Engine Oil Leak? - Found :)

[donjetman]

I take pride in having/keeping a leak-free dry engine.
This yr my engine started leaking oil on the passenger side of the engine. Oil was showing up on top of the rear 2 coils (#8 & #6) and points below. I changed the valve cover gaskets twice, the crank position sensor, and oil level low sensor, all to no effect .
Well today I found it. A tear in the weld between the engine oil dipstick tube and the bracket that attaches it to the head.
Look at the reflection in the mirror:

 

[rdezs]

Good find!

While you're at it, pull off the driver side valve cover see if you can clean out the PCV orifice. The reason is because the crankshaft should be holding a little vacuum, if you have enough oil coming out that dipstick tube and landing on the coils.... That sounds like you might have positive crankcase pressure. (There's an o-ring on the dipstick. Add an idle if you lift up the dipstick in it, you should hear the idle change in response to interrupting the vacuum) In other words, if the PCV system was working properly, it should have been sucking air in through that small opening instead of spraying oil out. On a high mileage engine with a bit of blow by past the rings, you can enlarge the orifice just a little bit to get some more airflow and prevent sludge build up.

As usual OEM is the way to go on the dipstick tube. It's going aftermarket, measure from the flange on the dipstick tube where it seats against the block to the end of the dipstick while it's fully seated in the tube, and compare to your current one. I've seen a couple aftermarket ones one quarter inch off. A small file is effective in creating the proper full mark on the dipstick.

 

[donjetman]

Good find!

While you're at it, pull off the driver side valve cover see if you can clean out the PCV orifice. The reason is because the crankshaft should be holding a little vacuum, if you have enough oil coming out that dipstick tube and landing on the coils.... That sounds like you might have positive crankcase pressure. (There's an o-ring on the dipstick. Add an idle if you lift up the dipstick in it, you should hear the idle change in response to interrupting the vacuum) In other words, if the PCV system was working properly, it should have been sucking air in through that small opening instead of spraying oil out. On a high mileage engine with a bit of blow by past the rings, you can enlarge the orifice just a little bit to get some more airflow and prevent sludge build up.

As usual OEM is the way to go on the dipstick tube. It's going aftermarket, measure from the flange on the dipstick tube where it seats against the block to the end of the dipstick while it's fully seated in the tube, and compare to your current one. I've seen a couple aftermarket ones one quarter inch off. A small file is effective in creating the proper full mark on the dipstick.

A week ago I put a clean almost new valve cover on off one of my other vehicles with the identical vc. I'll soak/clean-out the ole one I took off.

I ordered a Dorman # 917-303 dip stick tube. I'll make certain it indicates oil level the same/correctly. I may just epoxy the hole in ole one

 

[rdezs]

That small enough, I think epoxy would work great. (Or break out your MIG welder)

..... And a new o-ring on the dipstick tube

 

[Joseph Garcia]

That looks like an opportunity for JB Weld.

And, next time that you check your oil, don't yank the dipstick out like a gorilla.