Oil Leak + Oil Service Light

[turge]

This light came on this morning on my way to class. I checked my oil levels and they were kind-of low but still above the minimum. I've had an oil leak for a while now and the last oil change I did was several months ago. I figured since I'm getting my bonus check next week that I might as well take the time to fix the oil leak and anything else I notice that's wrong when I have it up on the lift. Where should I check for leaks when I have it up on the lift and how much should it be to fix the leak if I do it myself (or with help)?

Thanks,
Spencer

[jlevie]

The best way to find the leak is to throughly clean the engine and then watch for the first sign of oil. Or you can add a UV dye to the oil and then use a black light to find the leak. Candidates include the pan gasket, oil pressure switch, head gasket, front or rear main seal, cam seal, oil filter adapter and/or oil cooler (is so equipped).

[rodrigo]

Is that a 6 cil?

The oil service is a reminder that is set on a mileage/time clock and it usually lights up as the you approach 7500 miles, if I recall from the Bentley manual. This is to ensure the engine gets the ***minimum** amount of oil changes. I prefer to do them every 3000-3500 miles...can't hurt.

If you were in fact low on oil, you'd have the oil level light illuminated on the console above the rear view mirror..that it tripped by the oil level sensor. In my car, the oil level sensor throws the light at 1/2 way between the Min and Max marks on the dip stick, or about 1/2 quart low on oil, but I have known other cars where that same warning happens at 1 qt low, or at the minimum mark on the stick.

There is also a way to re-set that counter for the oil service using a jumper on the multi-pin connector in the car's engine bay...search on here and you'll find it. At 138,000 miles, have you done the timing belt? If so, were the oil seals on the crank, cam and oil pump replaced? I'd try looking there for that oil leak first, as there are a lot of bad shops that do not replace those seals and the water pump at the timing belt change. For the amount of labor to get in there, it's better off to do it and forget about it. The cost of the seals is minimal in comparison to the cost of the timing belt change.

Find that oil leak and get it repaired...a clean engine is always a best way to start, no doubt about that.

Post back with your results :)

[turge]

Yes it is an Inline 6. Also, I have more miles on the car then what the odometer reads. My Odometer stopped working about 2 years ago. Just been too lazy to get new gears. And I had one of the local shops do the belts on my car along with my water pump. I assume the seals were replaced during this process. I'll check the usual problem spots that jlevie mentioned as well.