Yesterday I noticed some oil on the ground under my car. It was a sudden thing- it wasn't leaking before. I drove it around and came back, then looked under the car. Nothing was dripping. After a few hours I came back and looked, and there was more oil on the ground. Today I took off the skid plate deal and looked around for any wet spots. I did not see any. So, remembering some past posts, I tightened the three valve cover bolts and some of the bolts on the front of the oil pan. I put it back together and drove around again. Again nothing leaked as soon as I came back, but after 5 minutes there were a few small droplets under the car. I just checked again(about 45 minutes after driving, and there are no new drops under the car. What is causing my car to leak? And why is it leaking only after the car runs? Help would be appreciated.
Josh G.
Joy is passing a brand new car at 80 in the fastlane, with your 22 year old Japanese economy car.
Front seals ( camshaft and crankshaft ) will leak after the car runs, and in my experience, will leak a LOT of oil. I guess they could also leak just small amounts like you describe, as well. Are you able to tell if your leak is coming from the front of the engine ?? or elsewhere ??
It is dripping off of the plastic skid plate thing and on to the ground, so it is possible. However, it looks like old oil, and I just changed it. It also looks like it is dripping off of the oil pan behind the plug. As of now there are only 5 or so drops on the ground, each the size of a button. Could it be old oil residue from a fixed prior leak that was heated up by the engine and dripped?
Josh G.
Joy is passing a brand new car at 80 in the fastlane, with your 22 year old Japanese economy car.
On my Vw van after doing the valves (Every 3000 miles!) and replacing the valve covers, sometimes the valve covers did not go on properly as they are held in by metal clips instead of bolts. After driving they would leak what seemed like alot of oil. I would notice this and re-position the valve covers. Then the car would still leak oil for awhile but much less. After some driving it would stop. So what I'm saying is this could be oil left over from your fixed leak and is just left over. My advice would be to clean up as much oil as you can and drive around until it burns off or whatever and then see. I guess it might also depend on how much time has passed since you fixed the leak versus if it's still leaking. If a week of driving still produces leaks after you've wiped as much as you could then chances are it's still leaking somewhere.
BTW I started using RTV gasket glue on my VW and said good-bye to leaks around the valve covers.
I think I figured it out. I believe that the A/C compressor is leaking oil. As I thought back it only leaked a lot after I used the A/C. It explains the old oil, why the leak is not constant(it has pretty much stopped now, after I've stopped using A/C), why the dipstick has shown no loss in oil. I think that once I take the pseudo-skidplate off and wash it off, as well as under the car, the last little drops will stop leaking.
Thanks for the suggestions, though.
Josh G.
Joy is passing a brand new car at 80 in the fastlane, with your 22 year old Japanese economy car.
I didnt' even know the Terc was supposed to have that cover or "skid" plate under there 'til I saw one with it in place a couple of days ago. Maybe I can find one at the junkyard sometime soon. Mine never has had it since I've owned it.
My car is still leaking. I put the car up on jackstands, but I still can't localize where it is coming from. I decided to leave the pseudo skid off for the time being so I could get a better idea of where it is coming from, but no dice. It seems to be coming from between the block and the alternator/compressor...
This is really pissing me off.
Josh G.
Joy is passing a brand new car at 80 in the fastlane, with your 22 year old Japanese economy car.
My car is still leaking. I put the car up on jackstands, but I still can't localize where it is coming from. I decided to leave the pseudo skid off for the time being so I could get a better idea of where it is coming from, but no dice. It seems to be coming from between the block and the alternator/compressor...
This is really pissing me off.
thats EXACTLY where the oil pressure switch is dude, start the car, put your fingers on it and you will most likely feel oil pour over them.
Tercel 4WD "POWER WAGOON" with 4A-C
aka: "no powa steering tercel, oh oh oh!"
mods: ignition at 10 DBTDC and 90 octane gas.
