OIL LEAK 3.0 Targa

ozzygus · 12-25-2012, 05:54 PM

Hi guys I was wondering if any of know what could be leaking?I've got A 1982 911 sc 3.0 Targa. my engine was super dry & clean, it's only done about 15k miles since rebuild, it's been siting quite A lot as i'm to busy with work to enjoy it, I took it for A decent run yesterday xmas day, I got back here & noticed oil burning smell, looked under & there's quite a bit of oil coming from the area some where between engine & gear box, before i noticed the leak i had the oil light come on & of sort of flickering, then yesterday it stayed on for A while then turned of & didnt come back on, All info will be greatly appreciated.
Gus, Syd Australia

Flat6pac · 12-26-2012, 03:06 AM

If your oil light is flickering while driving you have a major leak. Change the oil and install a known amount, 11 quarts. This will give you cold reading on the dip stick and have room for the 2 quarts level change for temp change expansion.
With a full oil tank, you should be able to spot a leak while running at idle. If the engine isnt leaking until it warms up and thermostat opens, then its a bad oil cooler.
If youre out of oil, its a major leak and you should be able to see it running.
Bruce

Jcslocum · 06:41 AM

Gus,
I'm fixing a leaking engine oil cooler on my 89 3.2. Mice actually ate and peed enough on it while in storage to make a hole in it. I had to drop the engine in order to get in there to make the change.

The area where you should focus your attention on is the top of the engine toward the front of the car. There is a spot where there is an oil switch, thermostat and breather hose called othe triangle of death. These 3 parts are all mounted in this spot and all can cause a leak. Yours sounds like the oil pressure switch is leaking. I think this can be replaced with the engine in the car but there is a bit of pulling out other parts in order to gain access. You can see this area if you pull the air cleaner out (at least on my 3.2) to inspect for the leak.

Oil return tubes also leak and can be replaced with engine in car.

Search for triangle of death and there is plenty written about it.

EDIT: You should search the main technical forum not the engine rebuilding forum.

Good luck!

ozzygus · 12-26-2012, 04:50 PM

Thanks guys, Found the problem it was the oil pressure switch.

911Bruno · 911Bruno's Garage

After reading this thread, I went ahead and lowered the engine without removing it and changed the oil pressure idiot light switch. $6 part and a few hours of labor since it was my first "lowering" of the motor and viola, no more leak. Local mechanic wanted $1,200 to remove and re-install the motor and then add to that parts and labor to find a fix the leak.
So, looks like I saved at least $1,200, thanks to helpful threads on this forum.
Mike

The cap'n · 10-25-2014, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flat6pac

If your oil light is flickering while driving you have a major leak. Change the oil and install a known amount, 11 quarts. This will give you cold reading on the dip stick and have room for the 2 quarts level change for temp change expansion.
With a full oil tank, you should be able to spot a leak while running at idle. If the engine isnt leaking until it warms up and thermostat opens, then its a bad oil cooler.
If youre out of oil, its a major leak and you should be able to see it running.
Bruce

Well, you can't really do an oil change and add 11 quarts when it's cold. The dipstick reading will be all wrong because the oil level is checked running at idle, fully warmed up, meaning a substantial amount of oil will be in the crankcase.

The Cap'n