I noticed today that I was leaving spots on the driveway, so I decided to have a look at this. I cannot tell exactly where this is coming from, but the general vicinity is the back of the engine, near the oil filter, and above some sensor. At first I thought it was the sensor leaking, but it actualy appears to be just above it-right at what looks like the seal for the lower section of the engine. What is this section, has anyone seen this before, and is it a major fix? The car is under warranty, but I want to know what I am up against.

 

You know what engine oil smells like, right? It's kind of a mild, sweet smell. If your leaking fluid has a real strong, pungent odor, it's tranny fluid...

 

Near the oil filter? Maybe it is a loose oil filter. It could also be a leaky oil pressure sensor which is located near the oil filter. An oil leak can be deceiving. The place where you see the drips is not necessarily the place where the leak really is.

 

I would say it's the oil pressure sending unit.

Same thing happened to me a couple years ago. Dealer replaced it under warranty.

 

I believe thats what it is. The oil sending sensor.
Mine was replaced by the dealer under warranty this time
last year.

 

First tighten the filter. It's a easy thing to do. Then take it to a car wash and clean the underside the best you can. Then after a few days, take another look to see where the oil is leaking.

 

I had the same problem, a few spots here and there. The first trip to the dealer they fixed the oil pressure sending unit which was leaking. After getting it home I noticed that it was still leaking.

Took the car back to the dealer and it turns out that the seal on the front cover was leaking too. Glad that this was covered under warranty, the job would have been around $1200 if not. It's probably just your sending unit though(very common).

 

have a kinda loose oil filter after my oil change..
I usually do not thighten them up too much....
I just turn till it is enough....clean the bottom..wait for a few hours...while doing other things and the rechecked...retighten and everything should be fine after the second retwist.
now...lucky me those are the problems that I have....
but always check that one first before anything else

Btw guys...if the oil sender whatever thingy is broken...wouldn't the check engine light goes on? I do not know..thus the Q...anyhow...also..the tranny is far away from the engine oil...well unless your engine block is leaking oil then you could pretty much determine which is which?

anyhow..hope nothing too bad, just oil filter or something...good luck..

 

The Check Engine Light turns on when the Engine Control Module detects a problem. However, the ECM doesn't check everything. It doesn't check oil pressure, nor does it check fuel pressure. I wish it did, but it doesn't.

Perhaps you intended to say "the Oil Pressure light". That dashboard warning light goes on when there is not enough oil pressure. The Oil Pressure Sensor could have a small oil leak but still function correctly.

 

How hard is it to change a oil pressure sensor? $1200 bucks sounds like a lot of Labor? Or is the part just very expensive?

 

You misread Special K's post. He said that replacing the front engine seal would have cost $1200. Replacing the Oil Pressure Sensor is a fast and easy job. The front engine seal is a big job, requiring many hours of labor.