sgtschlang Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Looking for any tips to help me narrow down a nagging oil leak. Actually the car hardly leaks at all but I get a bad oil burning smell in traffic or at a stop light if I have the climate control set on incoming air. Also after driving the car and parking it the smell can obviously be detected from under the hood. When I first bought the car about 6 months ago it was leaking like a pig. I have replaced the following as detailed below and it is frustrating that I still get the stink. I can visually see no smoke coming of the engine. Both v-cover gaskets and bolt grommets: Did this myself using quality Fel-Pro gaskets. Dealer in my area wanted $550 just to replace the gaskets. Oil filter adapter O-ring: Did this myself for $3 (dealer wanted $135) and this stopped a major leak that was coating the entire oil pan. Oil was blowing onto the exhaust and I thought that this would stop the issue as the pan is now dry. Distributor O-ring: Did this myself for $3 (dealer wanted $135) and this stopped a good leak as well. After replacing the old gaskets / O-rings I pressure washed the engine to ensure my repairs stopped the visual leaks. I have been under the car since and can visually see that the 'rear' right v-cover is sealing and dry. All other areas appear dry. The only other thing I can think of is the transmission. Car is a 5-speed and the trans barely leaks (weeps) and maybe this is blowing back onto the exhaust? The exhaust overall appears dry. Maybe there is another common gasket/ O-ring that I am missing? Any comments / advice appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vcv10guy Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 was replacing the oil O ring and distributor O ring hard to do? how long did it take to replace the valve cover gaskets? I ask because my ES needs to have those things replaced and i'm hoping the O rings aren't hard to do myself. thanks and good luck with solving that problem because i have that oil smell problem too (most likely because of the fore mentioned). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtschlang Posted November 1, 2004 Author Share Posted November 1, 2004 was replacing the oil O ring and distributor O ring hard to do? how long did it take to replace the valve cover gaskets? I ask because my ES needs to have those things replaced and i'm hoping the O rings aren't hard to do myself. thanks and good luck with solving that problem because i have that oil smell problem too (most likely because of the fore mentioned). ← The dist. o-ring was a snap just make sure you mark the dist for repositioning. The oil filter adapter o-ring was tricky becasue the ex pipe is right in front of it. The v-cover up front was a snap and the rear one requires the removal of the plenum and that took me about 5 hours total as it was my 1st time and I was in no rush and wanted to do it just once. Also did the timing belt, idler and tensioner bearings and water pump myself with quality parts for about $175. Now it's time for brakes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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