I've been having an oil leak from the back of the block for a while now. After I switched to synthetic about 6 months ago it started coming out. Its an odd leak where I cant see where its at, even when its up on a lift. Its somewhere on the passengers side of the car from the back of the block, directly above the control arm and between the block and axle. I was looking at the Haynes manual and it looks like its coming from the oil pump housing. It looks like I'd have to take out the axle, crossmember and entire bottom half of the engine to get to that stupid gasket. As of yet its not really leaking steadily... its more of a seep thats getting on the control arms and after leaving the car parked theres 2 drops... about an inch in diameter each from where it drips off the control arm. LIke I said, its nothing majorly crazy, its only a drop or 2 at the most but its still very annoying.

Anyone else have this problem... has anyone actually gone under their car to repair it?

 

it's not your oil pressure sending unit thing is it? probably not it if its comin from up in the block like u say but i just thought i'd throw that up since no one has replied. mine went in my car a couple weeks ago

 

Use UV dye. Use a good UV light.

 

Its not the oil pressure switch. I changed that a while ago. It actually seeps down from up top to around the oil pan. The entire oil pan and the oil pressure switch is drenched in oil from up there... but its not the switch itself.

 

Dude either put in some uv dye, or go spray everthing down with some brake clean, the run your car, then crawl under there and see were its coming from.

 

might be from the slack guide/timing chain assembly...around that area...i have a very slow leak and it extremely slow to the point where every mechanic told me not to worry about it....cause the labor to get at the oil seals behind the timing chain slack guide is ridiculous!

 

Hey, i have the same leak... but mine leaks worse than yours. maybe like 8 drops once its warmed up. I hear its the timing cover gasket or something liek that. Seems pretty common on our cars. SUCKS

 

Yea its pretty common... I know 2 guys who have the same problem.

I dont think its the timing chain cover though... I just got that done when I had my water pump replaced and the leak was on before that.

I did actually clean it all out with brake cleaner to see if I could locate it... no good on that either. Its such a bad area back there to see whats going on. I wonder how the hell people put headers on, its so tight out there.

But anyway, has anyone actually tried to fix it?

 

Like I said UV dye.

Sheesh, I understand why people want to post and ask questions like "Why does oil drip down from my engine," because I've done it.

I understand now, that oil can come from a myriad of places. So check it yourself, and read about where it could possibly come from (from an FSM preferably).

Unless your willing to UV dye the engine, then spray UV light everywhere, and video tape for all to see, then I think asking for opionions is useless. I meansaying, "I got oil from this or that"...isn't very descriptive." For all I know, your oil filter is spraying oil to the hood, and richocheting all the way down to where you describe.

My personal guess on your problem is the Timing O-rings. They are small o-rings/rubber rings that seal the block to behind-the the timing cover. Remember, the timing cover is a two-piece deal...so BEHIND the two-piece timing cover is probably and I guess where your leak is at(and I've researched this leak other than maxima.org). Alot of people talk about the timing cover gasket, which is completely useless advice in this instances...Most people only talk about resealing the permatex/liquid gasket between the seams of the two-piece timing cover. That doesn't help here...if I guessed correctly.

My plan to reseal my Timing o-rings, is buy a used engine and replace. Then rebuild and reseal everything on the old one if I feel like it. The amount of work and price of gaskets and seals even for an old engine, outprices and out-works the cost of a used low mileage engine.

Another possible guess is simple valve cover gaskets. I mean..if it's for sure leaking that high up...then those leak easily.

UV Dye, light and a lift help.