I have smelled some oil while driving my 93 vtec but I never saw any oil on the ground and I never lost very much oil at all. Now my car has been sitting in the body shop for about 3 weeks and there is some oil on the ground. Where could the oil be leaking from, it seems as it drops onto the header while I am driving. I want to try to fix this myself because im getting a new paint job and have new side skirts on it and I don't want a shop to screw them up with the lift. any ideas? thanks

ps there is 89,000 on the car.

 

first i would get your on a rack or just as best as you can (safely) and jhust look with a flash light. pay attention to oil filter area because thats where most leaks come from.

 

check your oil cooler o-ring. Had the same prob at the begining of winter. A leak you could smell but couldnt see on the ground. It dripped right on the header and burned up. 4 dollar part, fairly easy to change just need a 32mm socket if memory serves me..

 

^^^^^^^ thats probably your issue.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by djbrandonr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">check your oil cooler o-ring. Had the same prob at the begining of winter. A leak you could smell but couldnt see on the ground. It dripped right on the header and burned up. 4 dollar part, fairly easy to change just need a 32mm socket if memory serves me..</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats the hidden leak most of the time

 

thanks ill check it next week when it gets out of the body shop

 

you can buy an oil dye from pepboys that will make you see your leaks easier

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VisPreludeVtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I want to try to fix this myself because im getting a new paint job and have new side skirts on it and I don't want a shop to screw them up with the lift.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Find a shop that knows how to operate a lift?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Greyout &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Find a shop that knows how to operate a lift?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah most shops will be fine with that

 

there are also cam seals/vtec solenoid seal/valve cover gasket that oil can leak through on the back and burn up on the head or drip down the block and onto the header, cam seals suck....

 

Along with what Matt5745767 said, I took my car to CarQuest b/c I had a mystery leak as well. They sprayed off the bottom of the car and engine, put dye in the oil and drove it around for a few minutes. The put it back up on the lift and use a UV light and should be able to see where it's coming from.

In my case it was not very comforting.....rear main was leaking. Hope you have better (and cheaper!) luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Greyout &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Find a shop that knows how to operate a lift?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know, I've just heard horror stories about shops screwing up sideskirts