Hello group. I just bought a 1987 sedan, d15a2 motor, auto. The car has only 34,000 original miles, from the original owner, very little rust, faded paint. The problem i am having is there is an oil leak underneath. You can smell smoke when stopping at a stop sign. It is dripping oil slightly on the exhaust downpipe. The pipe looks slightly oil soaked as if the leak has been there maybe for a while. Valve cover gasket and dist don't seems to be leaking. I didn't put the car up on the ramps and jackstands yet but from what i have read here, the oil pan gasket seems the most likely cause. Hopefully it is just the drain plug off oil filter loose. The question i have is can i change this pan gasket without removing the downpipe? I can almost bet the bolts are very rusted and i dont want to snap any off. I'm going to buy a new torque wrench later today as the only one i have is rather old. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

I have the same leak on my beater. Any news on it ?

 

Yup, i crawled underneath. The pan itself is rusted through, i guess the car wasn't driven enough and the rock salt in the winter ate it away. I have it going to the dealer for repairs, $ 340.00 approx. Save me the trouble of dealing with rusty exhaust bolts.