Help tracking down oil leak

[96Formula6spd]

Hey guys I am in the process of changing out my 1300 mile throw out bearing. Anyways when I was under the car there is a lot of oil on everything. I changed the oil pan gasket when I had the trans out since I thought it was leaking. Anyways there is oil on the transfer case,exhaust, and all over the drivers side firewall. Is there anything on the back of the engine that can leak oil. Also there looks like a lot of grime around the lower timing cover. Does the oil pump have any gaskets? Any ideas where it could be coming from.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Leaks can come from a ton of places on these cars. Check your turbo oil return line - it is one of the most common areas for leaks. Air will blow the oil back onto the exhaust, transfer case, and firewall from this leak. Other leaks tend to throw oil more on the firewall, subframe, and control arms.

To check any gaskets on the front (belt) side of the engine, the timing covers will need to be removed. Under the cover, you will be wise to inspect the camshaft seals, valve cover gasket, the front main seal, front balance shaft seal, oil pump sprocket seal, castle plug seal, and front case gasket.

Also under the timing covers, make certain the leak is not coming from the balance shaft belt tensioner pulley bolt; if sealant is not on that bolt, it can and will cause a big mess. As well, check the timing belt hydraulic tensioner bolts as one of them goes into an oil galley; check the oil filter housing bolts as they have a tendency to leak out. Check the oil filter housing gasket, the oil filter, and all sensors on the oil filter housing. Make sure your drain plug is tight. Recheck the oil pan. Make sure the dipstick tube is not leaking at the block.

Check all your other fluids (brake, clutch, steering, transmission and transfer case) to be certain you aren't mistaking them for engine oil. It could also possibly be the headgasket, but that is not usually the case.

The best way to find the leak is to thoroughly clean off everything covered in oil, put the car in the air, run it, and try to detect the leak. If nothing shows up after the car reaches operating temperatures, take it for a drive around the block and check again. If you still haven't found the leak, check for oil spots under the car after letting it cool. By this time you should be able to notice a leak somewhere. Go from there to correct the issue.

 

[thetech0922]

Leaks can come from a ton of places on these cars. Check your turbo oil return line - it is one of the most common areas for leaks. Air will blow the oil back onto the exhaust, transfer case, and firewall from this leak. Other leaks tend to throw oil more on the firewall, subframe, and control arms.

To check any gaskets on the front (belt) side of the engine, the timing covers will need to be removed. Under the cover, you will be wise to inspect the camshaft seals, valve cover gasket, the front main seal, front balance shaft seal, oil pump sprocket seal, castle plug seal, and front case gasket.

Also under the timing covers, make certain the leak is not coming from the balance shaft belt tensioner pulley bolt; if sealant is not on that bolt, it can and will cause a big mess. As well, check the timing belt hydraulic tensioner bolts as one of them goes into an oil galley; check the oil filter housing bolts as they have a tendency to leak out. Check the oil filter housing gasket, the oil filter, and all sensors on the oil filter housing. Make sure your drain plug is tight. Recheck the oil pan. Make sure the dipstick tube is not leaking at the block.

Check all your other fluids (brake, clutch, steering, transmission and transfer case) to be certain you aren't mistaking them for engine oil. It could also possibly be the headgasket, but that is not usually the case.

The best way to find the leak is to thoroughly clean off everything covered in oil, put the car in the air, run it, and try to detect the leak. If nothing shows up after the car reaches operating temperatures, take it for a drive around the block and check again. If you still haven't found the leak, check for oil spots under the car after letting it cool. By this time you should be able to notice a leak somewhere. Go from there to correct the issue.

Also too after all that u still are not sure what or where the oil is coming from. throughly was the engine or the areas in question again and put a little bit of A/C dye into the oil..not much and and see if u can get a leak detector get kit. Which basicly is a pair of yellow tinted glasses and a UV light or black light. With the glasses on shine it over the areas in question to see if u can see the dye anywhere. Change the seal or tighten the appropriate bolt ..leak fixed

 

[96Formula6spd]

Sounds like fun. It looks like it may be the return line. Will have to check everything over thanksgiving break. The car was supposed to have a balance shaft delete so hopefully that's not the problem.