Oil Leak? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

KoukiS14 · 10-05-2002, 04:18 PM

I've noticed some oil spots in my driveway, and I crawled under my car to check it out.. I noticed the pan was coated in oil, but nothing "north" of the gasket...  Seems the me the oil came from the gasket... Anyway, it was just about out of oil, so I put some in.. 10w30 valvoline, because it was handy...

My thoughts:  I used a much lighter oil last time I changed my oil, and possibly it sprayed out because my car (97 LE with 100k miles) is old and the tolerances aren't what they used to be.   Anyway, I put the new oil in and... no problems...  My car always fixes itself!  =)

Thanks in advance.

-Rob

misnomer · 10-05-2002, 04:21 PM

Yeah, lighter wieght oils will have a tendency to leak out where thicker ones won't. It's sort of like the really runny snot in your nose when you have a cold that no matter how much you sniffle and snort it keeps on coming. . . OK, mebbe not. If it's an oil pan gasket leak, don't stress it too much. That gasket isn't under a lot of pressure. I have a front main seal leak I am up to my elbows in fixing. . . Those are the ones that you want to worry about <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

10-05-2002, 08:35 PM

I disagree. There is not enough (i hate to say this) molecular difference in oils at opperation temperatures to make the oil either leak or not through an opening in a gasket. I feel like Mr. Science  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>  . If you have a leaking seal/gasket.....it's gonna leak no matter what weight oil you run, although a lighter weight may be worse, but probably not. But like misnomer said, I wouldn't worry too much about it if you are just seeing small spots........

*Jeff240sx* · 10-06-2002, 12:24 AM

Ummm... guys.  Our oil pans don't have gaskets.  They have form-a-gasket crap.  
-Jeff

misnomer · 10-06-2002, 01:02 AM

Bah, gasket, liquid gasket, same difference <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'> Wipe off your oil pan and keep an eye on it to make sure you aren't leaking anymore. I had a slow leak for nearly a year I just patched up (front main seal), and things got really messy under the car. Gonna keep a closer eye on things like that from now on.

KoukiS14 · 10-06-2002, 08:48 AM

Thanks guys, really appreciate the help with this!

Seems that using thicker oil may have fixed it, but then again... as is said here, it may not matter at all anyway.  Wonder if it's real expensive to fix it. . haha probably.  I'd kill myself if I tried doing it myself.

I'll keep watching it...  Whenever I have a problem like this, my car fixes itself.. I bought it in TN and drove back here to IN, and it overheated... bad.. it did this for awhile and leaked coolant, but then fixed itself . . haha 2 years later, no problems at all.

-Rob

10-05-2002, 04:18 PM	#1
KoukiS14 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Indiana Age: 47 Posts: 944 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've noticed some oil spots in my driveway, and I crawled under my car to check it out.. I noticed the pan was coated in oil, but nothing "north" of the gasket...  Seems the me the oil came from the gasket... Anyway, it was just about out of oil, so I put some in.. 10w30 valvoline, because it was handy... My thoughts:  I used a much lighter oil last time I changed my oil, and possibly it sprayed out because my car (97 LE with 100k miles) is old and the tolerances aren't what they used to be.   Anyway, I put the new oil in and... no problems...  My car always fixes itself!  =) Thanks in advance. -Rob __________________

10-05-2002, 04:21 PM	#2
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, lighter wieght oils will have a tendency to leak out where thicker ones won't. It's sort of like the really runny snot in your nose when you have a cold that no matter how much you sniffle and snort it keeps on coming. . . OK, mebbe not. If it's an oil pan gasket leak, don't stress it too much. That gasket isn't under a lot of pressure. I have a front main seal leak I am up to my elbows in fixing. . . Those are the ones that you want to worry about <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

10-06-2002, 12:24 AM	#4
Jeff240sx I hate you too... Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 42 Posts: 5,828 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Jeff240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ummm... guys.  Our oil pans don't have gaskets.  They have form-a-gasket crap.   -Jeff __________________ Whatup?

10-06-2002, 01:02 AM	#5
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Bah, gasket, liquid gasket, same difference <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> Wipe off your oil pan and keep an eye on it to make sure you aren't leaking anymore. I had a slow leak for nearly a year I just patched up (front main seal), and things got really messy under the car. Gonna keep a closer eye on things like that from now on. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

10-06-2002, 08:48 AM	#6
KoukiS14 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Indiana Age: 47 Posts: 944 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks guys, really appreciate the help with this! Seems that using thicker oil may have fixed it, but then again... as is said here, it may not matter at all anyway.  Wonder if it's real expensive to fix it. . haha probably.  I'd kill myself if I tried doing it myself. I'll keep watching it...  Whenever I have a problem like this, my car fixes itself.. I bought it in TN and drove back here to IN, and it overheated... bad.. it did this for awhile and leaked coolant, but then fixed itself . . haha 2 years later, no problems at all. -Rob __________________

10-05-2002, 08:35 PM	#3
sxtasy Guest Posts: n/a	I disagree. There is not enough (i hate to say this) molecular difference in oils at opperation temperatures to make the oil either leak or not through an opening in a gasket. I feel like Mr. Science  <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>  . If you have a leaking seal/gasket.....it's gonna leak no matter what weight oil you run, although a lighter weight may be worse, but probably not. But like misnomer said, I wouldn't worry too much about it if you are just seeing small spots........