Thoughts on my 88 carrera oil leak

[Travisrt1985]

Hey guys, I realized my 1988 carrera 3.2 has a small oil leak. I’ll be taking it in for a service job this spring but wanted to see what your thoughts were on the location of the leak, etc. is this an area for major concern? Unfortunately I know very little on repairing cars. I appreciate any opinions .

[proporsche]

do some search, engine top oil leak...oil press,switch thermostat o ring and breather cover gasket..

Ivan

[porschenut]

What you're showing is the location of the oil drip, but not necessarily the leak source. It may be dripping down from above. There are several common leak points on the top of the engine. You'll need to verify where the leak is coming from. Your shop can do that.

Leaks are very common on air cooled motors. 99% of the time they are just a nuisance, not requiring repair. nature of the beast.

[RSTarga]

What does it smell like?

[jlex]

Check out these threads on "triangle of death":
Pelican Parts Forums - Search Results

[john walker's workshop]

May be a leaking slave cylinder on top of the transmission, whick leaks into the bellhousing and comes out the hole at the bottom. Maybe.

[jlex]

Could be.... the OP should be able to smell the difference between oil & brake fluid.

[Flojo]

Seal behind flywheel

[proporsche]

Flojo..... it is is the flywheel seal it would more mess on the cross pipe;-)(the flywheel will spread the oil ).The op has to look on top of the engine and hopefully he will update this..here...
Ivan

[Flojo]

Ivan. Mine was just a further hint ;-)

And: it doesn't show oil mess on the crosspipe, as it burns away under the heat. depends on what moment the pictures were taken (hot or cold).

I do remember very well when my flywheel seal was shot and above the triangle was dry....

[proporsche]

maybe but his cross pipe is totally without any oil marks..so he should really look on top;-)
Of course any idea might help him;-)

Ivan

[rolfjahn]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Flojo..... it is is the flywheel seal it would more mess on the cross pipe;-)(the flywheel will spread the oil ).The op has to look on top of the engine and hopefully he will update this..here...
Ivan

When you say flywheel seal do you mean rear main seal?

[proporsche]

Yes that what is called -- flywheel seal;-)at least what we called in CA in my shop since 1980 ..it could be called crankshaft seal that could be confused with front crankshaft seal..which is front pulley seal....therefore flywheel seal....put it in google it will tell you;-)

Ivan

[wildcat077]

First place to look is the "triangle of death " , that's the area on top between the front of the engine and the firewall ... they all eventually leak from there at some point , and the oil finds it's way down , do a search , there's plenty of info.
Get a couple cans of brake clean and clean up the areas where you see oil , it'll be easier to determine where it originates from.

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Flojo..... it is is the flywheel seal it would more mess on the cross pipe;-)(the flywheel will spread the oil ).The op has to look on top of the engine and hopefully he will update this..here...
Ivan

Not true. The rear main seal leak will just drip down to that same spot.

[proporsche]

ok if you say so .........

Ivan

[proporsche]

Flojo..if you remember your flywheel seal was leaking because you used the lesser kind seal and it leaked, you did not put any km on the engine then you replace it with the correct seal;-)

Ivan

[pmax]

Take some pics of the area around the breather hose where it connects to the case at the "back" of the engine and see if it's a mess.

The 3.2's are great and can be leak free !

[jlex]

What's km?
Let's hope it's just the triangle of death or clutch slave cylinder... won't need to drop the engine to take care of that.

[proporsche]

The 3.2's are great and can be leak free ![/QUOTE]

absolutely correct...;-)

Ivan