Miata Mailing List: May 1998, Message #131

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No, the whole synthetic oil leak thing is small drops and not the gusher
you describe.
Sound like a seal went. Front engine seals. Hmmm.....cam seals?

At 58,000 miles the seals are pretty toasted. Probably all rounded out and
hard as rocks. Introducing
freer flowing synthetic which doesnt' soak into rubberized seals as well
pretty much just finished the seals off.

Heck change you timing belt and fornt engine seals.

It'll stop leaking.


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I've gone full synthetic and now I'm seeing oils spots under the car in the
morning.  For those who don't recall I've got a '91A w/58,000 miles on it and
the lightweight sport crankshaft.  I was going around and around over the
risks
of changing the T-belt and had finally decided to wait, probably until 90,000
miles or so and simply not risk the problem - even though I am aware that
changing the belt does not require monkeying w/the deadly-pulley.  But, now
I'm
leaking!

How much is too much?  I changed the oil only 19 days ago (1070 miles -
unseasonably warm here in MN!) and at first had no leaks, then I saw 1 drop
about a week and a half ago, after the car had been parked for two days.
Thought it was not a big deal at the time.  But shortly thereafter it went
to a
drop overnight , and now I get about three a night, regardless of whether the
car has een driven or not.  I've even had to put the dreaded cardboard garage
saver down!

I've also noticed the bottom of the engine is pretty slimy.  It was, to be
sure, somewhat dirty before the change (bought that way) but now it is moist.
I think it is a liitle early to see if I am losing measurable oil by reading
the dipstick, so I don't know if I'm worried yet about the running health of
the engine.  But, I do hate a dirty garage.  And heaven forbid a dirty engine
(I was making plans to have the engine steam-cleaned, but now it seems that I
need to wait).

FINALLY, THE QUESTION.  Does this sound like the weeping seals condition that
I've heard can occur with the switch to synthetic?  If so, would changing the
seals (and I suppose then the timing belt as well) eliminate this problem?
The
car runs excellently, I couldn't complain other than this recent leaking
problem (which by the way has also theft the engine with that 'hot' smell
after
a long drive).

Or- should I quit whining?

Percy M. Chow
design guy

Team John 3:16

26 Yale Court
San Ramon, CA 94583
(510) 828-3052
fax (510) 551-8780