So I bought my car about 2 months ago and it was running great. I checked the oil every week and it was always on the full mark, until this week where the oil didn't even show on the dipstick I added about a liter of oil, and drove home, just to find that my oil does not even show on the dipstick anymore. I filled it again and left it for a couple of days, when i came back it stays at the low mark, but that is without turning on the engine. I managed to find a leak on the left front side of the engine. I do not think its the front main seal, because its too high up, and it is not the head gasket (i wish it was). Could it be the piston oil rings? or VCG? What would cause my oil to go out that fast. An important point also is that the oil I added was synthetic 5w-20 as it was the only oil I had in my trunk, and did not want to drive the car with low oil. The car is usually filled with conventional 10w 30, Can it be leaking just because of the lower viscosity of the synthetic oil?

 

Could be front cam seals.

Do you rev your car to high rpms a lot ?

 

I have only had it for 2 months so not sure what previous owner did, but when i did have it yes i did rev it up to almost red line before shifting sometimes. Would i lose that much oil from that? and how hard are they to replace?

 

If it is coming from around there, it is likely the cam cover gasket. Over time they get hard and if you are using synthetic oil it will leak even easier. its very easy to change out and you should probably do before you start getting a misfire as it is likely leaking elsewhere too like into the sparkplug wells.
also may want to change the CAS o ring too. if you are using this much oil you may also be using it via blowby. Check your PCV valve make sure it is not gooked up.

Chris Rummel

 

Do u mean valve cover gasket? and is there anyway I can check if it is that? When i pull the valve cover off how will i know if it is the vcg thats leaking?
Thanks

 

Turn engine on, get someone to rev the **** out it while you check for leaks and blue smoke?

 

Yes, valve cover gasket and cam cover gasket are the same. You can probably see oil on the head and right along where the cam cover meets the head. also pull your plugs and look for oil on the threads since they will often show if the gasket is leaking and will eventually lead to a misfire if this goes long enough. Check the back of the head below the CAS sensor as well usually when the cam cover is leaking the o ring on the CAS is as well. Changing the cam cover gasket makes changing the CAS o-ring easier too since you will have more room to get at it with the cam cover off.
You will have to check/reset your timing after you do the CAS o ring though. Both are easy to do and cheap as well.

Chris Rummel

 

Alright, I will try changing those, but the leak is a bit lower than where the head meets the valve cover, I cannot pinpoint exactly where its from.
Thank u so much for ur help.

 

Probably just looks that way because it has run down the side of the head. Mine was oily and dirty down past the fuel injectors. Be sure to check the CAS o ring as well. That usually leaks more then the cam cover.

Chris Rummel

 

Yeah i checked the cas O ring and that wasn't leaking, the only leak is on the exhaust side of the engine at the front :/

 

Maybe someone is stealing your oil overnight?

 

--Ian