My engine is leaking oil!

[Chamelion]

Hi all,

More bloody problems.

Noticed my car was making a ticking tappety noise on startup earlier so I got under my car when I got home just now and she's leaking oil everywhere.

I initially thought head gasket, but I can visibly see dripping from a plug that's in the block...Oil pressure sender perhaps?

Is this going to be an expensive or time consuming fix?

Thanks. :(

[sanjay]

you poor bastard...seems like youve had a never ending list of problems with your car :(

[Chamelion]

Yeah, she's been giving me some grief. But I love her, so I'll do what I can!

I just hope it's not a head gasket.

Matt.

[Chamelion]

http://www.trueblueford.com/technical/AUoil_sender.html <-- That is definitely at least part of the problem, though mine looks a little different. Likely because mine just triggers the light on the cluster and not a needle guage.

Hopefully it's not the head gasket as well... There is oil all over that side of the block, above and below the sender. Hopefully it was merely leaking out all over the shop when I was driving up the range today.

Matt.

[sanjay]

i really dont understand why an AU3 falcon would need a new head gasket, particularly after only 170,000 or whatever km.

[Chamelion]

Here's hoping that theory rings true.

[EvilChief]

Originally Posted by sanjay

i really dont understand why an AU3 falcon would need a new head gasket, particularly after only 170,000 or whatever km.

for any OHC I6 Falcon engine its a common interval @ 180thou km for the HG to go one way or another.

defective oil pressure senders can send oil a long way into any direction they want. if the oil pressure sender is somwhat located within the big mess of oil, it can be quite likely that it is teh cause. for a $12 part its a relatively easy fix. i would check rocker cover gasket as well while at it.

[Chamelion]

Rocker cover gasket was done not long ago, so she's all good. The oil is definitely around the pressure sender, in every direction.

I've verified that it's leaking. With the engine running at idle and semi warm it's dripping around 3 drips every 5 seconds.
I tightened it 1/5th turn before I ran out of leverage with my man sized spanner... Unfortunately it didn't slow down at all, so I'd say the part itself is fubar.

I don't suppose there is a fool proof way for me to change it myself relatively quickly? Any guesses as to what a qualified mechanic might charge?

My head gasket does have a slight weep, so who knows, perhaps it has gone as well.

Thanks

Matt.

[Chamelion]

Silly me, I posted the way to do it myself. I could likely put together 12" of extension using the few that I have. All I really need is the right sized socket. Off to bunnings then. :P

[lostdude]

Hi, i had this problem a couple of weeks ago. What happened with mine was when the engine was idling no oil would come out, but as soon as you accelerate while driving or just in neutral it would spray out, thats why it went in every direction and i initially though head gasket :togo: .

oil pressure sensor is about 10 dollars, they have them at supercheap.

[coledog]

Easy to replace but dont overtighten new switch!

[EvilChief]

use some GMC or thread tape on the new switch so it wont weipe thrpugh the thread, its non tapered

[Chamelion]

Just rang supercheap, he said they didn't stock them. :(

Matt.

[blackers10]

try repco or coventry auto parts mate

[Chamelion]

I made a post before, but it must not have gone through.

I got the and ran with the kids down to supercheap and they did have the correct part, which I purchased. I also bought a 1" socket, but silly me didn't realise it was 1/2" drive, one side too big for both of my ratchets. So I have the part, but no way to change it over.

I'm not sure if I can get an adapter to increase the size to the 1/2"... If not, I should be able to nurse the car 300m down the road to ultratune. If I leave the airbox hanging as it is for that distance, surely it won't take them more than give minutes to switch the parts out.

I also have to get a coolant leak checked out, that's reared its ugly head. Just a dodgy O ring at the end of that metal pipe that connects to the thermostat. It's only a drip drop though, so it's not urgent I don't think.

I love the car, but it's turning out to seem a bit of a lemon. I'm wondering what is going to go wrong next.. Maybe I should trade it in for a commodore? :-/

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by blackers10

try repco

this is off topic but i wouldnt go to repco for anything anymore
i went there today and asked the guy for a Steering wheel puller.
he said "whats that"
i said its a tool that assists in removing the steering wheel
he said "never heard of that one before so i doubt we have one" :
so i left and went to Supercheap.

oh and he wasnt some pimply little 15 year old either, he was mid to late 20's.

[Jack91]

Originally Posted by davway

this is off topic but i wouldnt go to repco for anything anymore
i went there today and asked the guy for a Steering wheel puller.
he said "whats that"
i said its a tool that assists in removing the steering wheel
he said "never heard of that one before so i doubt we have one" :
so i left and went to Supercheap.

oh and he wasnt some pimply little 15 year old either, he was mid to late 20's.

I dont know what that is or what it looks like either, and if I was him, I woulda given you the same answer.

[sanjay]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

I love the car, but it's turning out to seem a bit of a lemon. I'm wondering what is going to go wrong next.. Maybe I should trade it in for a commodore? :-/

i hate commenting on peoples' cars like this but i really get the feeling that you have indeed got a lemon, considering the big thread about all the problems youve been having.

if you were thinking about trading it, get a BA!

im glad (and was very surprised to see!) that my AU has had NO leaks since i bought it, and hopefully it can stay that way.

[Chamelion]

Ah, unfortunately I don't have any reasonable way to get rid of it in favour of another car. I'm stuck with it for the time being..

It's all engine related, so the worst case is that I save the pennies and throw a new engine in... Probably little more than a grand if I paid someone to do part of the work.

Matt.

[coledog]

i have an au2 futura and it is great no probs just cheap fixes like hoses, belts & battery had the car for 6 years was going to get a BA but coudnt see the point . so far the things going wrong with your car are small things keep ploding along it will pay off in the long run.

[Chamelion]

Pretty sure I've fixed it, for now. I've replaced the oil pressure sender (with a lot of swearing and the bashing of limbs/fingers). Upon running the car to operating temp and then giving it enough revs to notify hell that my car is running, there doesn't seem to be any more leakage.

Here's hoping!

Thank you everyone, very much, for your help.

Matt.

[all4fordau]

Hey mate, hang in there. These cars do give the love you show them. I just think yours had a long time between luvin...... Keep the faith!!!! Taxi drivers love the au's. Many have made the big mil with no real dramas except maintainence. I think yours has just suffered at the hand of a non believer and it will come good.

[Chamelion]

Just reporting back, it did the trick. Although, cleaning it down and leaving it a couple of weeks has proven that I have a slight weep (oil) from the head gasket.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Just reporting back, it did the trick. Although, cleaning it down and leaving it a couple of weeks has proven that I have a slight weep (oil) from the head gasket.

chuck some chemi-weld or similar in it - it will/should stop the leaks.

[GK]

Originally Posted by Chamelion

Just reporting back, it did the trick.

Good on you for persisting with it!

GK

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by JC

chuck some chemi-weld or similar in it - it will/should stop the leaks.

OH GOD NO!!! not Chemi-weld!... that stuff is deadly in the hands of the in-experienced... if you want to try a temp sealing agent, grab a bottle of Seal-Up...

[Chamelion]

I'm actually inclined to not even concern myself about it until it shows any sort of negative issues. At the moment it's simply a very very thin film of oil over a small portion of the engine. I would doubt that you would be able to judge that it's leaking by looking at the dipstick after 6 months.

[JC]

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

OH GOD NO!!! not Chemi-weld!... that stuff is deadly in the hands of the in-experienced... if you want to try a temp sealing agent, grab a bottle of Seal-Up...

I said "or similar".

What are your thoughts on the little black blocks/tablets that you throw in the radiator to seal the cooling system? Can they do unintentional damage? I have had them recommended to me, but having just gone through a rebuild on the upper part of the engine, and an entirely new cooling system, I don't want to jeopardise it. I'm thinking it should be fine though.