#!$@in' Eclipse

[dlh1999]

My girlfriend's car has been running rough, and upon starting a plug/wire change, I discovered oil in the 1st and 4th cylinders. So today I took the valve cover off to change gaskets, assuming that was the problem. All went well, and the car was running beautifully. I drove it about 15 miles to drop it off to her, and when I parked it and got out, I noticed a large amount of smoke/steam pouring out from under the hood - it was burning LARGE amounts of oil. Upon a closer look, I noticed big spots of oil on the wet concrete in a trail behind the car. On top of that, the dipstick wasn't giving a reading at all. As I tried to refill it with oil to see if I could see what was happening, I began hearing all the oil I was putting into the car dripping right out of it onto the ground.... So the car is now at the shop where it got towed.

Any ideas of what the hell happened? It didn't seem to be coming from the valve cover area, and I know I did a careful job on everything...so I'm not even sure if it had anything to do with the work I did today...

 

[DGajre777]

I doubt it had anything to do with the valve cover. Did you see what part/side of the engine the oil was coming from? Is your oil pan cracked or broken? Oil filter loose or about to fall off??

 

[dlh1999]

I couldn't tell...it was dark. I tried to see if it was coming from the back of the valve cover, thinking maybe the gasket slipped a bit when I was putting the valve cover back on. Even so, I don't think it would have drained that much oil out...

 

[SoilentGreen98]

I currently have a slow oil leak, nothing like that though, that I've been keeping an eye on. Mine's due needing a new rear main seal gasket. Think that might be the culprit? Still, that's an awful lot to leak like that. Is there even a gasket at all there? Hahaha.

 

[dlh1999]

That could be it...I have no clue. I'm pretty confident that even IF I screwed up the gasket on the valve cover or spark plug gaskets, which I didn't, it wouldn't have been enough to completely drain the engine of oil and screw something up to where it won't even hold oil...

 

[wolf20043]

That could be it...I have no clue. I'm pretty confident that even IF I screwed up the gasket on the valve cover or spark plug gaskets, which I didn't, it wouldn't have been enough to completely drain the engine of oil and screw something up to where it won't even hold oil...

Its got to be somthing underneath. If you were putting in oil and it just ran right out I seriously doubt that the valve cover is the problem. When you pour the oil in , gravity makes it go to the bottom of the engine. If it was the valve cover it would only leak when the motor is running. One possibility is the oil pan has a hole, or another, check the oil drain plug and make sure it is still there.
Mike

 

[dlh1999]

Its got to be somthing underneath. If you were putting in oil and it just ran right out I seriously doubt that the valve cover is the problem. When you pour the oil in , gravity makes it go to the bottom of the engine. If it was the valve cover it would only leak when the motor is running. One possibility is the oil pan has a hole, or another, check the oil drain plug and make sure it is still there.
Mike

That's along the lines of what I was thinking...the only thing I could think of is that if I was filling it too quickly, it could be leaking out a potential spot where the valve cover gasket was inproperly set before it could settle to the bottom of the block...is this possible?

 

[Daem0n]

Check the oil drain bolt as well. Perhaps the last time the oil was changed it wasn't tightened down properly.

Let us know what the culprit is.

 

[Boost Era]

or maybe you didnt have the metal gasket on the drain bolt the seal it all the way? $1.30 from the dealer.

 

[wolf20043]

That's along the lines of what I was thinking...the only thing I could think of is that if I was filling it too quickly, it could be leaking out a potential spot where the valve cover gasket was inproperly set before it could settle to the bottom of the block...is this possible?

I really wouldnt think so. We put a valve cover on w/out the gasket by mistake one day and the only time it leaked was while the car was running. I would seriously check the oil plug and bottom of the oil pan.
Mike

 

[dlh1999]

I screwed up.

I just found out that the valve cover gasket didn't set right, which caused the leak of oil. Apparently it slipped in the back where I couldn't tell...doh!

Anyway, all is fixed now...thanks for everyone's input.

 

[wolf20043]

I screwed up.

I just found out that the valve cover gasket didn't set right, which caused the leak of oil. Apparently it slipped in the back where I couldn't tell...doh!

Anyway, all is fixed now...thanks for everyone's input.

Good to hear it was an easy fix for ya.
Mike