Engine Oil Dripping on My Leg

[techguy512]

OK, engine oil has started dripping on my right leg. I have the lower panel off to trace some wiring, and tracing from the location of the drip I find that the sound insulation directly under the ignition key is soaked with oil.

My first thought was "crap, my vacuum system is full of oil and it's dripping from the vacuum shutoff valve at the ignition switch" but the outside of the valve is clean with no leakage apparent. I reached behind the instrument cluster to check the oil pressure feed line, but that seems clean as well.

Am I missing any other source of engine oil in the area between the ignition switch and the left center vent?

It could be the gauge itself. Pull the instrument cluster and remove the gauge. I bet you'll find a cracked bordon tube.

[techguy512]

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I bet you'll find a cracked bordon tube.

So the theory is the oil leaks at the gauge inside the cluster on the left side, runs along the bottom of the cluster, leaks and drips out of the cluster on the right side?

[Diesel Dan]

Are you sure it's engine oil, and not A/C refrigerant?

I'm not all that knowledgeable about how all this stuff is routed, but the A/C evaporator is located somewhere behind the dash, right?

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

Are you sure it's engine oil, and not A/C refrigerant?

I'm not all that knowledgeable about how all this stuff is routed, but the A/C evaporator is located somewhere behind the dash, right?

The AC lines are all on the passenger's side, AFAIK.

[techguy512]

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

Are you sure it's engine oil, and not A/C refrigerant?

If my six week old refrigerant oil is as black as this stuff, I have more serious trouble than just a drip......................

[jonschwenke]

I've heard this symptom diagnosed as a leaking oil pressure guage line....

No personal experience though.

[Dee8go]

Originally Posted by jonschwenke

I've heard this symptom diagnosed as a leaking oil pressure guage line....

No personal experience though.

That's what I was thinking. I believe oil is actually in the line going to the gauge, is it not? Maybe that's where your leak is from.

[techguy512]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

oil is actually in the line going to the gauge, is it not? Maybe that's where your leak is from.

I reached up behind the cluster to feel the lines to see if I could feel any leaks. My hand came out clean. I'm going to have to pull the cluster to confirm.

[MattBelliveau]

I reached up behind the cluster to feel the lines to see if I could feel any leaks. My hand came out clean. I'm going to have to pull the cluster to confirm.

You did do this with the car running, right? If not, you might have better luck with the system being under pressure (if it is in fact oil).

[techguy512]

Originally Posted by MattBelliveau

You did do this with the car running, right?

Negative.

[d.delano]

I had a leak inside the oil guage, if you pull it you'll be able to tell if it's the guage or not pretty easily. There is a flat banana-shaped copper tube inside there that's crimped and soldered on both ends. Mine was leaking at one of the crimped ends, and there was oil all over the tube and inside the guage. There was actually some telltale oil on the outside of the guage as well, but not much. That oil will trail across the cluster via wicking action and drip wherever it feels like dripping. Some say you can silver solder it and cure the leak, but getting to the leak site can be a real problem. New oil/temp/fuel guages can cost from $375-$600! I got a used eBay cluster and now all is well.

It really can only be those two things- the vacuum shutoff/ignition ass'y or the oil pressure guage. Or else somebody is hiding inside the dash, dripping dirty oil on your leg.

Be sure to use a 13mm backup on the 10mm guage line fitting to keep from damaging it when removing/installing

[N41EF]

When my gage was leaking, it leaked from the bourdon tube, ran inside the cluster{filled the rheostat) then to the center under the speedometer, dripped don onto the steering colum, , ran down and dripped on my bare toe as I stepped on the brakes. My brake pedal had several drop on it when I first discovered it. It also happen to be when I had the lower panel off and the cruise control module out for repairs.

[rebreath]

I used one of those cold heat soldering guns(radioshack) and a bernzomatic micro torch.I gently caressed the tube with the flame(whole gauge btw is still in one piece,I did not dismantle other than to remove from cluster and bezel) until a small amount of oil dripped into my palm(ouch),then I turned gauge over and promptly filled with brake cleaner(all I had at hand) and tried to actually observe where leak was.mine was at both ends,where brass fitting is pinched over tube.repeated sprayings and fillings laterI started to get less oil and more clear fluid.was never clear per say,just clearer.I then stopped filling and concentrated more on heating,while being very careful to not focus in any one place for more than a sec(literally).the inside pinch site(the one that is actually under middle of face I ended up using a bit more of the cold heat solderer than on the other side.

[JimmyL]

Betcha it's the vac shutoff valve on the back of the IP.......
Better check you vac lines for oil, especially before you fill up the brake booster......