How serious is an oil leak?

Q

Quijibow_69

New Member

Apr 17, 2004

44

0

0

Mechanicsburg, PA

May 5, 2005

#1

• May 5, 2005

• #1

Yeah, as you guessed from the title, I'm leaking oil. It seems to be a slow drip. Do you guys think this is something that is very serious, or something like a loose oil filter? I hope it's cheap...I don't have much money to put into the car right now.

 

J

jpyjfrdmstng

New Member

Nov 9, 2004

64

0

0

Dodge, BC

May 5, 2005

#2

• May 5, 2005

• #2

wash your engine real good and then look under it often to find the source of the leak

 

The Fox

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

354

0

0

Port Elizabeth

May 5, 2005

#3

• May 5, 2005

• #3

Find out where you're leaking and get back to us. Could be something stupid like a leak from the valve cover/gasket (doubtful) or more serious the block.

Anthony

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

Founding Member

Jan 15, 2002

2,773

17

89

Dallas, GA

May 5, 2005

#4

• May 5, 2005

• #4

It could be many things, no way an internet auto inspection is going to be able to pinpoint this. It's only going to get worse, so fix it.

 

1985 5.0

New Member

Apr 10, 2005

42

0

0

Polkville, North Carolina

May 5, 2005

#5

• May 5, 2005

• #5

Quijibow_69 said:

Yeah, as you guessed from the title, I'm leaking oil. It seems to be a slow drip. Do you guys think this is something that is very serious, or something like a loose oil filter? I hope it's cheap...I don't have much money to put into the car right now.

Click to expand...

ive got the same problem...oil leaks very slowly ive recently had oil changed and had a new filter put in...still leaks ive got 210k miles, hopefully its not the block

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

Founding Member

Jan 15, 2002

2,773

17

89

Dallas, GA

May 5, 2005

#6

• May 5, 2005

• #6

1985 5.0 said:

ive got the same problem...oil leaks very slowly ive recently had oil changed and had a new filter put in...still leaks ive got 210k miles, hopefully its not the block

Click to expand...

If the block was leaking, you would have more than a drip.

If you are having leaks, be sure the check the PCV system, if it's clogged, that can cause leaks.

 

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"

Founding Member

Aug 7, 2002

9,516

6

99

Arkansas

May 5, 2005

#7

• May 5, 2005

• #7

Look at the location of the drips and go "straight up" from it and most likely it will be in that area Small oil leaks are common in the higher mileage engines. Overtime gaskets/seals will get "old, tired, and beaten"...it happens.

 

S

Speeds8erM-1

Founding Member

Sep 6, 2000

1,240

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36

Pensacola Florida

May 5, 2005

#8

• May 5, 2005

• #8

It could be the rear main seal, the timing cover, intake, valve cover, anything. I had an oil leak that was BAD on the 88 GT I had, it was like that when I bought it. It wasnt THAT bad or so I thought. If you didnt keep an eye on it, it would get real low real quick, timing cover was pouring oil. I topped the car out one night and hadnt checked the oil in a couple days, slowed down, knock knock knock knock. Was 2.5-3 quarts low.

Sold the car to a guy that didnt care because he had a 347 to put in it.

 

I

iwashmycar

20+ Year Stangneter

Apr 7, 2004

1,236

1

39

Columbus, Ohio

May 5, 2005

#9

• May 5, 2005

• #9

i think i have a slow leak from the back of my lower intake when i put in the cobra intake....dont think the seal in the rear went too well.......im just lettin it leak a bit untill i get the motovation to take the upper and lower back off....
It shouldnt hurt anything tho...since i dont even have to add but maybe a 1/4 quart every 3000 mi.

-adam

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

May 6, 2005

#10

• May 6, 2005

• #10

5 cars, 4 of them leakers. I just ignored it. As long as your driveway doesnt mind and you remember not to park in your friends's driveways, check the oil level on ocassion and use cheap oil that you dont care if it leaks, you can go years with an oil leak.

 

StangLou

Active Member

Jul 9, 2003

1,264

0

36

Holly Springs, NC

May 6, 2005

#11

• May 6, 2005

• #11

Ive went years with an oil pan gasket leak on mine. Its now getting pretty bad. Every 1500 miles or so I need to add in a quart to a quart and a half. Hopefully the cobra intake upgrade doesnt spark any more oil leaks. I used almost an entire tube of gasket sealer on the lower, inch spacer, upper, and head gaskets.
Since I have to take off the K member to redo the oil pan gasket, Im going with a upr k member/coilover kit soon.
As posted above, as long as you dont mind a bit of dripping, an oil leak is bearable. Just keep in mind, eventually it will get worse. I would check your pcv as listed above, but if thats the culprit, you would also notice pressure building up in your engine, at least I did.

 

S

Speeds8erM-1

Founding Member

Sep 6, 2000

1,240

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36

Pensacola Florida

May 6, 2005

#12

• May 6, 2005

• #12

It depends, if it's a rear main seal leak, it will ruin the clutch if it's bad.

 

crazypete

All my crevices are greased.

Oct 22, 2004

930

4

18

Arlington, MA

May 6, 2005

#13

• May 6, 2005

• #13

I had one of those too. Bellhousing was full of oil goo. Clutch worked just fine.

It all depends on if you get lucky. Helps to run the thicker non-synthetic oil in 10w-30 to 20w-50 depending on leak rate.

 

S

Speeds8erM-1

Founding Member

Sep 6, 2000

1,240

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36

Pensacola Florida

May 6, 2005

#14

• May 6, 2005

• #14

My friend had a bad leak from his rear main, clutch came out fubar. Guess it depends. Oil on a clutch disc is bad.