oil leak, help
10-20-03 | 07:06 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: s.f.cal.
oil leak, help
I have a serious oil leak on my 81 rx7, that I have had since aug. 81. The oil is coming from a small elect. unit, below the oil filter, on the driver side. The auto store does not have a clue as to what it is. There is a yellow wire going to it. Can someone please help to identify this thing.........Thank You Trebor.
10-20-03 | 08:42 PM
#2
is it a flat female connector? if so, that's your oil pressure sender wire. if it is a bullet type connector, then it is your cooloant temp. sensor. that would not leak oil of course. it may be the pressure sender. check the o-rings on the filter housing as a possible trouble spot. if it is the oil pressure sender leaking, you may want to check it to see if it is tight enough.
10-21-03 | 01:32 PM
#4
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,366
Likes: 380
From: Phoenix, AZ
Leaking oil around the oil pressure sending unit can be caused by a number of different factors. First step is to identify exactly where it's coming from, since the source of the oil leak may or may not be on the part that is the most oily.
The oil pressure sending unit is a large, brass-colored, mushroom-shaped cylinder that is attached to the left side of the rear housing just in front of the transmission bell housing. This sending unit has a diaphram inside that presents electrical resistance with pressure which is fed back through a single-lead to the gauge mounted on your dash. If this sending unit goes out, you'll notice either abnormally high or abnormally low pressure readings in spite of the engine operating normally. Time to replace. It is fitted to the top of a threaded shaft with flats at about 10mm spacing, allowing you to torque this down to very light pressure (about 10-15 ft/lbs, not much more). If this is leaking, you'll find oil sprayed around the brake and clutch master cylinders, as the airflow under the car will spread this around.
More likely is that you have the 'standard' leaky oil filter pedestal O-rings that are allowing oil to drip down onto the oil pressure sending unit. This happens when the O-rings below the oil filter pedestal get old and/or cracked, allowing oil pressure to bypass the filter tower and drip down. This, if left unfixed, will lead to getting you stranded, as the heater return hose forms a 90 degree bend immediately below this area which will become oil soaked and begin to corrode the rubber tubing. Sooner or later, that hose will go out, dumping coolant at an alarming rate.
Remove the oil filter tower with removal of the 2 x 10mm nuts holding the top of the pedestal to the bottom. On removal, you'll see two channels that carry oil into and out of the filter tower. These are each ringed by an O-ring that keeps the oil in check. Replace these O-rings with new rings to prevent the leak.
Keep in mind that these O-rings are parts that will need replacement every 50-60k miles, so get a few and keep spares around for when you notice the oil leaking again. HTH,
The oil pressure sending unit is a large, brass-colored, mushroom-shaped cylinder that is attached to the left side of the rear housing just in front of the transmission bell housing. This sending unit has a diaphram inside that presents electrical resistance with pressure which is fed back through a single-lead to the gauge mounted on your dash. If this sending unit goes out, you'll notice either abnormally high or abnormally low pressure readings in spite of the engine operating normally. Time to replace. It is fitted to the top of a threaded shaft with flats at about 10mm spacing, allowing you to torque this down to very light pressure (about 10-15 ft/lbs, not much more). If this is leaking, you'll find oil sprayed around the brake and clutch master cylinders, as the airflow under the car will spread this around.
More likely is that you have the 'standard' leaky oil filter pedestal O-rings that are allowing oil to drip down onto the oil pressure sending unit. This happens when the O-rings below the oil filter pedestal get old and/or cracked, allowing oil pressure to bypass the filter tower and drip down. This, if left unfixed, will lead to getting you stranded, as the heater return hose forms a 90 degree bend immediately below this area which will become oil soaked and begin to corrode the rubber tubing. Sooner or later, that hose will go out, dumping coolant at an alarming rate.
Remove the oil filter tower with removal of the 2 x 10mm nuts holding the top of the pedestal to the bottom. On removal, you'll see two channels that carry oil into and out of the filter tower. These are each ringed by an O-ring that keeps the oil in check. Replace these O-rings with new rings to prevent the leak.
Keep in mind that these O-rings are parts that will need replacement every 50-60k miles, so get a few and keep spares around for when you notice the oil leaking again. HTH,
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
