oil leak

2774 Views 12 Replies 5 Participants Last post by ngt, Dec 24, 2013

ngt

Discussion Starter · Dec 14, 2013

Well, I'll start out with, "those of you who know me (if anyone, lol), know I know nothing about cars", so here goes.

infiniti g20 1999

Riding a bit rough when leaving work the last few days, especially when warming up in park. I get home and check under the car and there's an oil leak. Here's some (me reaching under the car with my phone, not really knowing what to look for) pictures. I checked the oil and there's still oil in there. About an inch and a half on the dip stick. My mechanic said I could take it in and he'd look at it, but unless it's a really quick fix, can't do anything for like 3-4 weeks since he's taking a 2 week vacation mid next week. When leaving my work without warming up the car, there would be a slight knocking noise, but if I let the car warm up for a bit, it wouldn't be there at all. Once I'm going, it seems to drive fine. Anything I could check myself, so I could leave a message for my mechanic and he'd be able to dig right in? Anything from the pictures? Anything I could take a picture of that would help that's not in these pictures?

guessing this is from the last couple of days..

thoughts?

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1 - 13 of 13 Posts

00 blk G20t

· #2 · Dec 14, 2013

upper oil pan.

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ngt

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 14, 2013

things I can check? anything DIY, or is this a "take a lot of things apart and have to order parts" type of project?

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ngt

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 14, 2013

Also, to the rate that it's leaking, do you think it would be safe to throw a few quarts of 30w in there and drive it 10 miles to my mechanic's shop?

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SarCaZm

· #5 · Dec 14, 2013

ngt said:
Also, to the rate that it's leaking, do you think it would be safe to throw a few quarts of 30w in there and drive it 10 miles to my mechanic's shop?

use the dipstick to measure your oil level, the dipshit is located in between your radiator and your engine, to your left by the alternator. If it shows low, then place some oil with the oil weight of your last oil change, little by little. Don't just throw a "few" quarts right away. If it is a few quarts that you end up pouring, then you have a bigger problem on your hands.

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JDM_Ej

· #6 · Dec 14, 2013

Leak looks fairly significant. Probably oil pan.

Actually it could be power steering...

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ngt

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 14, 2013 (Edited)

the power steering fluid was the only "fluid" that was low when I checked them all last night, and it was pretty low. Only about 1/4 of the fluid left. I added some in to get it up to the line last night. The oil was a bit low too, but it wasn't too low to where I would say it was bad/low. What would be a way to test which one it is? Possible add in both, and run the car in the driveway, then check which fluid has dropped? Or would I have to actual drive it around to check power steering? Ideas on figuring out which one it is to save my mechanic some time? Someone said I can add oil and run the car in my driveway to see if the oil is leaking. Could I do that, or would the power steering fluid just leak too while the car is running? Sorry if the questions are stupid, but I'd rather be clear than not ask. thanks again for the help!!

Also, it's been unusually cold lately. In the teens at night, which is REALLY cold for northern California. Could that have caused something to crack? leak?

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SarCaZm

· #8 · Dec 14, 2013

I usually do the taste test to figure out what fluid is which.

Anyhow, you can run the car to see what leaks. I can tell you the oil will be darker than your power steering fluid.
And if your mechanic is a legit mechanic, then he/she would want to check all areas for leakage, not just the oil pan for oil leakage.

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ngt

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 14, 2013

ok, so i checked the color off of the dip stick and from under the car and they are exactly the same. so i'd say from that it's an oil leak. checking the dip stick this morning, it's very low. like almost to the bottom. if i put some oil in, do you think driving ten miles to my mechanic is out of the question? or should i get it towed over?

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SarCaZm

· #10 · Dec 14, 2013

put in 1/4 a quart, then check the dipstick. If it's low then continue adding in 1/4 increments until you have used a bottle up. Start your car up and let it get to idle, after that point you should be fine to drive to your mechanic.

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ngt

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 14, 2013

SarCaZm said:
put in 1/4 a quart, then check the dipstick. If it's low then continue adding in 1/4 increments until you have used a bottle up. Start your car up and let it get to idle, after that point you should be fine to drive to your mechanic.

ok, cool. thanks!

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93-5G20

· #12 · Dec 24, 2013

ngt said:
Well, I'll start out with, "those of you who know me (if anyone, lol), know I know nothing about cars", so here goes.

infiniti g20 1999

Riding a bit rough when leaving work the last few days, especially when warming up in park. I get home and check under the car and there's an oil leak. Here's some (me reaching under the car with my phone, not really knowing what to look for) pictures. I checked the oil and there's still oil in there. About an inch and a half on the dip stick. My mechanic said I could take it in and he'd look at it, but unless it's a really quick fix, can't do anything for like 3-4 weeks since he's taking a 2 week vacation mid next week. When leaving my work without warming up the car, there would be a slight knocking noise, but if I let the car warm up for a bit, it wouldn't be there at all. Once I'm going, it seems to drive fine. Anything I could check myself, so I could leave a message for my mechanic and he'd be able to dig right in? Anything from the pictures? Anything I could take a picture of that would help that's not in these pictures?

guessing this is from the last couple of days..

thoughts?

----You pictures look amazingly like the leak that I was having....at first I thought it was the oil pan bolt, then I thought it was needing the little copper gasket. In the end it was the oil filter. Did you get it changed at some shop that uses random filters?

I was just about to post my problem resolution and saw this post. What it was was I bought a Bosch 3300 filter, the O-Ring was very hard. It just never sealed. So at preasure it stream out.

When I pulled off the oil filter, the entire extra oil catcher under the filter was filled up. At least 4 oz of oil in it. If you pull off your oil filter you can see it, or you could take a papter towel and rub it around the oil filter.....if it soaks up a ton of oil....thats it.

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ngt

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 24, 2013

93-5G20 said:
----You pictures look amazingly like the leak that I was having....at first I thought it was the oil pan bolt, then I thought it was needing the little copper gasket. In the end it was the oil filter. Did you get it changed at some shop that uses random filters?

I was just about to post my problem resolution and saw this post. What it was was I bought a Bosch 3300 filter, the O-Ring was very hard. It just never sealed. So at preasure it stream out.

When I pulled off the oil filter, the entire extra oil catcher under the filter was filled up. At least 4 oz of oil in it. If you pull off your oil filter you can see it, or you could take a papter towel and rub it around the oil filter.....if it soaks up a ton of oil....thats it.

Yeah, it was the filter. Yeah I got it changed at some shop. Should be good now that my mechanic has put on a proper filter/gasket/seal etc.. Glad it was something small. Sorry I didn't update the thread last Monday but it was final week of school and I've been pretty sick since. Anyways, yeah, filter. Not going back to that shop again.

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