oil leak on my poor little fiero...

[Spartanzz]

OK so as we found out at the meet my oil cap doesn't seal so going to try and get a big oring and see if it seals if not gatta call fiero store about...but I also believe me oil pan gasket is leaking so gunna see how much it will be tomorrow any suggestion for locations to look for an oil leak. Oh and we saw the oil light come on in a turn and checked the oil dipstick and it didn't have anything on it...so got some oil at Walmart and put it in for now.

[Fierofool]

.................................. Oh and we saw the oil light come on in a turn and checked the oil dipstick and it didn't have anything on it...so got some oil at Walmart and put it in for now.

That ain't good.  Gotta keep it checked and up to level.  After the car has set for a while, recheck the oil level and bring it up to the full mark.  Leaking oil caps are common, just because of the age of the O-ring.  In most cases, an occasional wipe with a cloth will keep the valve cover clean.  When you go underneath to check the leak on the pan, determine the area it's coming from.  If it's coming from the rear of the engine around the flywheel, it may not be the pan gasket.  A common leak in that area is the cam plate which is located up behind the flywheel.  Also, look on top of the transmission, just to the driver's side of the distributor.  If you see a puddle on top of the transmission, that would likely be the distributor O-ring.  That leak can sometimes run down around the back of the pan area, too. 

[Spartanzz]

well i dont know if you saw but the oil cap i have i ordered straight from fiero store...but some of the guys at the meet said to get a big oring and see if it helps seals it cuz it is leaking through there for sure. Also once i have time im going to try and get under the car with a good flashlight and a small mirror to see if i can pinpoint the leak but looking from the top i dont see any oil there or anywhere near the distributor after we actually put an oring in there. I think it is the oil pan gasket cuz when i was under the car putting the alternator on i did get some oil dripped on my head from the center of the oil pan. And you could also see drops forming on the pan itself.

[Donster]

Hope you get as good a seal on your oil leak as you did on Shanine's car last night! Dry as a bone and plug wires are replaced also. Good show finding that issue! Runs good again. Thanks for your help yesterday evening, much appreciated!

\D

[Spartanzz]

Hope you get as good a seal on your oil leak as you did on Shanine's car last night! Dry as a bone and plug wires are replaced also. Good show finding that issue! Runs good again. Thanks for your help yesterday evening, much appreciated!

\D

Yeah man not a problem really enjoyed being over so thx for the hospitality and the motors! And I jacked the car up slid under and found oil residue running all down the back of the oil pan. Also a thinner fluid on the bottom of the tyranny which I assume is the tans fluid leaking. But the oil pan looks to be held down with something orange...which confuses me cuz that's not the color of what the gasket should be. And I got a mirror up there and saw on the back of the pan where it contacts the block that orange stuff covered in oil residue so there's the oil leak! Only catch is I have the gasket ready to go but I don't have any money to get the oil or a new filter cuz I might as well change the oil while I'm down there...guess ill be waiting about two weeks till I can do it lol

P.s. Charlie, Don gave me a couple rebuilt motors for my headlights so once I swap them in ill get with you on returning the one you lent me. Thanks a ton for doing that btw

[TheMac]

The orange stuff you're seeing is probably some RTV that someone has used instead of an oil pan gasket. It doesn't usually leak though if the pan was installed correctly, are you sure the leak isn't from farther up on the block and running down to the pan and dripping off?

[Spartanzz]

im not 100% sure to be honest i would like to get a second opinion if someone can...i put a new set of valve cover gaskets on so im sure it cant be coming from there so where else is could it come from and run down the back of the engine?

[Fierofool]

You can slide underneath and stick your camera phone up in there and take some pictures to see where the leak originates.  Also, reach over the top of the engine and run your fingers along the sealing surface of the valve cover.  Are you sure you got the rebreather tube on the rear valve cover properly installed?  Next could be the oil filter.  If you changed it, sometimes the gasket from the old filter stays on the block. 

[TheMac]

An old tried and true method to find an oil leak when the engine is already oil soaked. Get some baby powder or white flour and get under the car and throw some handfuls in the area where its leaking. Drive the car a few miles and get under and look again. All of the areas that aren't leaking will still have the flour residue on it. Where the oil is leaking and running down won't still have the powder sticking to it and will show the fresh oil. Sounds crazy but I used it once back in the late 80's at a Chevrolet dealer when our oil dye lamp was out of commission and found a stubborn leak on an S10. One of the old timers told me about it.

[Spartanzz]

You can slide underneath and stick your camera phone up in there and take some pictures to see where the leak originates.  Also, reach over the top of the engine and run your fingers along the sealing surface of the valve cover.  Are you sure you got the rebreather tube on the rear valve cover properly installed?  Next could be the oil filter.  If you changed it, sometimes the gasket from the old filter stays on the block.

Well ill check the valve cover out tonight when i get home. And if i have another time during the day im home then ill get under it and try to take some pictures. I could be the filter cuz we had someone else change the oil this time which i personally dont like doing rather do it myself so i know its done right. I also found my thermostat housing is leaking again will probably have to take it off and seal it back again...or get another lower intake cuz the bolt holes for the thermostat are kinda blah since i had to put helocoils in them cuz they got stripped out...

[Donster]

An old tried and true method to find an oil leak when the engine is already oil soaked. Get some baby powder or white flour and get under the car and throw some handfuls in the area where its leaking. Drive the car a few miles and get under and look again. All of the areas that aren't leaking will still have the flour residue on it. Where the oil is leaking and running down won't still have the powder sticking to it and will show the fresh oil. Sounds crazy but I used it once back in the late 80's at a Chevrolet dealer when our oil dye lamp was out of commission and found a stubborn leak on an S10. One of the old timers told me about it.

That's an awesome method, thnx for sharing

\D