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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 07:05:55 am

Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 07:05:55 am: Hello all. I've got an 85 1.6L Golf. She's losing oil at an alarming rate. I drive 120 miles a day at 65 mph. The back of the car is covered with a black oily substance, which i'm assuming is oil, since my dad's diesel golf (identical to mine) doens't do that, so i know its not diesel fuel. I'm going thru at least a quart a day. Any idea what i need to fix. Valve seals maybe? Or is my motor gone? Thanks for any help!
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: jtanguay on June 08, 2008, 07:38:57 am: could be a number of things. clogged breather, worn rings, worn valve seals...
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 07:39:56 am: What things should i check to see what it could be?
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: burn_your_money on June 08, 2008, 08:06:03 am: compression check, and then leak down test.

You are refering to the very back of your car being covered in oil, not the firewall correct?
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 08:17:24 am: Yes, the back of the car is oily. I'm not familiar with a leak down test.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: zukgod1 on June 08, 2008, 08:29:13 am: Does it appear to be coming out the tail pipe or from under the car?

You can have a leak from the engine and still get oil all over the rear of the car.

Does it leave a puddle when you park?
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: Quantum TD on June 08, 2008, 08:44:58 am: Consumption that high usually means worn rings/cylinders. My pickup used about 2-3 qts every 400-500 miles and the rings were roasted. I suspect you're in the same boat.

I'd pull the crankcase breather tube, and check for heavy blowby and/or white smoke puffing out of the tube. If you have one, the other, or both, then you're probably looking at a rebuild.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 09:05:23 am: Yes. I hadn't checked before, but the whole underside of the car is coated in oil.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 09:19:21 am: Ok, i spoke with my dad, i was at his house yesterday, and i left a huge puddle of oil at his place. So, i've got a leak somewhere. Any common places?
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: gigaz2 on June 08, 2008, 09:56:29 am: there are a lot of gaskets that can leak, I wash my engine to locate them more easily.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: burn_your_money on June 08, 2008, 10:14:00 am: oil dipstick usually leaks a lot when it goes, other then that there is all the crank/cam seals and the VC gasket. Upgrade to a rubber one if it is leaking
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: shegel on June 08, 2008, 10:41:29 am: when my valve cover gasket went. i was losing about 3 quarts every 50 miles.d
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 08, 2008, 10:48:07 am: b_y_$, when you say dipstick, do you mean at the top where you pull it out, or down in the pan?

Supposedely, when i had the IP pump done, the valve cover gasket was replaced as well.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: gigaz2 on June 08, 2008, 10:50:30 am: down where it meets the block, it should have a oring. when that fails ( common) lots of oil is lost.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: burn_your_money on June 08, 2008, 04:41:58 pm: Quote from: "gigaz2"
down where it meets the block, it should have a oring. when that fails ( common) lots of oil is lost.

that's the one I meant.

Losing that much oil it should be easy to find. Pressure wash the engine and top up the oil and just sit there reving it from the engine bay.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 09, 2008, 12:38:03 pm: Ok, may have found the problem. It looks like somewhere on the oil filter flange is leaking. See below.

(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/rapscallion_83/IMG00007.jpg)

I had to come in cause of the heat for a little while, i'll head back out an run her again and check it some more. Is there a gasket behind that flange? Could the high pressure sensor be leaking. Can't really tell yet.[/img]
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: jtanguay on June 09, 2008, 01:06:18 pm: yep there's a gasket
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: The Mad Hatter on June 09, 2008, 05:48:58 pm: Found it. The sending unit for the pressure sensor is leaking out the top. To be replaced soon. Thanks for the help yous guys!
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: dillenger1 on December 24, 2008, 01:39:35 pm: why not just tighten it?Dont use any tef tape it will isolate the ground.
Title: Losing MAJOR amounts of oil
Post by: Rabbit TD on December 31, 2008, 10:43:33 pm: Quote from: "dillenger1"
why not just tighten it?Dont use any tef tape it will isolate the ground.

I don't know if these VW senders will do it or not but I've seen some others leak internaly right through them and out around the pastic at the connector.