Oil Leak

[MichaelJones]

I've got a '76 Midget that has always dripped oil during the four years that I've owned it. I check and change the oil regularly and have had no problems, until this past weekend. I drove the car about three miles across town to a soccer game with my son and then upon returning to the house, noticed a trail of oil...out of the garage and then back in. Oil is near empty now...did I have a seal or a gasket go, or is this something more serious? I have not yet refilled the oil for fear of having it pool on the garage floor. Thanks for your advice and direction. I do have a mechanic who can pick the car up and transport it for repairs.

 

[jlaird]

Why not look under the car and see where is is leaking from.

 

[Gray_Cat]

Check and tighten the easy stuff first; oil filter, oil lines and oil cooler if you have one. Based on your description it appears something loosened up in a hurry so check all that stuff first.
Roy

 

[Guest]

Mike, please bare with what I'm about to say, and please don't take any offense.
(as none is meant in any such way)

The question you just asked is the same as calling the doctor and telling him your arm hurts, and then asking him why.

If you don't have the desire to investigate the cause yourself, that's o.k. Call the afformentioned mechanic.

Owning one of these things bring on the responsibility of due dillegence in maintenece, diagnostic and repair work. You don't have to know how to do anyhting, you do, however; need to be willing to get alittle dirty and do some grunt work. We will be more than happy to walk/talk you through it. You don't have to know squat.

You may not want to do anything like that, and that's o.k. Once again, call the tech and have him do it. He'll love you for not wanting to get involved in any aspect of keeping this thing going, and you will probably put at least one of his children through college. Sooner or later this thing is gonna leave you somewhere you don't want to be, and you'll have to have some willingness to go at it, or AAA.

If none of this sounds appealing, sell the Midget and buy a Miata.

To answer your earlier question, yes, all of the above.

Put on some old clothes and see if you can narrow down where it might be comming from. Remember, oil flows down and back, not up and forward, so always look above and forward where you see oil till you get to the right spot. Let us know what you find.

 

[HAN8L1965]

I must say you are getting quite diplomatic over time, always enjoy your replies. Are you possibly running for some sort of public office and practicing replies here?

Mark

 

[Guest]

I must say you are getting quite diplomatic over time, always enjoy your replies. Are you possibly running for some sort of public office and practicing replies here?

Mark

. :lol:

Everytime I say something direct and to the point, folks that don't know me well ~ALWAYS~ take it the wrong way. It happens far too often for my tastes. (actually, I'd rather it not happen at all.) And when it comes to someone with a few posts that appears to have little mechanical background, the last thing I want to do is chance offending or running them off. I don't want to alienate anyone.

So, I have decided to open with disclaimers. Although it just doesn't feel right.

 

[JPSmit]

Michael, there is quite a lot you can learn from looking under the car.

1. Is the trail of oil under the centre of the car. If so, could be as simple as oil plug or as complicated as a rear seal.

2. Is the trail off to one side or are there two trails. Is so could be poorly sealed oil pan or the front of the engine - there are two little seals where the front bearing keeper attaches or even the valve cover not being tightened enough (don't ask how I know)

One possible idea would be to refill the oil, don't worry about the filter now, go to a self serve car wash clean the engine well especially underneath and drive home, jack it up and see what you see.

As Kellysguy mentioned with remarkable (for him tact, the more you can do yourself the more you will love this hobby. They really are easy and we are here to help

 

[Guest]

go to a self serve car wash clean the engine well especially underneath and drive home, jack it up and see what you see.

lp

I wouldn't be so quick to do that in this case JP. If he has a good solid trail, it might be a leaking sending unit or oil filter. (read low/no oil pressure.) and you know how 1500's can be. Some purple power or yellow easy off will do in the driveway. ( don't breath the easy off fumes and the stuff eats paint BAD so be careful, purple power too.)

I 'd have to say fill it back up, see if it leaks w/o running, if not, then crank and let idle and keep an eye out. Worse thing is be out of a few quarts of oil, not rod and mains (thrust too.)

 

[JPSmit]

good call, thanks for catching that

 

[MichaelJones]

Haven't had a chance to crawl under the car and get dirty...was just hoping to get a sense of what the problem might be before I start exploring. I've owned the car for four years and have done everything myself with only the aid of a Haynes manual...and I have no experience working on cars. When you preface a comment with "please don't take offense" you're likely to offend. It's no wonder regular folks steer away from this hobby. Buy a Miata, please. Thanks to all who've given me good advice on what to be looking for.

 

[livinginthepast]

I can't help you with the oil leak, but whenever I hear a story like this, I can't help but retell the story of my friend's '67 Cougar.

Back in the early 80s, Jim drove that old green Cougar everywhere. To work, over Snoqualmie Pass to do his gold panning near Cle Elum, overnight jaunts to Leavenworth (where I remember very cold December evenings sleeping in that thing with the accompanying and inevitable morning runs to Krystal's to drink copious amounts of coffee). And everywhere he went, Jim carried coffee cans. I remember hearing those dirty tin monstrosities clanking around in the trunk like it were yesterday. Off to the store we would go and when we parked, out came a coffee can which he carefully and methodically placed under the engine.

With the predictability of the sunrise, when we returned from store, Jim would execute the following ritual: open the hood of the car, remove the oil fill cap, pull the coffee can from under the car and pour about half a quart of oil back into the engine. He would wait patiently for nearly every drop to leave the can and then screw the oil cap back. Then, with lordly patience and a stately demeanor, he would close the hood, walk proudly to the back of the car, as if he had done the work of mother teresa and return the oily can to its dark trunk abode, wiping his hands on the rags that shared the space. Finally, it was back to the driver's seat and off we would go.

He still has that car and I don't think that oil leak got fixed until sometime in the late 90s.

It's odd little things like this that I remember about my life

Good luck with your car!

 

[jlaird]

Only those that are not really little car folks take offence here.

We are all, said and done, one band of brothers and an occusional sister, in this crazy adventure with the little marvels.

We have all made our share, and in some cases more so, of goof ups. But we admit it so other may learn and enjoy a laugh.

My latest is a misplaced ball bearing in the tranny so I have no 4th gear, sigh.
Engine out for 7th time, I will get it right some day.


Anyway back to the subject, on offence given no offence taken. Have a great day all.

 

[livinginthepast]

<snip> Remember, oil flows down and back, not up and forward, so always look above and forward where you see oil till you get to the right spot. Let us know what you find.

My oil leak flows down and forward (apparently coming from the back of the engine, down the back side of the oil pan and then center/forward along the bottom of the oil pan where it then forms beads of oil a few inches from the front of the pan drip, drip, dripping away the day). Leave it to me to own a cranky, non-conformist Sprite! ;-)

 

[Guest]

"please don't take offense" you're likely to offend. It's no wonder regular folks steer away from this hobby. Buy a Miata, please. Thanks to all who've given me good advice on what to be looking for.

See, no matter what I do....

You're not serious are you?

O.k, we'll start over. I'll be Tom or Larry, and you be the caller.

Based on your decription, I would say there has been a car in your driveway that is leaking oil. Since you say you own a Midget low on engine oil, I would suspect it is that vehicle. It is my professioanl opinion as a thrid generation ASE certified Master Tech and parts specialist, that you have a bad leak from your engine, BUT; being it's a Spridget, it's a good bet you have oils leaking from everywhere else on the car too.

Something leaking oil that quickly, I would suspect it might be from a source under pressure, OR a serious breach in oil retension capabilities of the: oil pan, engine block, valve cover or possibly a paper gasket has finally had enough. It could be a seal too that has cracked, ALTHOUGH; one of your cam oil galley plugs may have come loose or the oil sendnig unit has given in. Perhaps you may have run over some debris and punctured the oil pan. OR, God forbid, giving that this is a 1500 that has been run low on oil, maybe a rod has finally installed that much needed ventilation in the side of the block.

I would start by looking in the general area of the engine. I would start in the area that's the wettest. It might be hard to tell from the amount of oil that's leaked exactly where it came from. You could wipe it down, and then cover the suspected area with flour. Run the car for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, and when the flour has abtained a dark brown color, then add you vegtables (okra too, this is crucial) and keep stirring. After a few more minutes, then add your seafood, save the oysters for the last five minutes

..... no, seriously, clean the area as best you can. Look for obvious areas of concern in the oil pan area. If none exist, fill with oil and check again. If eveything seems ok, and you'r getting hungry, go ahead and start the car and look for leaks. Call me when the gumbo is done.

And on the Miata.....

If you'r looking for a fun car that doesn't require frequent repair, ~THESE~ things DEFINATLY aint it !!!!!!

Thank you for tuning in to Car Talk! This broadcast is supported in part, by viewers like you....

 

[jlaird]

Does it leak when the engine is off or is it only when the engine is on then drips down.

As previously mentioned clean it up and see if you still have leak after a few houes. If not, start the engine for a few min and shut off then check in an hour.

 

[bigjones]

Oil is near empty now...

Is the oil level at the lower mark on the dipstick or do you mean the oil level does not even show up on the dipstick?

 

[Guest]

Does it leak when the engine is off or is it only when the engine is on then drips down.

As previously mentioned clean it up and see if you still have leak after a few houes. If not, start the engine for a few min and shut off then check in an hour.

If it's a trail to and fro, I don't think it's a static leak.

Don't forget to stir or it'll burn.

 

[Guest]

When you preface a comment with "please don't take offense" you're likely to offend. It's no wonder regular folks steer away from this hobby..

Once aagin it's all my fault as I'm cleary the cause for the mass exodus from the LBC world.

I guess that means more cars for us die hards.

 

[sparkydave]

A '76 still has the mechanical oil pressure gauge, with the fitting down at the base of the distributor mount. Check the fitting there (don't overtighten), and eyeball the rubber hose connecting that fitting to the solid line leading up to the dash.

Not that this is the problem, but keep in mind there's another piece of hose next to the gauge that connects it to the oil pressure line. A split in that hose means a shower of hot oil onto the driver's knees that will get your attention in a hurry. :wink:

 

[198686d]

This is one of the best "conversations" I've read. Really give and take...and honesty...and actually quite humorous.
Keep it up!

dave in University City, MO

61 AH BugEye Sprite
04 Mini CooperS
05 Vespa ET4
68 BSA 441 Shooting Star