leak from the front right tire area: oil accumulator hosed?

darshie76 · 01-03-2009, 06:16 PM

Hi guys

I was noticing that in my garage, i have a spot, large like a soccer ball, of liquid, right where the area under the right front tire is.

It never leaked anything before; and the only thing that i did was to change the oil and filter and change the gaskets of the sum plate and clean up all the crap that was in the filter.

What could it be? Thanks!

Jack Olsen · 01-03-2009, 06:20 PM

Right front corner is your oil cooler. Check the fittings.

darshie76 · 01-03-2009, 06:42 PM

could be possible that an oil change cause some issues on the pipes?

Gogar · 01-03-2009, 07:22 PM

Perhaps if you changed to synthetic, or a lighter weight oil, it would start leaking. Pull that tire off and you'll probably be able to find it pretty easily.

SteveinTO · 01-03-2009, 08:20 PM

Pull wheel & look up in there. If it's oil fittings you'll see the leak if it's leaving a "soccer ball size" puddle. Make sure it's not coming out of the strut, although that would be unusual since most are charged with gas.

darshie76 · 01-03-2009, 08:33 PM

thanks for the suggestions

I've put back the same oil that was originally inside the car (castrol gtx 20w50); at this point tomorrow gotta jack up the car and take off the tire....

BTW how you jack up the front? i've done only the back using the floor jack on the sum plate, and putting the stands on the torsion bar points, but i have no idea how to do that with the front...any suggestions please? (btw i do not have either the jack plate to use it on the square holes located on the side of the car, nor the original jack that come with the car)

Thanks!

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Your car is rejecting the poor-quality oil.

Put in some Brad Penn 20w50

darshie76 · 01-03-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flieger

Your car is rejecting the poor-quality oil.

Put in some Brad Penn 20w50

That was the oil that i had in mind, but i read here that switching oil from synth to dino would cause leaks or similar issues....probably the best is to fix the leaks and then switch to BP

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by darshie76

I've put back the same oil that was originally inside the car (castrol gtx 20w50); at this point tomorrow gotta jack up the car and take off the tire....

The formulations of these types of oils are changing all the time. Just because it's the same brand doesn't mean it's the same formulation.

Still, seems like an odd coincidence. I'm thinking it is indeed just coincidence, and your front oil cooler lines started to leak. Try tightening them. See the tech articles in our tech section for more info...

-Wayne