My car is leaking oil, but only when I first start it. I let the car run for 5 minutes or so before I leave and when I do, there's about 2 tbsps of oil on the driveway. I know that it's not leaking overnight, because I've put down cardboard to test. I then started the car and looked underneath. It's leaking near the front and it drips pretty fast. However, it's never leaking by the time I park at work (did the cardboard test there as well). Any thoughts? Is it a seal? A valve? Something else? What can I expect to pay for getting it repaired? Thanks in advance.
2006-09-22 06:04:09 · 4 answers · asked by micci73 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
My car (1995 Suzuki Sidekick) is leaking oil, but only when I first start it. I let the car run for 5 minutes or so before I leave and when I do, there's about 2 tbsps of oil on the driveway. I know that it's not leaking overnight, because I've put down cardboard to test. I then started the car and looked underneath. It's leaking near the front and it drips pretty fast. However, it's never leaking by the time I park at work (did the cardboard test there as well). Any thoughts? Is it a seal? A valve? Something else? What can I expect to pay for getting it repaired? I'd love to repair it myself, but I can't get it up in the air. Thanks in advance.
2006-09-22 06:40:26 · update #1
Yikes! Sorry about the duplication last time. I'm new to this Ask thing. The car is a 1995 Suzuki Sidekick. I only need to add a quart once (maybe twice) between oil changes (every 3000 miles). And I can't do the work myself. I don't have the right jack.
2006-09-22 06:45:28 · update #2
I believe rfgrinnel... is describing it correctly, but has incorrect terminology.
It sounds most likely to be your valve cover gasket not the Head gasket as described by rfgrinnel...
How quickly is your car losing oil? How often do you need to fill the oil?
A valve cover gasket typically costs less than $100 to replace, and can be done by yourself. Typical costs for the gasket part(s) is around $20-$30. If you've got a V6 or V8, you may have to do the valve cover gasket on both sides.
If you do it youself, just make sure you tighten down slowly and around the cover evenly. (ie DON'T tighten one bolt down completely before going to the next bolt, do it in a cross hatched pattern at maybe 1/2-1 revolution of the gasket after it has seated)
2006-09-22 06:33:47 · answer #1 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you have a head gasket leak, toward the top end of the engine block. This is why the leak starts in the morning. As the heads warm up, they expand and seal the leak. Once the block has fully cooled, the leak opens back up. You may want to try to tighten the head covers, before coughing up the dough for a gasket replacement. Check other gaskets around the oil pump as well.
2006-09-22 06:16:05 · answer #2 · answered by RobertG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OH HOW I WISH PEOPLE WOULD GIVE YEAR MAKE MODEL ENGINE SIZE ETC WHEN ASKING QUESTIONS
IF YOUR CAR HAS AN INLINE MOUNTED ENGINE CHANCES ARE THE OIL LEAK IS FROM THE TIMING COVER SEAL
IT IS A SEAL WHERE THE FRONT OF THE CRANKSHAFT COMES OUT OF THE ENGINE BEHIND THE MAIN PULLEY AND WHAT IS CALLED THE HARMONIC BALANCER
2006-09-22 06:19:59 · answer #3 · answered by John K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look to see if y ou have your oil sending unit in the front of the motor sounds like the sending unit is leaking, it doesn't sound like it would cost to much to get it fixed you would probably do well to just take it to someone before it gets to bad.
2006-09-22 07:05:50 · answer #4 · answered by handyman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋