Had the car in today to Kal Tire to get the front wheels balanced, hoping that was the problem with the shimmy. Only 1/2 ounce off so it was pretty much a waste of 31 bucks. Must be the back tires, which are getting replaced next month or so anyways. So ill just leave it.... Anyways, it was up on the hoist so I went in there too, and had a look underneith while it was up on a lift. Heres some pics of underneith, showing the leak and the condition of lower ball joints






bj's




So first things first, I have infront of me a receipt for a valve cover gasket done beginning of may. Says:
Valve cover gasket - O.H.C.
SOHC
VS50456R $91.10

And then labor to shampoo engine and remove and replace. So that was 5 months ago. But there is still alot of oil on the engine. Sorry about the ****ty pics, but they came from a razr not a digicam. It looks almost as though it leaks a little from the oil pan gasket, but it may not be because it is wet higher up too. All up the backside of the engine, and around the trans pan too.

Any input on where to look? I dont have my own hoist so it makes things a little more difficult to do myself, but ill get it done. Where do I start?

EDIT: Arg this forum uses [ image ] tags not [ img ]

EDIT2: Arg and it has to be lowercase? gay

 

And yes, that is a cinnamon spread bucket thats tied under the engine bay. Its got oil in it too. So the majority of the leak is coming from around there as thats where it drips.

Stupid old owner said it didnt leak

 

First thing to do is goto a carwash and use an engine degreaser and clean is as best as you can. Then look for fresh oil. Look like you are near the oil pump and front seal. If the oil pan gasket is really wet near there such as a heavy concentration at the gasket in that corner then probably just that.

 

But it seems to be wet up high too. We were looking from behind the engine from underneith with the trouble light. Couldnt see where it was coming from really, but definately above oil pan

 

thats alot for a valve cover gasket

 

Yeah but I didnt pay for it so its not a big deal. Im assuming it was done right. Only 5mo old

 

$91 for a valve cover gasket replacement? Damn, good thing you didn't pay for it, the kit costs about $20.

But anyway, it could be the rear main seal (PITA) or the oil sending unit. Hopefully it would be the sending unit as it would be easy to replace.

 

Alright, ill dig through the chilton manual and see what I come up with. So it pretty much has to be one of these 2? I thought I read I post in here yesterday that said something about camshaft position sensor but its gone :\. Could that be something too?

 

If you have a SOHC, it would be on the back part of the engine near the top. So that could be possible. If you have a DOHC, then it would be on the driver's side of the head.

There is a post up top that has pics of the sensor locations.

 

Ok, yeah its single. I added a liter a whole gas tank ago and it hasnt seemed to have changed. It cant be leaking too fast