Man, this thread finally reminded me to search about that stupid A/C braket bolt that holds the oil pump on.

M8x1.25x45mm, it can have a shoulder because only the bottom of the hole (the pump) is threaded

True. Engine is cleaned and assembled. Waiting on the flashlight to get home

I guess you'll need to stay under the car as the engine cranks. Wear eye protection and ear protection while you're at it.

Ummm, no. The oil pump housing isn't threaded, the block is. And the hole measures 52mm deep without the AC bracket in place; a 50mm bolt is the correct one to use when doing an AC delete.

Well here it is. It's a bolt from the pan. The leak comes from the head of the bolt. Verdict? pull the engine?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1368494677

Reseal pan, homie.

Pull the engine, or drop the front subframe. Reseal oil pan, check oil pump while you are at it.

did you even look from the top...cause last time i checked, gravity makes things fall form top to bottom.

I feel like I could remove that bolt from my engine and it wouldn't leak.

Screw that - if the gunk is coming from just that bolt (maybe 3-5% chance), remove the bolt, squirt a little dab of RTV in there, put the bolt back in.

If it still leaks, *then* go through all the trouble/work to pull the engine.

I was afraid of that :cry: In this case are the felpro gaskets from vatozone okay? APR studs or regular studs? what kind of RTV?

Yes the top is clean as a whistle. There's absolutely nothing coming from the top. I had the car running for a good amount of time too, about 5 minutes or more. The oil is coming right out of the head of the bolt from the bottom of the matting lip of the pan and not from the matting surface of the pan. It's very odd but in the video you can see there's nothing on top and where the leak comes from.

^The lazy me thought of that lol

you realize there's no pressure in the pan right?

Yeah Felpro oil pan gasket is okay, Use this RTV Buy Permatex The Right Stuff Gasket Maker (5 oz) 29208 at Advance Auto Parts Good stuff. Check the o-ring on you oil pump and buy OEM o-ring if it's missing.

I do. Did you see the video? there nothing anywhere else. :dunno:

Thanks

Good LUCK.

Could blow by cause pressure built-up enough to push oil out of that region. I did rev the car when at first saw nothing coming out at all minutes later the leak on video appeared.


:bigtu: thanks

I'm obviously missing something...why wouldn't this work? Or did you try it already and it didn't work?

I haven't touch the car. I wanted feedback before I did. I have some black RTV laying around

Update

I just went to check the bolt where the oil was coming from and was completely loose. I used only my fingers to take it off. How the hell? Well I put some black RTV and torqued it to spec then spay the bottom with engine cleaner and I'm letting it dry now. I'll inspect the area later when it gets dark and it's easier to see the dye

Are you using the two half moon gaskets for the front/rear of the pan?

They must be in there still. The engine remains in the car. I'm going to try tighten it with RTV first and if that doesn't fix it then the engine is coming off. I just wanted to comment that that bolt was loose.