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HELP! Cobra lost 5 quarts, engine ok?

  • Thread starter Thread starter denialdave
  • Start date Start date Dec 16, 2004
D

denialdave

Founding Member
Feb 17, 2002
223
0
0
North of Seattle
Dec 16, 2004
#1
  • Dec 16, 2004
  • #1
So I just got my car back from the dealer and they said that they "can't find anything".

Last week I drove the car about 5 miles and lost almost 5 quarts of oil. Luckily it was a short trip, and I turned the car off before the low oil light came on. It has never leaked a drop before.

I couldn't see where it was leaking so I put oil back in it and started it up and --no leak.

At first I was told that the sending unit can fail and cause the oil to purge from that diagphram rapidly. So I bought a new unit and sent it to my local mechanic.

After he degreased the bottom of the motor, he noticed what looks like a 1/16th inch hole in the very bottom of the oil filter housing (bolted onto the block with four bolts).

When he started the engine for me this little tiny drop of oil came out of the hole and just sat there.

QUESTION: Is there suppossed to be a small hole here. Is it a check valve, or as one mechanic told me a place where oil pressure can be measured with a needle valve?

The dealer is basically shrugging there shoulders and giving me the green light to drive it. I'm thinking next time I won't be so lucky.

If I had had the top down and the radio on, bombing down the freeway, I wouldn't have realized I what was going on until parts started showing up in the rear-view mirror!

Dave
 
S

SicStang89

New Member
Mar 15, 2003
58
0
0
NJ
Dec 16, 2004
#2
  • Dec 16, 2004
  • #2
all I know is thats not good......
 

COBRA90GT

Mustang Master
Sep 22, 2001
6,654
0
87
HOCKEYTOWN ® , MI
Dec 16, 2004
#3
  • Dec 16, 2004
  • #3
Sounds like a bad oil cooler/o-ring.
I would not risk it until you correct the problem (especially at the rate you lost oil previously).

The following threads should help:

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68561

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17078
 
D

denialdave

Founding Member
Feb 17, 2002
223
0
0
North of Seattle
Dec 16, 2004
#4
  • Dec 16, 2004
  • #4
not the oil cooler ring

No, it's definatly coming from that little hole under the oil filter adapter.
 

doogz

Founding Member
Apr 11, 2002
760
0
0
London, UK
Dec 17, 2004
#5
  • Dec 17, 2004
  • #5
5 quarts is a lot of oil to be used, especially in such a short distance. What exactly caused you to realize you were down? Was it smoking? Recent oil change prior to that? Any MAC longtubes on the car?

I cannot imagine 5 quarts mysteriously vanishing without some symptoms. You'd be pouring smoke like a banshee or leaving large pools wherever you went.
 

tygr1

New Member
Jun 16, 2004
318
0
0
SoCal
Dec 19, 2004
#6
  • Dec 19, 2004
  • #6
Yea....we're all missing something about this story.
 
S

Sharkster

New Member
Oct 25, 2004
127
0
0
Dec 19, 2004
#7
  • Dec 19, 2004
  • #7
01 Cobra vert.... same thing happened to me in the summer months. 5 quarts of oil vanished from my car... gone still to this day cant figure where it went. I thought someone drained the oil out of it. I noticed it when the car started to run sluggish like there wasnt any pressure. Pulled the dipstick and holy crap its low. Run the dipstick again and whoooa its not low... its friggin gone. Was having some problems with someone at work and thought they drained it. Was found out later that nobody had touched the car.
Still dont know where it went. Hasnt done it again since. Regular oil changes no oil leaks or spots etc.
Havent a clue. Curious on the hole thing gonna chack on that tomorrow.

The above is serious but on a humorous note it could be related to the "sock monster"
 
W

wentwoja

New Member
Sep 17, 2003
6
0
0
Dec 20, 2004
#8
  • Dec 20, 2004
  • #8
Long Tubes?

Just curious about Doogz comment on Long tubes. I put SLP Long tubes on my 2001 Cobra about 300 miles ago--does oil consumption go up with long tubes, and if so, why?

Maybe I better check the oil level....
 

COBRA90GT

Mustang Master
Sep 22, 2001
6,654
0
87
HOCKEYTOWN ® , MI
Dec 20, 2004
#9
  • Dec 20, 2004
  • #9
wentwoja said:
Just curious about Doogz comment on Long tubes. I put SLP Long tubes on my 2001 Cobra about 300 miles ago--does oil consumption go up with long tubes, and if so, why?

Maybe I better check the oil level....
Click to expand...


You *should* be OK. Did you clean them out prior to install?


Not specifically addressing you but it's a good idea to keep a close eye on your oil level just "in case" (remember, check after ample time is given for oil to drain back down - some people overlook this).


Now, regarding longtubes and oil consumption on 4V, there is a LOT of info about MAC longtubes out there. Run a search for MAC longtubes, there's some significant history about the 4V MAC longtubes


Some say it's the slag and others say that they scavenge "too good" - it's been hotly debated (perhaps it is a combination of BOTH? )

Regardless, the facts point towards a disproportionate number of 4V engines consuming oil at some point in time after MAC Longtube headers have been installed...caveat emptor IMHO.


The following sources provide excellent in-depth coverage on this topic:

http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=167953 --> holy grail


http://askbill.modulardepot.com/view.php?viewid=695

http://askbill.modulardepot.com/view.php?viewid=677


 
A

atvcrazy

New Member
Jun 7, 2004
83
0
0
Eastman GA
Dec 20, 2004
#10
  • Dec 20, 2004
  • #10
I lost 2 quarts from my 99 in 2 days, turns out the 10 min oil change place with Joe Bob under my car put on a filter with no rubber seal. I wasnt to happy, just something to consider.
 
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