Random mystery oil leak?
 

Hello,
I am new to this site. My 2000 Saturn SC2 has been off the road since 2012 but in my garage. I finally got around to the exhaust replacement. The engine was running fine with no problems. I put it on jack stands and removes the exhaust system and exhaust manifold 2 weeks ago. I went to work on it the other day and there is motor oil all over the floor under it. It isn't coming from the oil filter or drain plug but is running down the side of the oil pan. I can't figure out where it is coming from.The car hasn't been started for awhile and I don't know why it would suddenly decide to dump all the oil with no warning or anything. Anyone else have this problem or know why this would happen?

May just be that a gasket dried out....As for a 1.9L engine this is not a common problem we have all had problems with. Clean everything up put the car on stands and find for sure where the oil is coming from and fix it......What more can we say ?

I agree with RJ, may take a few times, as it did with my Ion, but eventually you will figure it out.

It's not a mystery, it's an oil leak. All I can say is have fun. Finding may easier than fixing. Keep your fingers crossed it goes your way.

HA, just noticed I have an oil leak in my sedan again, go figure, right?

My 94 with about 110K on the clock and it sits for weeks on end in the drive way started leaking from what it appears to be the rear main seal, but all over the floor would not describe the leak. If it really is big, I'd look to see what is going on with the oil filter before going too much further.

Thanks. I hope it's something easy like a dried out gasket. It just barely broken in at 181K miles and I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet. I'll just keep looking till I find the leak.

I just found the leak! Turns out there is a small hole in the oil pan that was hidden by the bracket that connects to the engine and the trans-axle. The pan looks pretty rusty so I'll just replace it.

congrats for finding it! after one of the owners of the shop I regular screwed me today, I will be doing the work at my house from now on, even if it means me being without my daily drive for a few days. so my next day off, ill be looking for mine...sucks that we have a gravel driveway though 0.o

Join the club, Billy. I also have a gravel driveway. A large cardboard box from an appliance helps some, but not a whole lot. I lay on it.

It seems to me that lately the ownership of a car is based not on need but on the ability to rent one year in and out at so much a month, ignore maintenance at all and what should be done, shop for one like it is an appliance and product following is no longer something to be cared about.
Owning rather than leasing economically is way ahead of the game if and the operative word is if, you have some idea what maintenance issues are. Following some bogus routine for regular maintenance for a vehicle that is as reliable as the ones available today would have you at the dealer paying $70.00 and hour shop rates to pour something fix it in a can through a part of the car that is good for 100,000 miles vs the same part 40 years ago that required almost monthly care.
A Tune Up, a twice a year procedure required parts changing and adjustments.
Not a "Check " of things and parts if needed and the tires rotated.
Today's Platinum plugs will go 100,000 miles vs every 20,000 or so of yesterday.
I drove into the Chevy dealer to purchase parts for an engine and driving my Saturn and the sales manager met me at the door with a big grin and a hearty how are you and a "why don't you trade that car off, they don't make them any more" comment.
As if "They don't make them any more" was a reason to trade off my coupe for a 4 door sedan which is the reason I bought my coupe in the first place.
I don't like 4 door sedans.
The only model that is available any more.
I paid cash for my Chrysler in 2007 and based on that it cost me $250.00 a month to pay for it. Except it has been paid for since I bought it and as my employment has changed some what, the need to make lease payment has not been an issue.
The Saturn was bought in 1996 and has been proven to be reliable and enjoyable transportation with out a lease payment too.

I seriously wish I was raised in the time periods where cars were cars, not computers.
music was music, not beats off a laptop. its all bogus.


Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my cars now. But comparing todays time, to the 70s/80s, hell, even the 90s, things are getting out of hand.


I was offered 5k for my sedan when it got brought to the stealership for a BCM. The guy personally wanted it because he has had saturns before and knows how good of a car they are. But obviously I said no. I just couldn't part with it.

As to Mystery Oil Leaks, I have been experiencing some of that on my Saturn too. But part of this weeks activities has been to service my cars and changing the oil on the Saturn was right up there towards the top. I've noticed the Saturn marking it's territory lately and have had to keep an eye on it, as it was using transmission fluid. Pulling the thing upon the ramps I use I noticed that the transmission leak was coming from ------the transmission. The oil filter was loose!
Apparently my bad. it is not loose any longer and the oil no longer leaks.

hmmmm. I start my vacation on Tuesday and plan on doing a complete detail on both cars, and am going to try and figure out where mine is coming from. hopefully its an easy fix like yours was.

Of course I knew there would be a catch. A new oil pan is less than $60 but the crankshaft pulley has to be removed. I've been trying for a week to get it off. Broke 2 breaker bars and 2 extensions trying. Electric impact wrench doesn't budge it either. Hopefully something will work eventually.

grenade!! :D


but seriously. I assume you tried showering it in wd40?

Finally removed the crankshaft pulley!
 

After my failed attempts with PB Blaster and broken sockets, I finally tried heating up the bolt slightly (not red hot) and soaking with WD-40 Specialist Rust Penetrant for a few hours, I used a 5 foot pipe, impact socket (6 point), impact extensions, and a flat pry bar between the spokes of the crankshaft pulley to hold it in place. I just barely pulled on the pipe and the bolt loosened. I purchased a new oil pan for $42 which I will be installing today. I did find a small hole in the old one. I thought about using JB Weld on the old one but it seems smarter just to replace it.

Yep, I'd just replace it. JB weld is a good product, but when you're dealing with something that could cost you an engine, just replace it.