Oil leak...
 

I have an oil leak somewhere on the front of the engine. It is not leaving any puddles in the garage but it is slinging oil onto the accessory drive belt and alternator. Most of the oil is concentrated on the alternator fan blades. Anyone have similar problem? What corrected the problem? I have already purchased a front main seal but the crank pulley and dampner do not show evidence of leaks (no residue on either) so I am waiting to install it. I don't want to replace parts that aren't broken. Thanks in advance for any help.

Front main seal, and the timing case cover are suspect if you ask me. Are you losing oil, or power steering fluid?

If it's getting slung around it is probably coming from the power steering pump.

I have not noticed any drop in the oil level. I have not checked the powersteering pump yet. I only put 4000 miles on the car since April of this year so I don't know that I would have noticed much of a change in the oil level. It is a pain cleaning the oil off the alternator and drive belt everytime I take the car to a show. It is also ruining my hood liner. I will check the powersteering pump when I get home from work tonite. Thanks for your input.

i had a similar problem with my 69....powersteering oil was being flung on the side of my engine compartment....

I bet that is what your problem is...check it out...and let us know....

put a piece of duct tape over the pee hole on the power steering pump cap, many road course drivers have spun, including myself, due to this little problem.

Sorry for the delay in responding...
I have checked the power steering pump reservoir and it is full, and I have never added any fluid to it. The oil level, on the other hand, is a half quart low. There is no fluid spray on the driver's side compartment at all. The belt tensioner, and the alternator pulley/fan are covered as is the alternator pulley sheild. The ribbed side of the accessory belt also has a coating of oil. The car has been sitting in the exact same spot since October 31st and there is not one drop of oil on the garage floor. The crank pulley has a coating on the inside of the pulley and the dampner also has a coating of oil. Any suggestions? Thanks again for all the responses and help.

It's gotta be the front seal.

Take care,
-Chris

Its your Power steering, its the little pee hole on the top of the cap, most of us road racers just put a piece of racer tape over it.

If it was power steering fluid, why hasn't he lost any fluid from the reservoir? Why is the inside of the crank pulley wet? I still say it's gotta be the front seal.

Take care,
-Chris

Well, we are all guessing, not arguing, why is there no oil at the seal? thats why I say Power steering, I don't know, if I was standing there i would know.:rolleyes:

I hear ya. I agree it would be alot easier in person! He said there wasn't any "residue" by the seal or the crank pulley at first, but now says there is a coating of oil there. Fresh oil leaks usually remain clean. It's the areas that the oil splatters to that grab dirt and grime and become messy. BTW, I wasn't trying to argue, I was hoping you could tell me why the p/s fluid hadn't changed!

Take care,
-Chris

guessing again, I must not have read there was a residue of P>S fluid, no change could be because its a minor leak and PS is thinner, creating a nice sheen, but not a lot of actual loss, hell bud, I don't know. Maybe it's because my 89 Sable leaks like a bi........
Later, no flames dude.

Thanks again for the replies.
Since I have the front main seal and it is relatively easy to install I am going to relace it. I can not find any other palce that the oil is coming from. The residue on the crank pulley is just that, a fine film or coating. The alternator sheild is coated with oil, almost 1/4" thick. Oh well, wish me luck. At least I have all winter to the work. Thanks again for all the replies.

Make sure there isn't a groove worn into the balancer where it meets the seal. If there is, a new seal alone won't solve the problem. You will also need to obtain a sleeve that fits over the balancer snout. They're cheap, so don't sweat it.

Take care,
-Chris

i was losing oil froom my oil presseure sending thingamajigger

Damn thingamajigger bastards!

Take care,
-Chris

I actually had a leakage problem with my oil pressure sending thingamajigger....but when we had the engine out of the car a few weeks ago before we put it in the fastback I replaced all the fittings and stuff...hopefully that won't leak anymore....I don't think that's what would be causing the problem with scott93gt's car.....never know though....

I did change the oil sending unit in September of 2000. I will check that also to see if it is leaking. Thanks for all the tips. I will keep you informed on the progress.