Oily

[semprini27]

My '88 3.2 Targa drops a little oil when standing. When checking oil levels it never seems to use more than the "ordinary" i.e. top up with a litre every 5k or so.

Accepting the fact that an oil drop on a driveway can look a lot worse than it is, should I be worried or is a little "seepage" normal / inevitable. Crankcase is slightly damp - difficult to pin point where from.

Engine has 130k on the clock and is as it left the factory. It has a nice book full of stamps showing due care and attention. Last serviced, before I picked it up, at Ray Northway in July who didn't report any concerns with oil leakage.

 

[tripe]

Do you get any burnt oil smells in the cabin when you blow any air through the heater or can you see oil smoke coming from the rear end (from oil dripping onto a hot exhaust) when you're in stationery traffic? These are probably the two symptoms that would cheese you off the most (apart from an oily drive). Personally I would leave it be, unless the cause is something simple (like the seal on a pressure switch) then you could be looking at a large bill to remove the engine etc in order to change an oil seal or two. IMO better to wait until you need some other remedial engine work doing and get the leak sorted at the same time.

 

[bones]

good advice leave alone unless you have access to a lift to check it all out, most oil leaks are insignificant, I've always thought the occassional oily smells are party of the 911 experience! I climbed into mine for a drive the other day after driving around for a month in only my characterless electric everything Toyota estate and loved every faint whiff of oil in the cockpit as I bounced over every pot-hole and overtook everything insight!
Jeronimo!!!!

 

[Guest]

Could be a liitle seepage from the oil return tubes due to the cold temps affecting the seals. I wouldn't worry about it.
What oil are you using?

 

[Guest]

She's just marking her territory, perfectly normal behaviour

 

[porkersc]

Just had the same diagnosed on my 3.2. As 911MOT mentioned she is just marking her patch.

 

[twinny]

Had the "oily patch" problem recently and couldn't work out where it was coming from. Turned out to be slight weeping from the camshaft oil feeds. The oil was running round the tin wear, down various parts of the engine (mainly timing covers) and onto the drip tray on the garage floor. Looked far worse than it was. Replaced both pipes (not a big cost) - problem solved.

 

[semprini27]

Thanks guys.

Just been out for a wintery sunny blast and, god it's good !!

No smoke or oily smells so I think it's pretty insignificant. Oil is 10W40 semi-synth.

Biggest amount of crud kicked up was from the grit / salt combo covering the roads at the moment. A good warm wash down is in order tomorrow......and the car could do with a clean too.....