Pathy Leaking A LOT of oil from somewhere

[strykeone]

And I mean A LOT. It's been doing this for a few weeks and I can't figure out from where. I checked my oil pan, clear of oil, checked my oil levels all good.

 

It looks like way too much to be engine oil. Checked tranny oil a few times and it's good. I'm thinking it is the T-Case? The majority of the oil is on a brace across right underneath my tranny.

 

When I look from the drivers side wheel well it appears as though the oil is leaking where the transmission connects to the engine.

 

The vehicle still drives fine though there is some noise in the front end when going over step like obstacles.

 

Information about the vehicle:

 

1987 3.0l 4x4.

Engine was recently swapped in, less than a year ago (I suspect this has a lot to do with it).

 

I use synthetic engine oil, the mechanic who did the swap told me to do so.

 

Other than that she's running good.

[Filthy Luker]

Most likely it's the rear main seal. Check just how much oil is leaking... If you have to add a bit between regular changes then i'd leave it. Perhaps think of some additives like Lucas Oil or other and check it again. In your place I wouldn't use synthetic at all, use dino.

 

To fix the rear main you have to drop half the suspension, crossmembers and the transmisson. Even then you might be outta luck if the crank is done.

 

It's a common Nissan thing.... Unless it's REALLY bad i would't worry about it.

[88pathoffroad]

Since you don't know what's leaking, at least identify the fluid you're seeing. If it's thick and smells nasty, it's gear oil...auto or manual?

[strykeone]

It is thick where it is on the brace, it doesn't smell at all though. On the ground it doesn't really look like engine oil. But then again I've never seen synthetic after it has leaked out.

 

It is leaking quite a lot. I am due for an oil changed I will switch oils and try an additive.

[strykeone]

Manual, btw

[Slick]

bet yer front diff is leakin

[94extreme]

synthetic is pretty thin. what color is this fluid?

 

have you had to add any fluids? besides the x-memeber there has to be another spot where is't wet.. look harder.

[unccpathfinder]

if u smell it and it makes u gag its gear oil and it could be front diff, tcase, tranny...

 

 

check valve cover gaskets mine was leakin a lot from there and then blowing back on the rest of the underside of the motor

 

 

this was also in my 87...i used to leak on hte driver side back corner towards the fender but when it was leaking right B4 i broke the motor it was the top corner under the dist. and it was leaking a lot like a good silver dollar after 5-10 mins of idling

Edited April 25, 2006 by unccpathfinder

[madhatter_xe]

You should spray the hell out of everything with a pressure washer from underneath and clean the areas surrounding the valve covers.

 

That'll help determine where its coming from.

[Cuong Nguyen]

Most coming sites of leakage.. rear main seal, valve covers, and the passenger side cam seal.

[unccpathfinder]

ohh yea..i forgot the driver side cam seal was leaking as well...

[govols74n]

You should spray the hell out of everything with a pressure washer from underneath and clean the areas surrounding the valve covers.

 

That'll help determine where its coming from.

Madhatter you are a genious!!!! lol cant go wrong with his advise.....clean the oil off and check.......

[strykeone]

Ok I will spray it off in the next week. I switched oils and added a "stop leak". I will see how this affects it. Anything I should worry about hitting with the pressure washer?

 

The poil is very dark black on the ground, spreads out a lot. Looks like it splattered a lot.

 

Checked my front diff, tranny, Tcase, engine oil levels. Engine was a tad low, thought it would be a lot lower.

 

Rear main seal sounds about right here, but time will tell. If it is the rear main seal how much will it cost to fix?

 

Thanks for the responses this is the most helpful forum I've ever been on :bow: .

[Slick]

a rear main seal is about $6 it's the bottle of jack and the case of beer that costs $$$

[94extreme]

If it is the rear main seal how much will it cost to fix?

 

Thanks for the responses this is the most helpful forum I've ever been on :bow: .

this is a big pita man. probably a lot.

 

and thanks glad you're enjoying our forum.

[Precise1]

As said before, you need to clean to get a good idea. What ever it is, it needs fixing.

 

It's a common Nissan thing.... Unless it's REALLY bad i would't worry about it.

 

Don't listen to this person. Only an asshat is ok with their car leaking oils, and they obviously don't ride motorcycles...

 

B

[unccpathfinder]

a rear main seal is about $6 it's the bottle of jack and the case of beer that costs $$$

 

 

well i'd agree with that...and buy/rent a tranny jack do not i repeat do not try and use an engine hoist thru the floor it works great till it gets in a bind then pops up and busts the front glass...

 

then u have to catch a ride to the grocery store for more beer so u forget how stupid u were for not being more careful

 

a shop/dealer would cost a ton on labor but if u can do it ureself i'd recomend doing:

get a new clutch (if it has been a while since 1 was installed)

resurfacing or getting a new flywheel

and theres prob some other stuff that could be done during this whole deal

 

assuming this is manual...i donno what the whole deal is on automatics i'd imagine it would be a lil simplier but maybe not

Edited April 28, 2006 by unccpathfinder

[strykeone]

Honestly I'd probably just pay to get this done. I do have access to all the tools but just for the sake of ease.

 

Clutch and flywheel are relatively new, swapped in engine. I think somebody effed up.

 

It looks like it is leaking more after the stop leak and oil change.

[unccpathfinder]

i mighta missed this...but did u not replace the rear main when u did the whole swap...

 

if not it sounds like ure learning curve is about like mine...very expensive b/c i always do some shortcut or dont think about something and it ends up costing me twice what it should

 

where r u located?

Edited April 28, 2006 by unccpathfinder

[88pathoffroad]

I can't think of any fluids that would be on the transmission crossmember that do not smell at all and look black on the ground.

 

Is your clutch fluid level good? Exhaust hole leaking water out onto the underside and carbon fron the inside of the pipes making it look nasty? Try this, find exactly where it's dripping. Follow it upwards from underneath and ID the part at least. This is high-school shop stuff here, you gotta get under there and eyeball it at least.

[94extreme]

Honestly I'd probably just pay to get this done. I do have access to all the tools but just for the sake of ease.

grab your ankles then.

[unccpathfinder]

Is your clutch fluid level good?

 

i did have that happen before the slave cylinder boot busted so it was shooting brake fluid everywhere until it ran dry and the pedal stuck to the floor...but i would think if its been leaking that much it would have ran out by now but maybe not

[strykeone]

I didn't do the swap myself, so I don't know if the seal was changed or not.

 

I did get under there and it actually looks like the front diff. It is leaking more since the oil was changed, and it doesn't look like fresh oil at all. If it was the front diff would it be blowing back?

 

CLutch level is good yes.

[strykeone]

"Is your clutch fluid level good? Exhaust hole leaking water out onto the underside and carbon fron the inside of the pipes making it look nasty?"

 

Given the evidence this seems quite possible. I mean I can't imagine any part losing so much oil and surviving... would it stain the ground like similiar to oil? Maybe when I sprayed everything some water got up inside and made the problem temporarily worse?

[Slick]

have you cleaned underneath good then watched? that is the ONLY way you are going to be 100% sure.