Miata Mailing List: May 1998, Message #163

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Previously on Oil Leak, Eric.Thompson@us.mw.com said...

> I've gone full synthetic and now I'm seeing oils spots under the car in
the 
> morning... 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 was making plans to have the engine steam-cleaned, but now it seems
that I 
> need to wait). 

No, don't wait, in fact it's just the thing to do.  You need to find out
where the leak is located before you freak out and start replacing
everything.  Degrease and then drive the car for a few days.  At that point
you should have a trail of oil beginning at the source of the leak
(possibly more than one).

> 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?

Kinda like asking if replacing the lock would stop people from coming
through the door.  Unless you suspect that the block is cracked, there is
no other place from which the oil could be coming besides one or more of
the seals.  It may in fact NOT be the front crankshaft seal.  The crank
sensor O-ring is notorious for leaking.  There are also various cam,
transmission, pan, etc. seals that could be leaking.  For that matter it
could be the head gasket (not that this is preferable).  Bottom line, it
would probably make more sense to find the leak before you try to fix it.

> Or- should I quit whining?

Well, there's that too  :)

	-John

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John Freas (jfreas@earthlink.net)
Red '90 Base-ish #7690
Deer Park, Long Island
Team Laguna Seca
Team dlralt, PBC, Roebuck, Voodoo...
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."
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