Oil Leak

[tweiss3]

I guess I shouldn't have made fun of Sheldon this morning. I now have an oil leak and its puddling on the subframe/shielding right underneath the fan. Its sorta significant.

What could it be, and what is it probably?

Oil cooler line, oil pan gasket?

I did run 5/30 for 3k since it was below 32*F the whole time (FSM says thats acceptable). I just did an oil change (when i found the leak) at lunch and am back with 20/50.

[vex]

You need to find the source of the leak. Is it transfer from one source, or is just pooling right there.

[Rotarytech7]

if its leaking under the fan, i would check your oil cooler line first bro. the same thing happend to me lol except mine busted on the highway and then when i got home sawit leaking nasty so i would check that first

[Pete_89T2]

If you're sure it's oil and not P/S fluid (P/S fluid is red, assuming you still have P/S), it's most likely the oil cooler lines.

[tweiss3]

Ok, i left it idle in the drive way and couldn't see any spay tonight. Right underneath the PS pump is its origin. It may be PS fluid, i didn't reach down, i still had my work clothes on. I hope its not an oil cooler line, i don't need to drop 250 for a new line

[tweiss3]

I think its the oil cooler lines, right at the end of the braided end fitting. Fuck me, anyone know the threads and lengths? Where I can get a set cheap? Or should I just go Banzai garage SS braided set and be done with it.

[TitaniumTT]

Thing to do is clean the oil cooler lines with a degreaser, dry them off, top off the oil and let her run for a while. But, if you're still using the stock lines, it's more than likely them. Racing Beat, Mazdatrix, Turblown Engineering and Banzai all make aftermkt lines. I don't have experience with any of them but I can tell you the CorkSport lines that I had (cheapest at the time) where garbage and leaked.

The other option is take them down to a hydraulic shop and have them crimp on some new lines using the old fittings.

[tweiss3]

I was able to observe it leaking from the top line this morning, so they do need replaced. I will check the other companies to see if I can get them out today. Im stuck in my dad's old 4x4 which is worse on gas than the FC. I wana save myself a few bucks in fuel ASAP.

[tweiss3]

Also, TitaniumTT, you are amazing at quick responses, thank you. RacingBeat seems to be promising, I may go that route, I know they stick behind everything they do.

[Pete_89T2]

Originally Posted by TitaniumTT

Thing to do is clean the oil cooler lines with a degreaser, dry them off, top off the oil and let her run for a while. But, if you're still using the stock lines, it's more than likely them. Racing Beat, Mazdatrix, Turblown Engineering and Banzai all make aftermkt lines. I don't have experience with any of them but I can tell you the CorkSport lines that I had (cheapest at the time) where garbage and leaked.

The other option is take them down to a hydraulic shop and have them crimp on some new lines using the old fittings.

Roger to what TTT said.

FWIW, I had the Corksport lines on my car for over 10 years without issues, but a few months ago the long line just started slowly leaking at the crimp joint, oil cooler side. I tried to get my lines repaired at a local hydraulics shop, but since none of them would reuse the existing banjo fittings (liability reasons), they couldn't do it for less than the cost of a new set of lines from any of the sources mentioned anyway. So just out of curiousity, I called Corksport to ask them about new lines, and to tell them what happened to my old CS lines, figuring the warranty was long since expired anyway. To my surprise, they acknowledged that the design of the lines they were producing 10 years ago could have been better, and they offered me a very deep discount on a set of new lines. So I took them up on the offer, and the design improvement in the new lines is visably obvious - beefier hose, better banjo fittings & crimp sleeves. If I still have one of the old lines lying around, I'll take a side-by-side photo so you can see what I mean.

[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by tweiss3

Also, TitaniumTT, you are amazing at quick responses, thank you. RacingBeat seems to be promising, I may go that route, I know they stick behind everything they do.

No worries, caught me at a good time

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

Roger to what TTT said.

FWIW, I had the Corksport lines on my car for over 10 years without issues, but a few months ago the long line just started slowly leaking at the crimp joint, oil cooler side. I tried to get my lines repaired at a local hydraulics shop, but since none of them would reuse the existing banjo fittings (liability reasons), they couldn't do it for less than the cost of a new set of lines from any of the sources mentioned anyway. So just out of curiousity, I called Corksport to ask them about new lines, and to tell them what happened to my old CS lines, figuring the warranty was long since expired anyway. To my surprise, they acknowledged that the design of the lines they were producing 10 years ago could have been better, and they offered me a very deep discount on a set of new lines. So I took them up on the offer, and the design improvement in the new lines is visably obvious - beefier hose, better banjo fittings & crimp sleeves. If I still have one of the old lines lying around, I'll take a side-by-side photo so you can see what I mean.

I'd heard of them doing that but sold my lines off as I was going to be running a dual cooler anyway.... kinda wish I hadn't though as I'm building a pretty stock 'vert and could've used them... oh well

[vex]

Or just build your own. A few -AN fittings, the adapters from RB, and you never have to worry about leaking lines again. If one starts leaking, cut a new hose, pull old hose with fittings, remove fittings, trash old hose, install fittings on new hose, and install on car. No waiting, no mess.

[tweiss3]

I can make a summit racing run tonight after work (i love living minutes away from there, that place is an exensive candystore for men). Im not sure what I would need. I've never built oil lines before.

[Pete_89T2]

Originally Posted by tweiss3

I can make a summit racing run tonight after work (i love living minutes away from there, that place is an exensive candystore for men). Im not sure what I would need. I've never built oil lines before.

Try this page from Mazdatrix site -

http://www.mazdatrix.com/b6.htm

I managed to derive the "what I need" answers to make my own lines from the info there, unfortunately I didn't jot down the particulars since I ended up buying my lines from CS.

[TitaniumTT]

If you want to reuse the fittings, stay away from the stainless braided line. Stainless line plus AL fittings equals corrosion. A long time ago I started replacing all my SS braided lines with the Nomex stuff, or the push lock stuff. I've thrown away hundreds of dollars worth of fittings.... then again I also live within spitting distance of salt water soooooo I probably have more of a issue than others.