Losing oil and clutch!

[TuRBoTaLooN]

Looks like I'm starting to run into some problems with my 98 eclipse gs-t.

I noticed driving home last night from Sayreville that my oil pressure gauge (stock, on the cluster) was just a hair below the "safe zone" while driving on the parkway. I thought that was odd since at highway speeds its usually somewhere in the middle.

I also noticed the clutch starting to slip. Flooring it in 3rd and 4th lets it slip out a bit and the RPMs jump up. The weird part is that the previous owner said it was replaced last winter and had a receipt to prove it. It was replaced with an OEM disc I believe. I always thought the clutch wasn't quite right. The pedal feels like I'm pushing down an ACT 2600 PP and the pedal somewhat "sticks" (in lack of a better word) in the area where in disengages when I let it out.

So I changed the oil on the it today as it was like 400 miles until it was due. I put Mobil1 10w30 in it exactly 2600 miles ago when I first got it. The oil that came out today was black as sh*t and looks like it was AT LEAST a quart short, if not 1.5 quarts! I mean the oil was really low. So I filled it back up with Mobil1 10w30 and a new filter. It drives fine, but the oil pressure gauges reads just over the "safe zone" line even under hard acceleration on the highway.

Other notes: Stock everything. 140k miles on motor and trans. New clutch last winter (oem). Only mods are air filter, 1g bov, wheels and suspension.

I just wanted to get some thoughts......

 

[Red97Eclipseboy]

Looks like I'm starting to run into some problems with my 98 eclipse gs-t.

I noticed driving home last night from Sayreville that my oil pressure gauge (stock, on the cluster) was just a hair below the "safe zone" while driving on the parkway. I thought that was odd since at highway speeds its usually somewhere in the middle.

I also noticed the clutch starting to slip. Flooring it in 3rd and 4th lets it slip out a bit and the RPMs jump up. The weird part is that the previous owner said it was replaced last winter and had a receipt to prove it. It was replaced with an OEM disc I believe. I always thought the clutch wasn't quite right. The pedal feels like I'm pushing down an ACT 2600 PP and the pedal somewhat "sticks" (in lack of a better word) in the area where in disengages when I let it out.

So I changed the oil on the it today as it was like 400 miles until it was due. I put Mobil1 10w30 in it exactly 2600 miles ago when I first got it. The oil that came out today was black as sh*t and looks like it was AT LEAST a quart short, if not 1.5 quarts! I mean the oil was really low. So I filled it back up with Mobil1 10w30 and a new filter. It drives fine, but the oil pressure gauges reads just over the "safe zone" line even under hard acceleration on the highway.

Other notes: Stock everything. 140k miles on motor and trans. New clutch last winter (oem). Only mods are air filter, 1g bov, wheels and suspension.

I just wanted to get some thoughts......

The clutch sounds like it's out of adjustment. Use the Jack's Transmission method. It's on YouTube. Basically, turn the master-rod clock-wise until you can't push the slave-cylinder itself, then back it off a full turn. Also back the free-play adjuster out all the way so you have as much free-play as possible.

Sometimes, running low on oil can cause a drop in pressure. Which you sort of figured out yourself in your post. Also, I'm sure you know the stock gauge isn't accurate. Get an aftermarket and tap it off the oil-filter housing and you'll truly know. And you have a 140k, it's not umcommon for a turbo-car to burn a quart over 3000 miles.

 

[96eclipzGsT]

Clutch pedal sticking is signs of crankwalk. Hows your rebuild skills.

 

[TuRBoTaLooN]

Clutch pedal sticking is signs of crankwalk. Hows your rebuild skills.

Haha, just dropped a freshly built 6 bolt in my 95 Talon....

Anyway I dont think it's crankwalk, I think its more like a pedal adjustment. The 98 7 bolt blocks had different thrust bearings and oil squirters and RARELY walk. Plus if it was gonna walk, it would have done it by now. It's the 95-96 7 bolts that tend to walk.

I can try adjusting the pedal and see how that goes. I just cant figure out why the clutch would be slipping in less than a year?? Its almost completely stock and NEVER beat on or raced. WTF??

 

[Red97Eclipseboy]

Clutch pedal sticking is signs of crankwalk. Hows your rebuild skills.

Actually, the clutch pedal falls to the floor after a left turn. But way to jump on the crankwalk wagon.

 

[nuclearr]

Are you leaking oil? I ask because if you blew the rear main seal you will get oil on the clutch and it can cause some slippage. It will leak between the trans and the block just so you know.

 

[TuRBoTaLooN]

Are you leaking oil? I ask because if you blew the rear main seal you will get oil on the clutch and it can cause some slippage. It will leak between the trans and the block just so you know.

Yea, someone else mentioned this idea to me. The only thing is that I haven't seen any oil dripping. It's parked in my driveway and there are no oil spots in the driveway.

 

[TuRBoTaLooN]

Well compression test came back 170-170-170-170 (+- 2psi)....

Leads me towards the leaking rear main seal theory. I just can't understand why I wouldn't see it??