Someone on the Org please help me!!! I have a 96 auto with 111k miles and two weeks ago i noticed a small oil puddle in my gf's driveway. I remained aware of it but the leak subsided... until yesterday. Every time I parked my car yesterday it seemed like it leaked a quart of oil. I immediately checked the dipstick and there was no reading. I made it home from work and am going to use my civic tomorrow and leave the max at home until my mechanice can look at it. Does anyone know what could have caused this. I have 3 possible conclusions so I'll let u hear them.

1) I must have drove over some ice because the thin plastic sheet underneath the oil tank( the part u have to move out of the way to replace the oil filter) was all torn up. The oil pan could have been ruptured as a result of this.

2) Two months ago I changed the oil myself for the first time. I switched to synthetic (put 4 quarts of Mobile1 in and it has run smooth since. However, I am aware that switching to synthetic on a higher mileage care can cause seals to break.

3) Since it was my first oil change, I could have messed something up even though I explicitly followed the directions from motorvate.ca. I hand tightened the filter and screws so they weren't on very tight at all but tight enough in my opinion.

I guess my mechanic will no for sure when I bring it in later this week. I just hope it isn't too severe. If you have any comments, please reply. I appreciate everyone's opinions.

By the way , for the time being should I put some oil back in so I dont blow the engine or anything?

 

Try replacing the coppper washer around you oil pan bolt . Its probubly some thing simple or you didnt tighten the screw good.

 

Yikes! I thought you weren't suppose to switch to synthetic yourself, doesn't your whole system need to be flushed out? Check OPS, although I doubt it could leak a quart. Good luck.


Gange

 

You shouldn't have change it to synthetic with this high mile.Like I did to mine and it started to leak too.Anyway do you know where exactly did it leak so that we can tell where it might leak.

 

you haven't bothered to actually look to see where the oil is coming from?

 

Well... I brought it to my mechanic and boy don't I feel stupid! ... Turns out I did not tighten the oil filter enough. I guess turning it only twice or three times around with oily hands did not do it. Are there special gloves that can grip with oil on them or do I have to use an oil filter wrench? There was no charge for it so I'm happy about that. Thanks for your advice anyway guys.