My boyfriend has a 1992 ford tempo that he's had for a year now. Starting in February of last winter it started to leak oil and didn't know where it was coming from. My boyfriends father, who has worked on cars, said that it was the rear main oil seal. It leaks the oil right from the middle bottom of the engine and travels down the underneath of the car, down the exhaust pipe etc. The tempo has the 2.3L HSC engine and there's an opening right underneath in the middle wear it comes out. It looks like that is where the seal is.
I've tried stop leak and it slows it down temporarily for a little while. But have to put oil in every two days. It smokes out the back real bad on the highway. Especially when the converter on the exhaust heats up and the oil runs down it.
Does anyone know if this would definently be the oil seal or something else on the engine causing the leak and what to do in the meantime to stop the smoking out the back until it gets fixed.
2006-12-20 16:07:50 · 6 answers · asked by giannial1985 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Ford
Definently sounds like the rear main seal. My 97' Dodge Ram has the same issue and it leaks in the exact spot and has the same symptoms. Changing the gasket on the rear seal in simple but it's hard to get it apart to get to it unless you have the right tools and mechanic know-how. Your car seems to be leaking more than mine so it seems to be worst, but it is most definently the rear main seal. I put gasket maker/sealer on mine and it temperarely stopped the leak but due to pressure it will always seem to start again. Your best bet is saving the money or if you have it, invest it and go ahead and have the problem fixed. Hope I was of some help.
2006-12-20 16:21:09 · answer #1 · answered by jtbigz_ga 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a main seal or seals. There is no "magic bullet", stop leak. If you plan on keeping the car, place a piece of cardboard a few inches from the exhaust tail pipe, rev it up and see it it's spitting out oil as well when the engine is warm. That's then internal and valves are going next. This tells you all that smoke is not just burning out on the exhaust or header.
In older days, used car dealers put very thick motor oil in to slow down the leak. Some even put sawdust in the oil mix, that seemed to work best, but of course soon the engine was gone after NO warranty anyway.
2006-12-21 08:35:03 · answer #2 · answered by AJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry I completely disagree with the responder that owns the Dodge with a similar oil leak. I'm assuming that your boyfriend is young, as in under 25? Not that age is a factor but it's not worth it to put any money into the Ford Tempo. It was rated one of the least reliable cars by consumer reports, even the renamed Ford Contour was equally unreliable. The repair on the main seal is labor intensive and will likely cost upwards of 3-400. I doubt the car is worth 500. Unfortunately I'd recommend a high mileage import over the Ford Tempo.
2006-12-21 01:19:44 · answer #3 · answered by e e 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Okay I think that this car is not worth the money. I know that It has gotten you arount but it is like 15 years old (It came out in 91) The car has an oil leak and for that old of a car its not with fixing because if you don't do it yourself it will cost hundreds where a cheap car that will last you for a while will cost you like 3 to 4 hundred. I just reccomenhd that you get rid of it but If you do want to fix it I would have his father look at it and maybe even fix it for you
2006-12-21 09:01:02 · answer #4 · answered by Black Rodeo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the rear crankshaft seal. Make sure there is not too much oil in the engine first, or make sure there is no gasoline mixed with the oil. See if the pcv is working right
2006-12-21 07:06:56 · answer #5 · answered by kayef57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the most common oil leak on Tempo are engine rear main seal,oil engine pan gasket, and valve cover gasket.
2006-12-21 11:45:05 · answer #6 · answered by LEXUSRY 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋