Help. Slightly Scared.

[Haitian_King]

Hi guys.

Um, I hate to bring another problem to your attention, but it's something that I've been worrying about for the better part of the evening.

As you know, I got my Q back from Keith and it's better than ever. I've been tearing the streets up with it like nobody's business.

In the past two days however, I've noticed some quirks that weren't prevalent before.

First, the SLIP light will activate even though TCS is off. Both lamps will stay illuminated until the car is turned off. Upon restart, they flash as usual, and then they turn off. I can't recall the post where I read about a similar problem. I have another tab open as I'm typing, vainly searching for the appropriate post to solve my problem.

Secondly, today I noticed something odd while pulling into my driveway. Before the valve cover reseal, my Q would leak oil up and down the driveway. After the reseal, I monitored my parking spots for fresh leakage. Finding none, I brushed it off. Today, I pulled into my driveway and saw what looked like a copious amount of oil located where my Q had spent the night in the driveway. It looked quite fresh, but I still had to make sure. I touched it and smelled it, and then got a white paper towel. It was oil.

Now, at first, I wasn't too alarmed because Keith said that he degreased the engine and that I shouldn't get too worried if I see leaks on the ground for a couple of days. It should just be the old residual stuff. Just to be sure, I checked the oil level and found it quite low. I wasn't sure how that happened. My invoice from the shop shows that Keith added 6 quarts during the procedure as well as a new oil filter. Since the VC's were resealed, they shouldn't be leaking right? What could be wrong? I noticed that he put a new sticker on my windshield for an oil change for when I hit 94k or June 16th. It also says 5w-30. I think all of my previous oil changes were 10w-30. (I never really specified so I assume the mechanic used the 10w.)

I had my dad look at it and he verified that while the oil was new, it was also at a low level. I have a quart of 10w in the trunk but I don't know if it's safe to mix with the 5w. Also, I don't know if Keith used synthetic. The quart I have is dino.

I'm afraid of the engine seizing, but I'm perplexed by the absence of the oil light. What should my next step be?

[maxnix]

Check the oil pan plug and filter. I also prefer 10W-30 if it's not winter. Seattle is a mild climate.

[captainluigi]

Seattle? What is the relevance? Or is it just your climatology report?

[jmorasch]

Touch base with kieth,Id do that first thing....talk with him and see what he thinks the issue could be with the loss of oil. thats of course after giving the drain plug an inspection.

[superuber]

Your motor won't seize a quart low. In fact when your oil light comes on it's to late. Above advice is best!

[oldmako]

Any combination of Dino-Synthetic-Weight-Brand is preferable to not enough of any, so you're not going to harm anything by adding that oil. For years I ran two quarts of syn and 3 of Dino when I changed the oil in my yot. (every 50 hours of operation, so that's a lot of oil changes)

Is the oil in the driveway clean? If so that's your new oil, not the residual degrease stuff.

Time to go under the car with a creeper, flashlight and some rags. Pay particular attention to the outer sides of the engine (where the valve covers were replaced and where they would most likely drain) and the pan. I cannot imagine the drain bolt is loose, but it happened to my sister in laws Porsche!!!

Check from above as well, again pay attention to the VC's. It would not be unusual for them to leak even though the gaskets are new. It's much tougher to replace a gasket when the engine is in the car, than it was to install when it was new and on a stand. If it's not perfect, it will leak. Lastly take it back to the dude who wrenched it, and carry a case of spare Dino in the trunk. No sense in adding $$$ oil if it's hemmoraging.

Bummer!

[Haitian_King]

Your motor won't seize a quart low. In fact when your oil light comes on it's to late. Above advice is best!

Ah. Thanks guys for the advice. Except for the bit about Seattle, I found it very helpful. I had placed a large square of cardboard under the car last night I'll check it this morning. Then give Keith a call.

[elwesso]

where about does it seem to be concentrated? VC gaskets dont usually leak THAT much oil..!

Remember that the valve covers dont use gaskets, they use RTV. its not hard to botch the job up and mess up the gasket when you put it on.

For the TCS thing, look in your FSM and the previous posts how to check the TCS codes.

[maxnix]

Seattle? What is the relevance? Or is it just your climatology report?

Even in Seattle winters, which are milder than NJ, I only used 5W-30 once, and didn't really like it.

[Jesda]

Seattle? What is the relevance? Or is it just your climatology report?

*chuckle*

[Haitian_King]

where about does it seem to be concentrated? VC gaskets dont usually leak THAT much oil..!

Remember that the valve covers dont use gaskets, they use RTV. its not hard to botch the job up and mess up the gasket when you put it on.

For the TCS thing, look in your FSM and the previous posts how to check the TCS codes.

It looked to be around the drivers side. I haven't noticed any leaks in parking spots though. I really don't know what the deal is. I didn't see any "new" leakage on the cardboard when I pulled it out.

I know that the 90-93's used RTV for the VC's along with the half moon plugs. Keith gave me back the tube of the orange Nissan RTV that Joe had sent because he prefers another colored one. I've only heard good things about Keith and I had a good experience. I'd hate to be "that guy" that ends up with the problems.

I couldn't really tell if it was new oil or old on the driveway. It picked up a lot of dirt when transferring to the paper towel. (My driveway is in need of a repave.) I haven't noticed any abnormal operation in the engine so I'm just a little puzzled. I'll have to give Keith a call.

Maxnix. It's not winter anymore.

Thanks for all the info guys.

*Edit*

As far as the TCS and SLIP lights being on together, from what I could find on the board, it's a relay issue. I read that the relay(s) is/are located under the battery. So would that mean removing the battery to get to it? Or is it possible to just reach in there? I haven't had a chance to consult my FSM yet, so I'm still a little unaware of the proper procedure. Another question that I didn't see posed during my search was; "Will the relay issue impair the functionality of the actual TCS unit?"

[maxnix]

Maxnix. It's not winter anymore.

Not since March 20!

So why are you using 5W-30? That is the other question besides where did the oil go? Rings?

[elwesso]

Get under the car and see if the oil pressure sensor is leaking, those are common to leak!!!

[DrewQ45]

Get under the car!!!

.... period!!!

[Haitian_King]

Not since March 20!

So why are you using 5W-30? That is the other question besides where did the oil go? Rings?

I'm not sure why there's 5w-30 in my engine. I've never really "selected" a grade of oil. I think I've just always had 10w-30 in.

Get under the car and see if the oil pressure sensor is leaking, those are common to leak!!!

Uh, I wouldn't know where to look. Damn. I have some FSM studying to do.

Goddamn Q. Always another issue. When will I be able to just wake up and not worry about anything Q related?

[Kiven422]

What exactly is RTV (whats it stand for?) and how does that differ from gaskets?

[Jesda]

RTV is the silicone sealant that comes in a tube. It looks a lot like caulk you use for sealing bathroom tiles, toilets, and tubs. It lasts quite a bit longer than a gasket.

"Gaskets are commonly produced by cutting from sheet materials, such as gasket paper, rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, Neoprene, fiberglass, or a plastic polymer (such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene)."

Basically, you have to manually apply RTV to the metal. Gasket material is precut to fit like Oscar Meyer sandwich meat.

RTV = Room Temperature Vulcanizing, I think??

[DrewQ45]

If the leak is not obvious, have your engine washed then look for it. Easier to spot on a clean engine.

[Haitian_King]

If the leak is not obvious, have your engine washed then look for it. Easier to spot on a clean engine.

Hmm. So true.

I'm afraid to take my Q to the local wash and have at the engine bay with the spray gun for fear of damaging the electrical connections. I'm also not quite ready to have my Q detail done yet either. My plan was to get a complete detail done when the temps broke 70. Interior/exterior, as well as the engine bay.

Looks like I'll be getting that done sooner than I thought eh?

[Haitian_King]

Ok. So nothing on the cardboard. I went to add the spare quart before getting on the turnpike to come home and on a whim, decided to check the oil level. It showed a much higher level than it did before. I've never seen that before. Could it have been because it was a lower weight oil? So, now, I need to check if the leak is coming from the transmission. I'm slightly stumped. Combined with the dying #6 injector, I'm back up the famed creek.

Only this time, I've got an outboard motor.

I may be taking a trip to Keith's sooner than I had expected to. That injector made I bad dream I had once come true. I dreamed one night that I mashed the gas and the Q barely accelerated. It just acted as if nothing happened. A similar occurrence happened yesterday. I punched the gas around 60 and rather than give me that "pull" that I'm used to, it just didn't really "do" anything.

Damnit.

[superuber]

Ok. So nothing on the cardboard. I went to add the spare quart before getting on the turnpike to come home and on a whim, decided to check the oil level. It showed a much higher level than it did before. I've never seen that before. Could it have been because it was a lower weight oil? So, now, I need to check if the leak is coming from the transmission. I'm slightly stumped. Combined with the dying #6 injector, I'm back up the famed creek.

Only this time, I've got an outboard motor.

I may be taking a trip to Keith's sooner than I had expected to. That injector made I bad dream I had once come true. I dreamed one night that I mashed the gas and the Q barely accelerated. It just acted as if nothing happened. A similar occurrence happened yesterday. I punched the gas around 60 and rather than give me that "pull" that I'm used to, it just didn't really "do" anything.

Damnit.

Take your own advice go to Keith! I can't see how you are driving with an injector down! As far as your oil being overfull, was the car level?

[Haitian_King]

Take your own advice go to Keith! I can't see how you are driving with an injector down! As far as your oil being overfull, was the car level?

I have to make time to see Keith now. When I took the car, I was on spring break. That's why he had it for so long. I wasn't in a rush.

After checking the car and levels again, I'm stumped.

The first time I checked the oil and saw it was low, the car was on a slight incline in the driveway. I checked again on level ground on a cold engine and it was at the appropriate level. I checked the ATF at the same time today and it was full as well.

But coming out of work today, I saw a reflective puddle that wasn't there when I parked that morning. So I'm leaking something. I just need to find out what it is, where it is, and how serious it is.

I'm going to put the Q up on ramps tomorrow to give it a look see. I would have done it today, but my padre wasn't available to give me a hand.

Mike, if you see this, could you let me know how difficult it was to replace the #6 injector? Keith said that it could possibly be done without plenum removal, so I'm just weighing my options here.

[jmorasch]

Ive noticed the same thing in both of our Qs,the oil levels seeming to be almost a quart low at times and then after adjusting them,checking at the next fill up and there seems to be almost an extra quart (using a quart as example) the cars always level,so I wondered the same thing for awhile before giving up on the issue.wasnt anything major to me.After all the Q has a mind of its own at times,so it seems. I wonder if maybe we're both making the same mistake thats giving us a diffrent reading on the stick???I know this really isnt your issue here but something ive wondered about?Ive seen no threads on it so I quit stressin on it......

[Haitian_King]

Ive noticed the same thing in both of our Qs,the oil levels seeming to be almost a quart low at times and then after adjusting them,checking at the next fill up and there seems to be almost an extra quart (using a quart as example) the cars always level,so I wondered the same thing for awhile before giving up on the issue.wasnt anything major to me.After all the Q has a mind of its own at times,so it seems. I wonder if maybe we're both making the same mistake thats giving us a diffrent reading on the stick???I know this really isnt your issue here but something ive wondered about?Ive seen no threads on it so I quit stressin on it......

I guess. The first time I noticed it, the car was on a slight incline and it was on a hot engine. I thought temps didn't matter for engine oil. But when I checked on the street on a cold engine, it showed up normal.

I checked the transmission fluid hot and cold and it's nice bright and clean. Full level. I don't know where this damn leak is coming from.

I'm suspecting the transmission. I've developed a theory of a leaking transmission shifting weirdly because of air seeping in through the leaks. Of course that could just be BS.

After Keith said he replaced that leaking bolt, the Q felt like a race car. The transmission shifted SO smoothly. Now that I'm noticing another leak, those damn transmission gremlins are back. 1-2 is harder than usual and 2-3 seems a little more "stretched" out.

The real PIMA is finding the time to take the Q to Keith. I'm thinking to call in and make an appointment so he can take a look at my Q first thing after the shop opens and if need be, stay there all day. As far as leaving the car overnight again, I can't do it.

I'll call tomorrow. Maybe I can make it for Friday morning.

[jmorasch]

Im not sure about your nose,but I can usually smell the fluid and make a good call on the transmission or the engine...dont know if that makes much sense or not???shouldnt have much trouble with fresh fluids. just a suggestion I thought Id throw at you....kinda funny about the Q,shes like the best woman you can ever have, when you take good care of her.but youve gotta MAKE TIME for the best woman.Other wise you lose her and end up with that high priced hooker in the end.

[Haitian_King]

Im not sure about your nose,but I can usually smell the fluid and make a good call on the transmission or the engine...dont know if that makes much sense or not???shouldnt have much trouble with fresh fluids. just a suggestion I thought Id throw at you....kinda funny about the Q,shes like the best woman you can ever have, when you take good care of her.but youve gotta MAKE TIME for the best woman.Other wise you lose her and end up with that high priced hooker in the end.

True. It's not that I can't differentiate between the smells, I just haven't gotten underneath to give it a whiff.

I know that I need to make time for the Q. Definitely. I'll definitely make that call. I'm hoping that this can be solved in one day.

[maxnix]

If it is ATF, I would suspect a leaking trubine speed sensor.

[Haitian_King]

If it is ATF, I would suspect a leaking trubine speed sensor.

Crap. Don't those require the AT to be dropped at least partially to get to? The other option was drilling a hole in the floor IIRC.

Damn, damn, damn.

Gave my Q too much rope. Now it thinks it's a cowboy.

[szh]

Could it have been because it was a lower weight oil? So, now, I need to check if the leak is coming from the transmission.

Engine oil and ATF are entirely different colors at least (also smell). If it is ATF, it will be red ... (not like engine oil at all. So you can check that relatively easily, I'd think.

Z

[szh]

I guess. The first time I noticed it, the car was on a slight incline and it was on a hot engine. I thought temps didn't matter for engine oil. But when I checked on the street on a cold engine, it showed up normal.

Best time to check the engine oil is first thing in the morning, level ground, after all the oil has drained back overnight. Then, you can get consistent readings over a few days.

Z