Hi everyone,
I was wondering if there are any common areas of the raider where it leaks? i tried to look under the engine, but i cant seem to locate the area where the oil leak is coming from.

it seems that after a drive, i park the car, and it leaks oild for about 20mins. seems like all the residual oil in the engine just comes out. any suggestions on to where it could be? it seems to be dropping from around the oil filter part of the engine. it does not leak from the filter however.


thanks!

For about $25 bucks at your local parts store you can get a UV dye kit. You add the UV dye to the oil and use a UV light to find the leak <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

If it's not the filter then its the front main. If its around the front bottom of the engine you might want to tighten the oil pan just to rule that one out. I thought mine was coming from the oil pan gasket, but when I did my timing belt I changed the front main and it went away. It's a big job so the $25 UV kit sounds like a good investment, just to be sure.

Or just clean the engine really well and let it idle, don't drive it, since the wind will blow the oil away from the source. That should give you a better idea of where the leak is coming from.

Area's I've had leaks...
1) Valve cover gasket areas
2) Front Main Seal

If engine oil, off the top of my head from top to bottom (and probably in order of likelyhood):

1) Valve cover seals
2) Head gaskets
3) Front or rear main crankshaft seals
4) Oil Pump gasket
5) Oil filter or oil filter adaptor gasket
6) Oil pressure sending unit
7) Engine oil cooler lines (move to #1 if equipped)
8) Oil pan seal
9) Oil pan drain plug and/or plug gasket
10) It is also not unheard of to blow oil out of the filler neck, distributor adaptor, dipstick tube, PCV valve, or blowby hose if it's really nasty inside. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

hi, thanks all for the replies.

the ones listed below, are they difficult to replace?

Depends on what you think is difficult. I'm not 100% on this but I would assume that the Valve cover gasket replacement will require removal of intake manifold parts but hopefully someone else will chime in who's actually done this.

As for the main seals, for me I'd say it's difficult. From what I've been told you'll need to disassemble the top end down to the crank shaft to access the seal.

The front main seal requires that you tear down the front of the motor. Heads and valve covers and intake stuff can stay in place. You have to remove power steering pump, a/c compressor (both these you disconnect from the engine and lay to one side with the lines attached), fan, timing belt covers, front engine brackets, timing belt (and all accessory belts - time to change them), and crank pulleys and sprockets, then pry the seal out and drive in a new one. You might take it to a shop and tell them to replace the timing belt AND the front seal, since the labor is duplicated for these and they have a flat rate for the belt.

I trace oil leaks by the clean and run method, using baby powder for a tracer. The powder will stick to the leaking oil. Good luck, it's findable and fixable unless something is cracked. From your description, my money is on the oil filter adapter or the front main seal or a front cam seal.

If you tear it down, replace the water pump.

front main is time consuming but not difficult. As a matter fact after the third time (I messed up the tension first and then the belt slipped) I was able to do it in 1/2 an hour... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />

But seriously, if you tackle the front main make sure you have plenty of time and a manual. The hardest part is torqueing the front crank bolt and lining up the cams.

If you do go for it, no need to pull the radiator and if your AC doesn't work don't bother putting it back, that will save you 1/2 hour.

I would pin point the leak first.

crap, sounds like a some few days of hard work for me. im not sure if i have the time since this car is my primary commute vehicle to work. i know if i have a mechanic change my belt and seals, it will probably run me around 5-600 bucks? hmmm,...

geez, it might be time to retire the raider. i will check this weekend and try to find where the heck the oil leaks originate!