Oil everywhere, any ideas?

[turbohappy]

I just got towed home (108 miles!) and haven't had a chance to get it cleaned up and do a proper diagnosis but I was just curious if anyone had guesses or where to start. I have a 97 GS-T with 103k. I was on the Interstate, had been going 90mph for about an hour and a half. I started hearing a rattling sound when I would give it gas. Sounded kind of like just the exhaust vibrating against something, but I decided to pull over and make sure. I was in the left lane (no room) of 3 and there was some traffic so it took me a minute or so to get into the right lane. As I'm pulling over my oil pressure light kind of flickered and the oil pressure was dropping so I switched it off. I go and open the hood and smoke billows out (even though no evidence of smoke before right then). The engine bay, the underside of the car, and the rear bumper are all covered in oil! There was so much oil it was hard to tell, but it seemed to be coming from either the headgasket or the turbo...or maybe not. I'm going to get it cleaned up in the next couple days and see if I can figure out exactly where it's coming from. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm hoping that the oil loss hasn't done damage to bearings, etc, but I doubt I'm that lucky.

 

[Lucky13]

Do you still have your balance shafts? I'd check your oil lines to your turbo, then check all your belts. Make sure your not leaking from that side.

 

[turbohappy]

Yep, still have balance shafts. I was going to remove them when I do the timing belt at 120kish. Thanks for the suggestions on what to look for...

 

[dope96clipse]

yes def. check the oilines to the turbo, i had the oil return line come loose on my car an a similar thing happened, i still havent gotten all the oil off the under carriage tho.

 

[UNDR PSI]

Kind of obvisous, but is your oil filter/cooler still there. Those things are prone to backing off. Obvious, but still a possibility.

 

[BUCK]

From personal experience my guess is the Stock Aluminum Water to Oil Cooler compressed & let the Oil Filter Gasket spit out - Only Run Mitsu Oil Filters with those POS's - the Mitsu Oil Filter has a T shaped Gasket that hangs in there better than the flat gasket found on most all other Filters. You'll have Oil all the way to rear Bumper when they go...

 

[Mike1992]

Bad oil cap gasket or a popping out dipstick are some things to look at

 

[turbohappy]

Well, I poked at it a little bit today. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time but here's what I found out. First of all, the filter/cooler are fine. There isn't oil over on that side of the engine at all, it's all over on the tranny side. The oil cap is fine and so was the dipstick. The tranny is covered in oil, so is the passenger side of the block. There is some oil on the turbo. Definitely didn't leak from the oil return line, but I'm not 100% yet on the feed line. Kind of hard to get in there and look at it. I filled it up with oil (took almost 4 quarts) and had a friend start it up with it on jackstands while I looked. Noisy for a second and then the oil got everything lubricated and it sounded normal!!!! So I'm feeling pretty lucky at this point, but there's no oil leaking anywhere (at least noticeably). So it seems to be something leaking bad under lots of oil pressure but not under a little. Tomorrow I plan on hosing it all down to get the oil out of the engine bay and then driving it around the block. Pull it in and see where the oil is and get a better idea of what to check out. Thanks for all the speculation!

 

[BUCK]

On that side I would think it kinda has to be the Turbo Oil Supply / Return Lines. 4 Quarts is damn low - I would expect something to be "wounded" - I hope I'm wrong but it could spin a Rod Bearing any minute.

 

[turbohappy]

On that side I would think it kinda has to be the Turbo Oil Supply / Return Lines. 4 Quarts is damn low - I would expect something to be "wounded" - I hope I'm wrong but it could spin a Rod Bearing any minute.

That's what I was expecting after I filled it up, but it sounds really normal now. I think I may have gotten really lucky, but I guess it remains to be seen. I won't be that upset if the turbo's fried (good reason to upgrade ) but I don't really feel like replacing the engine or even replacing bearings right now.

 

[BUCK]

I'd damn sure put a new Mitsu Oil Filter & some 20w50 Synthetic in it NOW.

 

[UNDR PSI]

oil dye

 

[turbohappy]

What will oil dye do?

 

[turbohappy]

Okay, I'm pretty sure I found it. Oil seems to be leaking out of the front passenger corner of the head gasket. Does this make sense? Just figured I'd make sure before I pull it apart that it's the problem.

 

[g0tEclipseD]

u mean valve cover gasket?

 

[turbohappy]

u mean valve cover gasket?

No, head gasket. Which seems weird since I'm not leaking coolant.

 

[turbohappy]

There is an oil passage in that corner, but it seems very strange that it would just tear in the corner and not near the cylinder.

 

[philipkrotch]

are u missing any exhaust manifold studs? some actually, for some reason, run into oil passages. if u are missing one that happens to run into one, then this may be your problem. also, what kind of head gasket do you have?

 

[turbohappy]

are u missing any exhaust manifold studs? some actually, for some reason, run into oil passages. if u are missing one that happens to run into one, then this may be your problem. also, what kind of head gasket do you have?

Nope, not missing any of the studs. I have a stock 103k mile head gasket AFAIK (but I've only had it since 81k so I can't be 100% sure - it was unmodified when I got it).

 

[philipkrotch]

check the cam seals then, i replaced every damn gasket on the top end and on the drivers side of the motor, it endd up being the cam seals

 

[turbohappy]

I cleaned the engine up so there was no oil left. Let it dry, then drove around the block. No oil at all on the head, the block has oil running down the side of it and onto the tranny from that corner.

Wouldn't there be oil on the head if it was cam seals?

 

[UNDR PSI]

ahhh.......check on the passanger side of the head........right by the intake cam.......there will be a little oil plug....if that shook loose that is your prob. I had the exact same thing happen to me....running down to the tranny.....turned out to be a pea size plug on the head right under where the 1g CAS go. Tightened up and prob fixed.

 

[turbohappy]

ahhh.......check on the passanger side of the head........right by the intake cam.......there will be a little oil plug....if that shook loose that is your prob. I had the exact same thing happen to me....running down to the tranny.....turned out to be a pea size plug on the head right under where the 1g CAS go. Tightened up and prob fixed.

Unfortunately all the plugs on that side are in and tight and there is no oil there. There isn't any oil at all on the head. I wish it would have been that though!

 

[UNDR PSI]

alright sounds like an external headgasket leak.....oil isnt getting in the cylinders, but it is leaking out the side...........get some oil dye......i posted for you to get some before....that shit works wonders....put it kin, run the motor....and you will see the dye, therefor finding your oil leak.

 

[turbohappy]

Thanks. Looks like it's figured out, now I just have to get time to fix it I'll post back when it's fixed.