I have an 18 year old car. It is obviously paid for which is the best part of the car.
I have developed an oil leak. (Not a surprise)
It is not too bad right now. I don't have to put a full quart of oil in between oil changes.
However, it is leaking on a (presumably) hot pipe and making it smoke terribly. When I stop it looks like my car is overheating and smoke comes from under the hood.
Do any of you car folks know of anything I can put over the pipe to keep it from dripping there or to change the flow of the drip? I don't think the drip is stopping without an engine rebuild but its an18 year old car. Ford Explorer if you're wondering.
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Does it leak when parked or is it only when driving? Is the leak bad enough that it leaves oil on the ground where you parked, or is it only at the level where it is cooked away by the hot engine?
Also how about the coolant, if you look when the car is cold is there traces of oil in the coolant?
This may help: https://youtube.com/watch?v=zEwbWcNDV5E
If it's using less then a quart between oil changes I wouldn't worry too much about it. Is it the V6 or the V8? If it's the V8 you can hammer nails with it all day and it'll still start fresh as a daisy. They used the same Modular V8 in the Crown Vic and there are HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of them in Junkyards pull a part lots.
If it's the V6, your long term prognosis is not as good. They're famous for getting what they call a "Death Rattle" around 100-125k. The design of the block has two timing chains, and while they are supposed to last the life of the engine, they're known to break.
BlindZenDriver is right to recommend looking at the coolant. If it's cloudy like a milkshake, you have a head gasket problem. I do however disagree that it's a problem if the engine block is leaking less then a quart between changes. You should be checking the oil once a week anyways.
If you're well and truly concerned, put the car on stands and get a bag of shop towels and a bottle of simple green. After you've wiped all that crud off, start the car and see where it's coming out of. But I can almost guarantee it's not going to be worth the effort.
My Exploder, circa 2019
I want to stop the smoke. I've given up on the drip. Goal: 2 more years out of it, no smoke.
Or catching on fire.
Hey if you live in a place where the salt the roads, the oil is a value ad.
It got really bad in the following weeks. I drove it awhile looking like a reverse spy hunter smoke screen.
It's in the shop now and I am told, Valve covers, Valve cover gasket, Plenum gasket. (Which I have never heard of before)
$700, I told them to fix it. Hopefully it is fixed.
You can't give someone a pirate ship in one game, and then take it back in the next game. It's rude.
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
I don't know if 700 was high or low but I'm glad its fixed. Maybe I can get 2 more years out of it. :-)
Nah, All that stuff is an easy fix. I'd say its maybe a bit on the high side, but its mostly labor taking stuff off the top of the engine then putting it back on after the fact.
Happy to hear everything is running well now though!
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
I want to fix it because I have had it so long I have some irrational emotional attachment but I'm afraid it has become the money pit. I don't have a ton of discretionary cash and hate signing a loan. I keep telling myself 2-3k is cheaper than a new car but I feel I will be foolish to repair it. Anyway, in all likely hood RIP explorer, I will miss you. Unless I get crazy and decide to get it fixed.....
You can buy a $5000 beater that will run for more years than you'll get out of the repair, have nicer features, and a cheap car payment for a very short time.
You can't give someone a pirate ship in one game, and then take it back in the next game. It's rude.