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  #1  
Old 04-23-2004, 08:41 AM
Mr Goodfahrt's Avatar
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HELP.. oil loss disaster after oil change

After changing my oil last night, I took the car for a test drive. When I returned after a 20 minute run, I saw oil streaming out of the back of the engine. I think it may be the rear crank seal, but I'm not sure.
The only thing I did differently was I replaced the 2 tiny O rings on the oil filter cover shaft. They were very hard and had to be broken off. The oil pressure at idle was a little higher than it had been before I changed these- just over the 2 as opposed to just under 2 before. (No, It is not coming from the drain plug...)

The car ran for about 10 minutes at a lower oil pressure at hiway speed... was around 2 on the gauge when I noticed the drop and I immediately stopped the car and put 3 quarts in. Don't know how low it was as I only had 3 qts with me. Drove it home with full oil pressure ok.

Did I damage the engine?

What did I break and how can I fix it? On a scale of 1 to 10 what is the level of difficulty.

Any help greatly appreciated... this is my daily driver and I depend on it for transoportation.

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  #2  
Old 04-23-2004, 09:04 AM
LarryBible
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To begin with oil will not "stream" past the rear main seal. Secondly the odds of something failing catastrophically at the same time you changed oil are between slim and none.

When troubleshooting something that just happened when you did something else, you always go back to what you just did.

Put a drain pan underneath and pull the oil filter examining everything well as you go. Since it is streaming from the rear, it is likely at the oil filter. Did the top seat down well with an o-ring in place? Did something get caught underneath? Did you forget the big o-ring?

If you will retrace everything, I'll bet you'll find the problem.

Since you did not run it completely dry of oil and you had SOME oil pressure, you probably didn't do permanent damage.

Best of luck,

PS I have made it habit over the years to never start threading a drain plug or other super important nut or bolt such as the nuts on that filter, without having the appropriate wrench IN MY HAND. This has kept me from forgetting to tighten it even if interrupted. LB
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Old 04-23-2004, 09:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by LarryBible
PS I have made it habit over the years to never start threading a drain plug or other super important nut or bolt such as the nuts on that filter, without having the appropriate wrench IN MY HAND. This has kept me from forgetting to tighten it even if interrupted. LB
Dad always taught me to put the wrench in my back pocket after I take the drain plug out and put it away only after I have used it to once again tighten the plug.

As for Mr. GF's problem, that definitely sounds like a gasket didn't seal or something was left loose. As Larry said, oil won't run out of a rear main unless something else very catastrophic has happened.
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Old 04-23-2004, 11:06 AM
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THANK YOU... YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!

Followed your advice and retraced my steps this AM and success!!
Found a small tie wrap that holds some wires together had gotten lodged in the back of the filter cover! Couldn't see it in the dark. All OK now.... thank goodness I was carefully watching the oil pressure.

Important lesson learned.... Don't work in the dark

It sure is great having a place to come to for moral support in a crises... thanks guys and gals.

Am now off for a "drive 'n dine" with the Mercedes club for tomorrow. Should be fun.... hope none of them are reading my post... embarassing.

Thanks again... very humbly yours Mr G
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  #5  
Old 04-23-2004, 11:21 AM
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btdt!

ok i'll admit to it too.. one time forgot to tighten down a new oil filter on a peugeot. it spewed oil all over the engine on startup, as they are mounted on top.
fortunately, the lesson was learned right then and there...
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Old 04-23-2004, 12:48 PM
LarryBible
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Re: THANK YOU... YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!

Quote:
Originally posted by Mr Goodfahrt
Followed your advice and retraced my steps this AM and success!!
Important lesson learned.... Don't work in the dark

I agree, light is IMPORTANT. I am in the midst of converting my barn to a shop and have a pair of 400W Metal Halide fixtures setting on the floor ready to be mounted. I finished the wiring for them yesterday. I hope and expect that this will give me light as if the sun wer shining right under the hood.

That's how important that I believe light to be when working on a car or anything else, especially with my almost 55 year old eye balls.

Job well done on chasing down the problem. Always remember to go back to the last thing that you did if something goes wrong at the same time.

Good luck,
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  #7  
Old 04-23-2004, 12:50 PM
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Quote:
Don't work in the dark
I do my best work in the dark - jk.
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  #8  
Old 04-23-2004, 12:51 PM
Old Deis
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Once again Larry Bible comes through as the calm voice of reason here. Thanks Larry.
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  #9  
Old 04-23-2004, 01:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by engatwork
I do my best work in the dark - jk.
I don't need light, went to night school.
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  #10  
Old 04-23-2004, 05:39 PM
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yup, go Larry!!!

So, this should be the last time he worries about an oil change for at least, what, 8-10,000 miles?
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  #11  
Old 04-24-2004, 12:17 PM
LarryBible
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Change oil in eight to ten thousand miles? Why would you do that? Did it leak out or something?

Have a great day,
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  #12  
Old 04-24-2004, 03:05 PM
Knotman
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Tie-wraps

Also it might be a good idea to trim off the ends of tie-wraps that might get in the way later, as this one did.

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