oil leak culprit?
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 533
Likes: 1
From: South East AZ
oil leak culprit? so a while back i started having an oil leak, started as a few large drops but it very quickly turned into a siv. i would start my car and back out of my drive way leaving a stream of oil. i started going through a quart every other day until i parked it over a month ago. at first i though it was a rear main but ive never seen a rear main blow through oil that fast. even shot seals dont leak that bad that i have seen. at least none leaving literal oil streaks on the concrete. it appears to mainly leak while the engine is running and it does appear to be coming from the rear of the engine. i have also read of the oil pressure sensor can break for no apparent reason. would this also cause this huge oil leak? besides those two culprits i cant think of what else could the issue be? up until this the car was leak free. the car is 02 m6 with 90k. im removing the intake for other reasons this week but i figured i would check out the sending unit anyways. would it be obvious what i am looking at if it was broke?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
My car leaked a little oil for some time and then suddenly it got much worse - puddling under the car. At first I thought it was the pressure sender, but it turned out to be the rear main seal.
So whereas I think the pressure sender is a possibility, my money would be on the rear main seal.
So whereas I think the pressure sender is a possibility, my money would be on the rear main seal.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 533
Likes: 1
From: South East AZ
so i figured out the problem. basically im an idiot and didnt tighten down the oil filter enough. i guess i didnt use my strong hand. i started the car after doing the oil change and all was good. so i think perhaps driving the car on rough roads loosened it up. i started the car up to see the oil and it was literally pouring out of the oil filter around the seal. tightened up the filter and all is good.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 236
From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
That's the kind of fix I like. You might feel dumb, but at least you're not facing a major job. I'm surprised you didn't see it reflected on your oil pressure gauge though.
I replaced the oil filter housing gasket on my car with the "new design" from GM because mine was leaking a little. Drove about 40 feet and saw my oil pressure disappear. Shut the car down, towed it back and replaced it with the old one. So much for the new design.
I replaced the oil filter housing gasket on my car with the "new design" from GM because mine was leaking a little. Drove about 40 feet and saw my oil pressure disappear. Shut the car down, towed it back and replaced it with the old one. So much for the new design.
