What could possibly cause a MAJOR oil leak in my car

[TechHead87]

What else besides a seal could cause my car to basically vomit 4 quarts of oil PER WEEK? The oil is definitely NOT burning out, because I can see the trail of oil that my car leaves behind on my route to work

I just sent my car to a shop. The guy that runs the place grew up with my dad, and has done all of our vehicle repairs, but I'm hoping that this fix isn't too expensive.

Anyone else dealt with a major oil leak before?

 

[JulesMaximus]

What kind of car? When you get underneath it you should be able to see where the oil is...it should be all over the are area directly behind the leak.

 

[TechHead87]

1995 Buick Regal Gran Sport

The leak comes from the right side of the engine. Somewhere close to the oil filter.

EDIT: The motor is a GM V6 "3800" (3.8litre)

 

[msi1337]

gasket leak from oil pan?


oil filter loose or seal broken?

 

[tfinch2]

Pan gasket?

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Pan gasket?

gets my vote, shouldn't be too pricey.

 

[TechHead87]

If worst comes to worst, what should I expect?

 

[pyonir]

eek...the 3800 engine...i had a car with one of those...*flashbacks...nightmares resume*

 

[imported_weadjust]

Have you changed the oil recently?

I had a oil filter gasket stick to the block one time so when I installed the new oil filter I had two oil filter gaskets causing a major leak.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Worse case, the leak is from the head gasket - $$$

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: weadjust
Have you changed the oil recently?

I had a oil filter gasket stick to the block one time so when I installed the new oil filter I had two oil filter gaskets causing a major leak.

You got lucky if a leak is all you had. I had a friend who changed his oil, left the old gasket on accidentally, and while he was driving down the road, heard a loud pop. Filter had popped off and oil was gushing out. Luckily he shut the engine down in time. He's more careful now...

 

[skyking]

I've had two different cars leak massive amounts from a failed oil sender. It taps right into the pressure oil, unlike any pan or valve cover gasket. Both of them were pumping oil right out of where the wire attaches.

 

[LordUnum]

Originally posted by: pyonir
eek...the 3800 engine...i had a car with one of those...*flashbacks...nightmares resume*

I thought the 3800 was a fairly "bulletproof" engine?

OP, if it's just a (oil pan) gasket, and you don't have to remove any exhaust components in order to get to the pan, it should run you about $10-20 if you do it yourself. Be prepared to undo/tighten at least 20 bolts on the pan before you get the job done. Don't torque too much.

 

[TechHead87]

FWIW, the Buick has 112K miles on it. My previous car (1989 Olds Ninety-Eight) had close to 210K HARD miles on it before it blew a head gasket.

 

[iamwiz82]

I've never seen a pan gasket do anything more than seep. The only time I have seen oil loss like that was a head gasket, two oil filter gaskets on top of each other, and a rotted line to the oil cooler.

 

[deerslayer]

My buddy drives one of those. One day we decided to go on a road trip, about an hour away to pick up some CDs. It had been running bad, not sure about using oil, but it seemed to be running good that day. About halfway there it started smoking and running really bad.

He decided to turn around and try to make it back. Five minutes later, the engine "blew". We rode in the tow truck the rest of the way back.

I've heard those cars are supposed to be great too, but his has been a nightmare. Even after he got a new engine put in it, he's still having problems with it constantly.

 

[TechHead87]

Originally posted by: deerslayer
My buddy drives one of those. One day we decided to go on a road trip, about an hour away to pick up some CDs. It had been running bad, not sure about using oil, but it seemed to be running good that day. About halfway there it started smoking and running really bad.

He decided to turn around and try to make it back. Five minutes later, the engine "blew". We rode in the tow truck the rest of the way back.

I've heard those cars are supposed to be great too, but his has been a nightmare. Even after he got a new engine put in it, he's still having problems with it constantly.

I hate hearing about that. Especially when the person can't afford to buy something "better".

I hope to God that I'm not gonna come out $500+ in the hole because of a freakin oil leak. I JUST paid this car off (bought it out of desparation at a Mom/Pop "sold-as-is" place because my Oldsmobile crapped out on me).

 

[iamwiz82]

Take pics of the leak and post them.

 

[deerslayer]

Originally posted by: TechHead87
I hate hearing about that. Especially when the person can't afford to buy something "better".

I hope to God that I'm not gonna come out $500+ in the hole because of a freakin oil leak. I JUST paid this car off (bought it out of desparation at a Mom/Pop "sold-as-is" place because my Oldsmobile crapped out on me).

I thought I had the worst luck in the world until I met him.

He's broke as a joke too, he can barely afford to eat let alone keep fixing that car. It's hard to feel sorry for him though, because it's his own fault.

 

[Brutuskend]

Valve cover gasket or oil pan gasket is always a good place to look.

 

[Shawn]

I think I replaced my head gasket for $70 or so. My buddy helped me replace it so I also bought him dinner.

 

[flyfish]

Originally posted by: TechHead87
1995 Buick Regal Gran Sport

The leak comes from the right side of the engine. Somewhere close to the oil filter.

EDIT: The motor is a GM V6 "3800" (3.8litre)

On that particular model I would say you have a cracked block. 99% sure.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: flyfish

Originally posted by: TechHead87
1995 Buick Regal Gran Sport

The leak comes from the right side of the engine. Somewhere close to the oil filter.

EDIT: The motor is a GM V6 "3800" (3.8litre)

On that particular model I would say you have a cracked block. 99% sure.

If that's the case - game over.

 

[TechHead87]

Originally posted by: flyfish

Originally posted by: TechHead87
1995 Buick Regal Gran Sport

The leak comes from the right side of the engine. Somewhere close to the oil filter.

EDIT: The motor is a GM V6 "3800" (3.8litre)

On that particular model I would say you have a cracked block. 99% sure.

What makes you so sure of that?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: TechHead87

Originally posted by: flyfish

Originally posted by: TechHead87
1995 Buick Regal Gran Sport

The leak comes from the right side of the engine. Somewhere close to the oil filter.

EDIT: The motor is a GM V6 "3800" (3.8litre)

On that particular model I would say you have a cracked block. 99% sure.

What makes you so sure of that?

Call it a hunch

I kid I kid...