common oil leak problem?

[dwrwebb]

So after an exhaustive search of the forum, I can't seem to find ananswer to my situation. My '03, which just crossed 53K, seems to have developed a slow oil leak sometime in the last 5K miles or so. When I start the car, and look underneath, I can see a slow drip from what appears to be towards the back (cabin side) of the engine. From the top, I see no signs of a leak at all. At my last oil change, I asked the guy to see if he could locate it, as they were already underneath, thus giving them a better vantage point. They said they would look, but they were busy, and I had to pick up my daughter from school, so i just said to forget it. Anyway, my point is this: Is there a common "defect" with the MM that could be a "first check..." for this? I can go to my friends house and use his gear to allow me to get underneath, but figured if I had a list (hopefully short!) of places to check first, it might shorten the process....any help is greatly appreciated. I know a lot of you guys have a lot more know-how/experience with these automobiles than myself. This car was not treated properly by the former owner ( cigarette burn next to shift lever, blistered paint-which is now mostly repainted, bottomed out-scratched on bottom of both front and rear bumpers, etc):mad2:
and I have been spending the past 17 months trying to just "restore" the cosmetic issues. Now this problem crept in. Hopefully it won't be an expensive issue, so I can spend my money on non-cosmetic mods....

[Zack]

Is it engine oil or trans fluid first of all?

[dwrwebb]

Is it engine oil or trans fluid first of all?

Well, not to sound like a complete idiot, but....

I believe it is engine oil. It smells like engine oil (smells when idling and air is on), and my trans. fluid level hasn't been declining. My oil level has, albeit slowly... Don't they look different? it is "oily"-by which I mean the spot in my driveway repels water, but I suppose that is the case with a multitude of automotive fluids...:confused:

[LeoVampire]

Well, not to sound like a complete idiot, but....

I believe it is engine oil. It smells like engine oil (smells when idling and air is on), and my trans. fluid level hasn't been declining. My oil level has, albeit slowly... Don't they look different? it is "oily"-by which I mean the spot in my driveway repels water, but I suppose that is the case with a multitude of automotive fluids...:confused:

First of all put a large piece of cardboard underneath the car and see where there leak maybe comming from front or rear to help with locating the problem.

[dwrwebb]

it is rear (mid rear)...I know that much for sure...just not aure after that... for all I know, it is leaking somewhereelse, and then rolling down some tubing, brackets, etc. until it drops off on to the ground...I can't see the source of the leak (obviously, or I wouldn't have started this thread, I suppose), just that there is a leak towards the rear (cabin side)

[fastblackmerc]

Tranny fluid should be red, engine oil should be gold-colored or dark, whatever is on your engine oil dipstick.

There could be a leak in the front and is getting blown to the back of the engine as you drive.

To answer your question, there is no "common defect" with our engines or the Marauder in particular.

I have 65k+ on mine and not one drop of oil outside the engine or tranny.

[dwrwebb]

Well, I don't think it is being blown back. well, it probably is, but when I looked for the source, I hadnt driven the car yet. I just started her up and looked underneath, so it is in the rear. And it is definitely NOT trans. fluid....
Seeing as how there isn't a "common" problem, does anyone have any other ideas?

[justbob]

The only fairly common one that I know of is the oil filter adaptor, but that is drivers side front engine.

[dwrwebb]

The only fairly common one that I know of is the oil filter adaptor, but that is drivers side front engine.


Well, I'm going out to recheck the location of the drip...I'll update the status shortly....
Thanks for everyones help thus far!

[Zack]

The only fairly common one that I know of is the oil filter adaptor, but that is drivers side front engine.

You ruled out the drain plug, right?

[Blackened300a]

That location you are talking sounds like the dipstick region. Try running your hand down along side the tube and see if you feel oil.

[dwrwebb]

ok...I will check dipstick region, and drain plug and see what I find out...

[tbone]

Could be that the oil filter is loose. Then the oil gets blown back. Does it continue to drip after the car sits?

[Egon Spengler]

Get under the car and get dirty. Bring a flashlight with you. See if you can trace it back to the source

[justgod]

"developed a slow oil leak sometime in the last 5K miles or so."
Did you have a full oil change etc. at or before the beginning of this?
+1 to fastblackmerc for mentioning it being possibly blown back

[Egon Spengler]

If recent oil change, oil on steering dripping from when the filter was taken off?

Says steady while running though... hmmmm

[dwrwebb]

Well, it started before this most recent oil change, but I don't think I noticed it right when it started, necessarily. Hereis a run down of the events asbest I can remember:

I noticed it due to the smell of (burning) oil while waiting for a green light one day. The heat was on, so it was sucking in "outside air." I figured at that point that it was more than likely someone elses car, and I was just sucking up the smell. Anyway, shortly after that I started to notice the oil spot in the driveway, as 99% of the time I park in the same spot (unfortunately for my Marauder-aka 3rd child- I don't have a garage). Anyway, I kept checking my oil level, and while it was losing oil, it was nothing drastic. As some of you have suggested in your replies, I suspected the obvious culprits first: drain plug, loose/improperly threaded oil filter, etc. So come next oil change (2 changes ago), I mentioned it to the technician. No reply from them, and the leak was still there after the change. Although not impossible, it all but eliminated those as the cause. I know it is bad practice,and I hate to admit it, but I kind of let this problem slip to the back burner. I still monitored my oil level however, so I didn't destroy the engine. As I mentioned in my first post, I asked the tech. at the most recent change to see what they saw...to wrap this post up: I went out to my car to try to locate the exact spot, so I fired her up, and then got out and looked under the engine and.....nothing...in summation, I suppose at this point I will just "wait and see." perhaps it was just a loose filter/plug....who knows. Thanks for everyones input, and (knock on wood) maybe thats all it was-although I am not counting on it...

[88LTDCV351]

What oil are you using? I switched to Royal Purple but then got a slow leak. So then I had to switch back to the regular stuff. No more oil leaks. I liked my Royal Purple though.

[Ozz]

If it's getting on your headers/exhaust, chances are that it's coming from above them. That would indicate valve cover leak perhaps?

I have the typical drop or two under the filter and I assume it's the filter adapter. I need to change that!

[Black Dynamite]

Oil cooler line perhaps?

[Egon Spengler]

Cracked block, head gasket, valve cover gasket....?

[Zack]

Oil cooler line perhaps?

LOL Really?

[Motorhead350]

When you changed the oil did you change the oil filter too? Those gaskets sticking or not completely working correctly have given me some really good oil leaks.

[fastblackmerc]

think you need to find a different place to change your oil.......

[Egon Spengler]

Be careful of the gasket for the oil filter sticking to the block. Doubling up on a oil filter is sure to cause leaks. Been there done that on another car and I have noticed that more often than not, my gasket sticks to the block in the marauder more often the staying with the filter...

[dwrwebb]

I don't think I've been to the same place twice since I bought this car...

[Blackened300a]

Cracked block, head gasket, valve cover gasket....?

Dont give the guy a heart attack. If its dripping on the manifold then its a cam cover leak. If it is, the drivers side is easier to replace then the passenger side.

[dwrwebb]

Dont give the guy a heart attack. If its dripping on the manifold then its a cam cover leak. If it is, the drivers side is easier to replace then the passenger side.


I know what he mentioned were possibilities, but not "likely culprits"
I didn't see a single drip earlier...maybe it's gone. I know it isn't, but I'm trying to stay positive.





:banana:it's peanut butter jelly time....with a baseball bat.

[Blackened300a]

I know what he mentioned were possibilities, but not "likely culprits"
I didn't see a single drip earlier...maybe it's gone. I know it isn't, but I'm trying to stay positive.





:banana:it's peanut butter jelly time....with a baseball bat.

Maybe the oil changer didnt tighten the plug and that was what you were seeing. When the oil filter is replaced, oil will drip onto the rack and sometimes drip out for a while if its not cleaned. Maybe you were mistaken where you thought you saw the oil puddle? :confused:

[FordNut]

What oil are you using? I switched to Royal Purple but then got a slow leak. So then I had to switch back to the regular stuff. No more oil leaks. I liked my Royal Purple though.

Same here.

[fastblackmerc]

Be careful of the gasket for the oil filter sticking to the block. Doubling up on a oil filter is sure to cause leaks. Been there done that on another car and I have noticed that more often than not, my gasket sticks to the block in the marauder more often the staying with the filter...

Has never happened to mine.

I do check to see if the old gasket is on the filter and the oil filter adapter when I wipe it off.

Usually when you double gasket the oil filter you'll dump alot of oil as soon as you start the engine.

[Black_Noise]

Has never happened to mine.

I do check to see if the old gasket is on the filter and the oil filter adapter when I wipe it off.

Usually when you double gasket the oil filter you'll dump alot of oil as soon as you start the engine.

+1.... alot of oil

[justbob]

Seen it myself, 6 qts in 30 seconds...

[babbage]

I use full synthetics (AMSOIL 0w-20) 58K no leaks. I did have a leak on my aftermarket trans cooler line but that is now fixed and clean.

I'd clean the engine really well - then put down cardboard and find it. A new oil filter and gasket would be on my easy list too.

[Peace2Peep]

Why dont you go to a dealer or a parts store and get some flourescent dye? I mean its not rocket science or my bad spelling! I'm sure this is worth a $20 black light at a party stre ad a $9 bottle of dye.

[Egon Spengler]

Why dont you go to a dealer or a parts store and get some flourescent dye? I mean its not rocket science or my bad spelling! I'm sure this is worth a $20 black light at a party stre ad a $9 bottle of dye.
I think CBT has one for when he hits the gay clubs!

[dwrwebb]

Why dont you go to a dealer or a parts store and get some flourescent dye? I mean its not rocket science or my bad spelling! I'm sure this is worth a $20 black light at a party stre ad a $9 bottle of dye.
One of my friends works on Tractor trailers, and thats what he said to do. But as I said, I haven't seen it in the past two days, so it probably was a technicians mistake...twice...
who knows. I don't see it now, so thats all that matters.
I just put my K&N on, and should be able to get my tune in the next week or so.

[Kennyrauder]

Better still, you have to watch to make sure the tech lubes the O ring on the filter. I caught a tech at Pep boys trying to install the oil filter that way. i went to the tech & said don't do that. He shrugged his shoulders. No comprendez? What kind of training do they get???? None.

[dwrwebb]

yeah...thats kind of frightening what they DONT learn in "training"...