake cleaner treatmen as well.
Here's hoping it will stop smoking after a few drives...
Mike
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