Oil Thermostat seepage?

magilla · 04-13-2003, 07:23 AM

Does this look like oil seepage? I just noticed it this morning, so I have no idea how long it has been there. Any ideas on the white stuff? What can be done to fix it?

Thanks!

k9handler · 04-13-2003, 07:25 AM

white stuff...is either lyme or salt?

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

I'd scrub itclean and then run the car for a few days or a week and see what you get. Looks like it hasn't seen a bath in quite a while.

JG

kstylianos · 04-13-2003, 09:19 AM

Do what JG mentioned, get it really clean. Then apply some baby powder around the connections, get a nice even coat. Idle until temps are warm enough to get oil flowing through the thermostat. If there is oil seepage, its a lot easier to see through the white powder. The powder will turn into a wet goop when it gets wet. Works great for tracking oil leaks on motorcycle engines.

Doug Zielke · 04-13-2003, 09:28 AM

An excellent image of a "Thermostat From Hell".

Since I replaced my oil lines, I keep now keep this area as clean as possible. And Nevr-Seize on the fittings should make future removal easier.

Hope those aren't leaks, as the nuts will likely be solidly corroded/seized. Time for the Dremel.

kstylianos · 04-13-2003, 10:01 AM

Believe it or not, mine looked just as bad. Some Castrol Super Clean, brush and power washer got it looking respectable. I had to replace my hard lines and rubber lines to the engine/oil tank and after soaking w/ PB Blaster for a week or so they came off like butter. No heating, dremel, etc. needed. Just make sure to use the correct wrenches (32mm).

magilla · 04-13-2003, 10:39 AM

Thanks guys,
I cleaned it up a bit with the hose, and look what I found hidden behind the thermostat?

It looks like the foam from a CDRom drive. Who knows how long it has been up there. Here is the After Hosing shot:

I will see what happens when I drive it ina few hours and it dries.

APKhaos · 04-13-2003, 12:02 PM

If you hear a low-pitched rattle, you know where it is coming from!
Looks like a PO wedged the foam in there to prevent a vibration.

After my rebuild I has a high-pitched rattle that near drove me crazy. Only happened during acelleration, so it was hard to replicate in teh garage. Turned out to be one of the rubber wraps between the upper hard line and its clam had slipped, allowing the line to vibrate against the body. Found it by good luck when I was doing rear rotors & calipers.

magilla · 04-13-2003, 01:33 PM

I took a 25 minute spin, long enough to get the engine almost to operating temp. There doesn't seem to be any new stuff there, but I will keep my eyes on it when I drive to work over the next few days. That will be a better test, since the engine will get hotter and stay hotter for a longer time.

I did notice a lot of wetness on the rubber lines coming out of the oil tank, though. I'll have to watch that, too.

Thanks, everyone!