Oil Leak(s)

[DKneble]

I realize this is a topic that has been over and over again and there are over a thousand threads dealing with it but I am actually finding it a little difficult to search through them all to find a case that sounds exactly like mine which has a resolution posted. I've read 30 or so threads after skimming a couple hundred and I believe I have pieced this all together properly but was hoping for some confirmation of sorts.

After doing some overhaul work(replacing gaskets) the car (6 bolt btw) was running great for a week or so with no oil leaks. Then after some romping on it on I95 and holding 20psi or so for close to ten minutes straight (hauling butt to catch a train) and coming home I noticed the oil on the garage floor. Probably a couple tablespoons of it after sitting overnite.

Took a look underneath and there was a good amount of oil sprayed everywhere so I'm guessing this happened during that stint of high boost and high rpm. The source seems to be around the oil filter housing or above it a little but very hard to tell. However, there is no oil on the timing belt. Also, my oil pressure guage stays within the norm for the stock guage but I realize I need to get a "readable" one asap to check it.

What I have concluded is that chances are the oil pump is not leaking since there is no oil on the belt or cover. I'm guessing that its either coming from the filter housing-motor gasket, the filter-filter housing, or the pressure sending unit. The oil is pretty much all on the drivers side and I just redid the oil pan seal so I was hoping thats not it but it probably wouldnt hurt to do it again.

Is this a pretty reasonable conclusion or should I still be worrying about the pump? Or front cover? (which is my worst nightmare)

Thanks

Dave

 

[luv2rallye]

If you go to the auto parts store you can get some dye to put in the oil and you should be able to track that leak down in minutes using a blacklight.

 

[ROOKIE1]

Second that ^^^^ . I would also go ahead and relace the sending units (2) gauge and light . May also want to check that the seal on the filter itself is making good contact . Check the oil return line on the turbo as well . The stock ones tend to crack at the flex section .

 

[DKneble]

yea, I have used the dye before but with little success unfortunately. The oil filter housing is a custom unit that showdown motorsports uses in their race motors so that makes pinpointing this leak even more of a challenge since its not a common setup. I know the turbo drain tube leaks a little (its pushlok style but the one flange is warped (I don't know how) so I have the parts for a SS line coming tomorrow. I'm also going to make sure the oil pan flange is perfectly flat and redo that gasket. Anyone know how much the oil pressure sending unit costs?

Dave

 

[turbosax2]

MD133273 - Engine oil pressure sending unit - $35.22
MD138993 - Engine oil pressure switch - $14.76

OEM Mitsubishi Parts

 

[DKneble]

Ok, well I replaced the oil drain from the turbo with a -10 ss line, put on a new sending unit and OEM filter. I also re-did the oil pan seal with some ultra grey. I pulled off the lower timing cover and this is what I can see...

The outside of the lower timing cover is pretty well soaked in oil and grime (hasn't been cleaned in months if not years tho). The inside is not horrible but it has what looks like a spray on it and you can see where it looks like the oil got on the timing belt and that flung it around inside the cover (black following the same path as the belt). There was never enough oil on the belt to make it to the top of the motor where it was visible to me before. But this oil could have come from a source outside the lower cover and got flung around inside...or so I'm hoping.

Basically I can't tell if there are any leaks around the front cover or not...ugh. The majority of the oil residue is around the oil filter housing and was on the bottom of the pan. I could see it being possible that a leak at the filter or even drain tube could spray some oil on the crank pulley area and eventually work its way up under the cover while driving and settle there. My one observation that I would think supports this is that there is no oil right under the crank at the lowest point behind the lower timing cover which is where I would expect to find the most oil if there was a leak inside...what do you guys think? Seen this before? Thanks

 

[79magnumgt]

i have a 90 6 bolt that does the same thing after boosting it high check the oil dip stick mine seems to pop out and spray oil every where

 

[DKneble]

It's not the dipstick, no oil in that area. Fixed the turbo oil drain that was leaking but I still have a leak on the drivers side of the engine. I guess its gotta be the front cover or crank seal. Just gonna keep an eye on it for now. I don't need a t-belt job for at least another 20k miles and I'd like to get as close to that point as possible before having to yank it all.

Dave

 

[Ravenous]

That looks very much like my oil leak. In the 4-5 years I've had this car, I have not been able to get rid of the oil leaks. I know the oil drain leaks. Also something is leaking on my oil pressure sender (causing it not to read, a little brake cleaner now and again and all is clear). I also appear to have a leak on the front case somewhere, it is driving me nuts. Last time I thought it was the cam seals but I replaced those and all the seals when I rebuilt the motor. I may just replace the whole front case and do the Kevlar timing belt at the same time. Good luck, maybe I'll be able to figure out my problem with what you find.

 

[1990telawd]

you could give changing the pcv valve a whirl, you say that only under high boost it leaks, if your not venting properly backpressure could be causing the issue, i know it sounds weird but i have had the prob before.