25
votes
Accepted
I ran my car on almost no oil for a few weeks before realizing the problem. Now what?
It sounds as though you were low on oil, but not out of oil. Your MS6 requires around 5.5-6 quarts of oil, so if you dumped three quarts in to get it up to level, you still had nearly three quarts in ...
- 160k
23
votes
Accepted
Switching engine coolant with similar properties oil
There's a very straightforward answer to this question: Water has a much, much higher capability to transfer heat than oil.
Even if you were able to overcome the safety and design issues brought up ...
- 1,144
14
votes
Accepted
What's the black knob near the oil pan?
If your engine is the 2.7 litre, then that is the oil filter.
You can see this in this video detailing how to do an oil change on the 2.7 litre engine.
The oil filter may just need tightening a little,...
- 25.5k
12
votes
I ran my car on almost no oil for a few weeks before realizing the problem. Now what?
When you visit your dealership, have them (and join in if you're allowed into the shop) examine the oil after it's drained. This is important to ask beforehand since some shops use a large funnel/...
- 121
9
votes
2004 Subaru Forester black smoke oil not accelerating
It sounds to me like you 'windowed the block'. When you lost oil pressure, you were at highway speed, so your engine was spinning decently fast, and every revolution without oil does more damage. I ...
- 8,403
7
votes
Accepted
Is the dye used for diagnosing oil leaks harmful to an engine?
Yes this is completely fine and what the dye is designed for. You should be able to get a kit at your local auto-parts store.
7
votes
2004 Subaru Forester black smoke oil not accelerating
My son had an engine failure on a 2015 WRX, same exact symptoms, connecting rod broke and punched through the engine block on the top side, breaking open an oil galley. 10K mistake after playing with ...
- 7,990
6
votes
Gear Oil coming out of the breather accumulator after water wading
Thoroughly flush the diff and transfer box - then refill with the correct type and amount of oil.
To prevent this problem - extend the breathers to either inside the cabin or the roof line. This was ...
- 34.7k
5
votes
Is messing up this gasket my fault?
New seals that are too large are unlikey to fit. You need one that has the correct internal diameter.
You shouldn't need anything to hold the seal in place. You might benefit from a small wiping of ...
- 8,722
5
votes
Oil leak after oil change
I work in a service centre - either the sump plug was put on finger tight and then the tech forgot to tighten with a socket or he didn't use a collapsible washer or the washer was faulty or depending ...
5
votes
Oil is leaking to my spark plugs. how do I clean it?
Spray some brake clean in the plug well. Hold a rag over the plug hole and hit it with compressed air. You could also use a small tube and a fluid extraction pump. Or you could stuff rags down the ...
- 10.7k
5
votes
Oil in my radiator, but no water in my oil
The problem, in general, is that there is a leak between the lubrication system and the cooling system. There are only few obvious where this can happen:
One is at the head gasket where oil can leak ...
- 14.5k
5
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to re-use common automotive oil filters?
Re-using the filter as you describe should not be an issue. Clean the rubber o-ring off (paper towel or clean shop rag should do the trick without injuring it), then reapply clean oil to it and it ...
- 160k
5
votes
Switching engine coolant with similar properties oil
Water has the nice property that it boils at a fairly low temperature, so the vapour pressure rises quickly with temperature and it is easy to design fail-safe over-pressure protection (a simple ...
- 2,974
4
votes
Is it possible to confirm that my oil cooler is leaking (without removing it)?
If those are coolant pipes on the side of it, you could join them together so that they bypass the cooler. If the leak stops you know that the cooler was causing the problem. You may also find that ...
- 25.5k
4
votes
2001 WR426F Leaks a bit of oil out of the breather tube, is it normal?
You may have a bad PCV valve or your rings are getting worn out
Your PCV valve controls pressure within the crankcase and assists in dispensing excess oil and running it through the engine as well as ...
- 32.9k
4
votes
Accepted
Diagnosing an engine oil leak
On that engine the cam(2), crank(1) and balance shaft(1) seals are the only place that can leak oil behind the timing cover.
At 190K I guarantee they are all leaking, Crank usually leaks the worst ...
- 7,990
4
votes
Accepted
Is messing up this gasket my fault?
I went to the dealership, with the old gasket I took out of the oil cooler, and they looked it up and gave me the same gasket I bought the first time. I asked one of the mechanics why the new gasket ...
- 15.7k
4
votes
Small amunt of oil leaking from between cylinder head and engine block - what does it indicate?
From the image, I'd diagnose this as a valve cover (can also be called a cam cover) gasket which is leaking (as HandyHowie suggested in the comment). This is a relatively easy fix on most vehicles, ...
- 160k
4
votes
My Van Burns Oil Quickly With No Smoke or Visible Leak
Perhaps it's not being burnt. If you're [somewhat] lucky, you will lift the van up and find that there is oil on the bottom of the engine leaking from some seal (oil pan, valve cover seals, crankshaft ...
- 1,742
4
votes
I ran my car on almost no oil for a few weeks before realizing the problem. Now what?
You could have them check, with a gauge, the oil pressure (suggest using a gauge otherwise they look at the light and say its fine).
But, any resulting damage will only be found on stripping the ...
- 34.7k
4
votes
I ran my car on almost no oil for a few weeks before realizing the problem. Now what?
Running an internal combustion engine out of oil is just about the worst thing that can be done to it. If the crank case and filter hold 4 quarts, and you had to add three to bring it up to level on ...
- 41
4
votes
Accepted
Is grime near the drip pan a problem?
Try cleaning it as much as possible possible. After cleaning it I suggest you to check your oil levels daily. Check the spot every day or so if more oil appears there. If more oil appears at the spot ...
- 1,197
4
votes
Oil leak on engine top
Here's what you do:
Purchase a 395 black light like this one on Amazon. Shine it all over the engine and see what it looks like, noting what is reflective and what is not.
Purchase some automotive ...
- 2,127
3
votes
Accepted
Tell tale signs of a valve cover leak?
You are right about leaks in that the liquid will flow down from where it leaks at. In your case it is really hard to tell exactly where it's coming from, but would suggest you are right about the ...
- 160k
3
votes
Diagnosing an engine oil leak
There's three things you need to consider:
As has been pointed out, seeing the leak is the only sure way to diagnose the orgin of the leak. UV dye in the oil is one way, giving the engine compartment ...
- 12.2k
3
votes
How does low oil level cause misfires or VTEC malfunctions?
Just had the EXACT same thing happen to my 2004 Accord EX 4 cyl/auto trans. . Accelerating with A/C on... car began cutting out. Immediately turned A/C off and backed off the accelerator. When I got ...
- 31
3
votes
Oil leak after oil change
Don't drive it. Tell the shop to come to you as it's their mistake. Don't drive the vehicle back unless you know whatever is leaking is safe and won't just fall off, as there's a chance that you may ...
- 5,067
3
votes
Volkswagen Golf Mk5 2005 2.0L Oil pooling on top of engine
One thing to try is dip a the corner of a piece of paper into the liquid. If it's very dark black or brown it's likely to be oil, sometimes rusty water can collect in these orifices, and will look ...
- 206
3
votes
My motorbikes front fork oil is leaking and making a noise in brakes
If you had the "forks done" then take it back to whoever rebuilt your fork and let them know that it leaks now. If a rebuild was not performed on the fork, it now should be. If you're getting fork oil ...
- 1,742
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