Help me chase a leak (please)

[phenryiv1]

About 6 months ago, I picked up an '87 325 as a rallycross car. It had a dead clutch but it just needed a bleed, so the car was fairly cheap. The only (major) issue that I noticed was an oil leak.

My initial thought was a valve cover leak, as the oil seemed to be coming from the rear of the VC. I checked the back of the head and it wa sdirty from gummed up oil and dirt, but nothing too terrible.

I pulled the VC and replace the gasket with an OEM gasket, tightened to spec, and felt good about a job well done.

A week or so later I was at an event and one of the marshals pointed out that I wa sleaving oil spots in the grid. Oil was all over the steering rack and on my skid plate, so I checked the back of the head again. I also checked the oil pan gasket- no sign of a leak there.

To my shock, the area was still realatively clean, but there was a puddle of oil under the car. What dripped out looked like only oil- no coolant.

I topped it off (not too much was lost- not even a half quart) and finished the event.

Now that we are down for the season, I am trying to chase it down. I drive the car around my neighborhood to keep thing lubricated and it leaks like crazy when running. I can leave it parked and turned off for a week and nothing new drips out.

I am having trouble figuring out where the leak could be originating. Any suggestions?

[dnguyen1963]

I believe there is a UV dye that you can use to track down the leaks.

[jlevie]

Common places for leaks at the front of the engine are the poser steering system, front crank seal, intermediate shaft seal, oil filter, oil pressure switch, and on car with an oil cooler the cooler, lines, or adapter.

Clean the engine & power steering system of all oil and crud. The watch for the first sign of oil to locate the source.

A good way of cleaning the engine is:

1) Start with a hot engine and get front of the car up on jack stands. Several
large pieces of cardboard under the engine area will soak up the grunge and
help prevent stains.

2) Using a putty knife, screw driver, etc., scrape off any heavy
deposits. Most of that will be on the lower part of the engine and you'll have
to get to it from underneath.

3) Spray a mixture of Gunk and diesel or kerosense on using a garden sprayer.

4) Scrub every thing you can reach using plastic bristle brushes on painted
surfaces and wire brushes on bare metal. Work heavily caked areas again with
the scrapers. Spray on more solvent mixture as needed.

5) Re-fill the sprayer with any concentrated detergent (Simple Green, pressure
washer detergent, etc) and spray everything down.

6) Using a garden hose set for a gentle spray, or better yet a plant watering
wand, wash down the engine and engine bay. You want to avoid any high pressure
spray as that may force water into places that you don't want it.

7) Spray on more detergent and go over everything with the brushes, then
repeat (6).

8) Leave the hood open and allow the engine bay to dry for at least 8 hours
before starting the engine.

Notes: Having the engine hot will make oil and grease easier to wash off and
the residual heat will help dry out any water that reaches electrical
parts. You won't get the cosmoline/oil stains off the valve cover on an m20/30
engine as they are baked on. The best way to clean up the valve cover is to
have it bead blasted or hot tanked, but you can get most of it off with paint
remover (with the cover off the engine).

[phenryiv1]

Actually, this leak is on the back of the motor but does not seem to be from the rear main seal or VC/head gaskets.

[jlevie]

I don't see oil from the rear of the engine getting on the steering rack of skid plate. But oil from a leak from the front of the engine can get blown back and look like it is from the rear of the engine. Clean the engine and you'll find the source or sources.

[jeffnhiscars]

I believe there is a UV dye that you can use to track down the leaks.

I used this to find a rack leak. Glows green even in daylight :-)

http://www.tracerline.com/content/dye-lite%C2%AE-all-one%E2%84%A2

$6 at Oreilly for the 3400

[dnguyen1963]

I used this to find a rack leak. Glows green even in daylight :-)

http://www.tracerline.com/content/dye-lite%C2%AE-all-one%E2%84%A2

$6 at Oreilly for the 3400

Thanks Jeff. I was too lazy to look up the link.

[jeffnhiscars]

Thanks Jeff. I was too lazy to look up the link.

Thats ok. Im swapping out the leaky rack today so dont be surprised if the day after you add this stuff you find a huge green puddle under your car :)

[phenryiv1]

I'll give that stuff a shot.

Thanks!