I was alerted to an oil leak that I cannot localize. I cleaned every surface of every seal, confirmed no leakage from any seal around the motor...yet I'm getting oil spots on the ground?! Weirder still, the oil level hasn't moved one bit since the last change. 72k on the clock and this thing is starting to leak oil? This is NOT something I'm okay with.

Someone, anyone help me out? I have a 2.4 with the Getrag 5 speed. Anything, ANYWHERE I might have missed? I checked the headgasket, main seal, pan....hell, I even checked the bolts going into the block connecting the transmisson and still found a drop of oil on the garage floor...

At 72k this shouldn't be happening...as much as I love this thing, if I can't localize the leak and stop it, I'm going to be forced to offload this thing.

Don't want to do it, I love my Zombie Van, but I commute 60 miles a day, and I can't afford to be putting this thing in for major work. I may be forced to go back to a Ford Taurus.

Someone, anyone...HELP!

 

How long ago was your oil change? Because if the service tech was sloppy, it could be just dripping from what he did?

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Just before the end of fall. As I said though, I cleaned every surface with parts cleaner, and monitored the thing for an hour or more after the engine bay was cleaned...nothing until after I moved the car. I'm wondering if it's an intermittently failing seal.

 

and we are sure its an OIL leak?.. not something else? if it is, it may be something very minor...not worth getting rid of the car for imo

 

Everything else checks out tip top. Let me be clear, I DO NOT want to get rid of this car. I put custom work into it, and I planned on keeping it even after I bought my next car.

 

My suggestion, take it for a drive, and bring it back and watch it then. When it's cold, the parts tend to contract/shrink and can make it hard to find a leak. Wait for the vehicle to come up to temp and drive it past for another 5-10 min to make sure, then park it. Clean quickly, and watch.

 

quote: "I was alerted to an oil leak that I cannot localize. I cleaned every surface of every seal, confirmed no leakage from any seal around the motor."

Well obviously you missed something. Go back and check it again. If you have a drip, then it's gotta be coming from somewhere.
You didn't state the location of the leak. Front, back, left or right side. Kind of hard to tell you what to look for without some more detail.

 

Yup. Need more info. Also check the backside of the motor. Closest to firewall. Mine leaked from there n took me forever to find out it was the valve cover at 68k miles

 

You may try something I was shown years ago by an old mechanic. It will be a little messy but you are going to have to clean oil off anyway.

Take some spray powder that is white, something like athletes foot spray, and spray it on the area where you think the oil is leaking from. When it starts to leak it will leave a trail and be much easier to follow.

Hope this helps.

 

I would clean all the oil off, add dye and whip out the black light to see where it is coming from. You probably don't have either, so call some reputable shops and see if they do and what they charge to do this. We charge $50.