Beginnings of an oil leak

[backpacker6]

I have an '08 MS3 with 42k miles that is beginning to seep oil around the bottom of the engine. It hasn't been enough to drip oil on the plastic under tray but it seem to be getting worse so it's just a matter of time. I change the oil myself every 4k miles with PP 5-30. I use a funnel when refilling the oil so I am 100% certain that it's not spillage from above. I have no mods done to the car.

I am including a couple of pics and would appreciate an insight that you guys might have regarding what could be the origin of the leak.

I had already wiped the oil away in the first pic but you can see where it was coming from in the second pic. The engine is completely clean around the upper pulleys.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Darth Vader]

Man, that looks alot more like road grime than an oil leak. The greasy crap your wheels throw up from the road leaves residue just like this all over the bottom, even with the little plastic shields in place. Until something is leaving a spot on the driveway, it ain't something to worry about.

 

[backpacker6]

There was a drop of oil clinging to the bottom section before I wiped it off.


edit-Oh yeah, I clean that part every time I change my oil (every 2 months) and the oil is back. Everything else around that area is clean.

Could it be grease working it's way out of the pulley?????

 

[Darth Vader]

Ok, I retract my statement. Road grime doesn't leave drops. Money on it's the timing cover seal behind the pulley. Not a big deal, since Mazda aren't idiots and they designed this car to be worked on by humans.

You just need to pull the pulley, then cut the oil seal lip with a razor knife, then pry the seal out with a small screwdriver wrapped in a rag.To install, it's just lube it up with oil and push it on by hand. It's page 811 of the factory manual.

 

[backpacker6]

That would be covered under the warranty, right? I like to get my hands dirty but if it's a covered item........

 

[Darth Vader]

Yeah, if you still have bumper to bumper, maybe. Gaskets and seals aren't always covered under powertrain but, it doesn't hurt to ask. Check the warranty book, it'll tell you what's covered and what's excluded.

 

[DRKNYTE]

Yeah, if you still have bumper to bumper, maybe. Gaskets and seals aren't always covered under powertrain but, it doesn't hurt to ask. Check the warranty book, it'll tell you what's covered and what's excluded.

Your giving this guy bad info.....

First off in response to the photos anytime your engine looks like that..... IT'S LEAKING SOMETHING!!! Grime doesn't stick to things that are dry. That grime is the result of leaking oil from the timing chain cover. Road dust, brake dust, and debris from the road accumulate on the oil soaked cover and make it look like that.

To fix that leak it is pretty involving... not for the faint of heart. Disassemble a lot of s*** on the crankpulley side of the engine, peal the timing chain cover off, clean all the silicone gasket material off the cover and engine, etc.! He`d have to replace the crank seal too since he's in there.

If you want details and how to do it let me know.

I have had this same issue twice already! Both times I took it in under warranty and both times it started leaking shortly after it was fixed. Needless to say I`ll be fix it this time cause those guys are incompetent! I`ll probably make a how to.

 

[Darth Vader]

I suspect he might be lucky and only have to replace the front oil seal, which can be changed out w/o removal of the timing cover. Admittedly, there's a bit of inconvenience in getting the timing pulley back on right.

 

[DRKNYTE]

I suspect he might be lucky and only have to replace the front oil seal, which can be changed out w/o removal of the timing cover. Admittedly, there's a bit of inconvenience in getting the timing pulley back on right.

Yeah, it's a pain, you need a special tool to take it off and put it on. If you have access to a 1/2 impact gun it's gravy!

 

[backpacker6]

I have had this same issue twice already! Both times I took it in under warranty and both times it started leaking shortly after it was fixed.

Damn. Seriously? Well at least it's good to know that it's covered under warranty. I suppose I'll take it in and let them do at least once so I can take advantage of my quickly vanishing drive train warranty. Thanks