an older model car leaking oil?

Question

I have a older model car that is leaking oil, not burning oil. I can't figure out just exactly where it is leaking. Is there any thing say like someting lucas or some other brand makes to slow the leak way down or possibly stop the leak?

Answer 1

The most likely place is the rocker cover(s).

When was the last time it/they had a new gasket. If you are having trouble answering the question then it may be the first place to look

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Answer 2

If, after cleaning an inspecting, you still can't find the leak, you can buy indicator dye that is added to the oil and checked with a black light. It'll become obvious pretty quickly where it's coming from. On an older car, it could easily be from more than one place.

Engines can leak from SO many places that there's no way to know if any of those products might work at all -- depends upon the nature of the leak. For example, if you do such a poor job of cranking down your valve cover gaskets that you deform them, nothing made will fill the gap.

Cost to resolve is also all over the map. A simple tightening of a couple of bolts, an inexpensive gasket, or pulling the engine to replace the front main seal. No way to tell until you find it (them).

Answer 3

You could try a stop leak like Lucas or others. But all they do is soften the seal so that it does its job again. The bad side is that they are only a bandaid. The best bet would be to have the leaking component fixed properly. But if you are in a financial pinch, then a stop leak will work temporariliy (if the leak is minor). Good luck!

Answer 4

OK I see your other answering buddy didn't really say anything but a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Here is one of the fool proof methods of finding the leak. Take the car down to the car wash and degrease the engine compartment. Including the whole engine, Paying close attention to cleaning around the valve covers, oil pan sides and front and back and under the car between the motor and transmission. And not to forget around the timing cover.

Once you have cleaned all these areas well take the car home and put large sheets of card board under the vehicle and leave it for a while and if you get it up on ramps you can follow your leak from the bottom to the top.

Key areas , timing cover, valve cover, oil sending unit, rear engine seal, oil pan gasket. Maybe head gasket.

That's about as simple as you can get it.

Answer 5

There are numerous "snake oils" on the market that will stop oil leaks,but usually this is a temporary fix at best. In my opinion the only way to stop oil leaks is to identfy where the leak is and repair it properly. A good engine cleaning with an engine degreaser will help you find the leak. You can't find a leak easily on a dirty,greasy engine.The "snake oils" are ok if you intend to trade the car in.

Answer 6

Leaks really need to be fixed... usually a leaking gasket or a bad seal, for slowing down the leak, it is possible, but dont count on it.... repairing it is the best bet.

Answer 7

there are all sorts of stop leak stuff but the best thing is to take it to the shop and have them find it. they can lift the car up, clean the underneath and determine where the leak is coming from. probably just an old gaskit. no more than 20 bucks to have done.

Answer 8

These things dont work all they do is clog up your engine and willl cost you more to fix it try the simple things first change your oil replace the oil filter the seal on the filter my be bad check valve cover gasket the check the oil pan gasket all of these are a cheap fix if you do it yourself hope this helps.

Answer 9

None of those things really work. If you can trace the leak to a specific component, it might be relatively inexpensive to have the leaky seal replaced.