CMohan Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Hi all, I have come across a recent problem that I am hoping someone can help me with. Yesterday, I thought I could smell a little burning oil after I had run the car (96 legacy 2.5GT) for a little while and come to a stop and idled. Not much noticable smoke, but a little. My car was due for an oil change, so I changed the oil, and while I was under the car, I noticed that there was a lot of this black sludge like material caked on various parts of the underside of the car from the behind the oil pan and on the rods going to the wheel (No idea what the technical name of this parts are). Anyways, After the oil change, I drove the car about 40 miles and again noticed the slight smell of burning oil and a little bit of smoke after the car got to operating temp and I was at idle but nothing really bad. Today however, after again driving about 40 miles, the buring oil smell was very much stronger and the smoke coming from under the engine was extremely noticable to the point my friend thought the car was going to catch on fire (he's a little paranoid). I let the car sit for the day and then drove it 40 miles home with the same results as in the morning...ridiculous amount of smoke and unbearable smell of buring oil. I dropped it off at a shop and noticed a small amount of oil had dripped onto the ground under the car, and it appeared to be coming from a skinny metal plate in front of the oil pan....the shop said they were going to run a dye test the smell seems to be the strongest on the left side of the engine just above the intake manifold....but I was hoping someone on here may have had a similar experience and/or have an idea what is going on so I can prepare myself for the bad news....any help would be greatly appreciated. I should add that I experienced a similar occurance in January of 04 and had to have the cam seal, water pump, and timing belt replaced. Don't know if it is the same thing, but the smoke wasn't quite as bad last year, though the smell was nearly the same and the smoke was fairly sizeable. Thanks so much for any help/guidance that is offered. -Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 Could it be grease slipping out through a cracked CV boot? (The flexible rubber boot on either end of the driveshafts aka. "rod") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattocs Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 cam seals or oil pump seals? Both are common leaks. The cam seal will cause a lot more oil to leak out than the oil pump seal (in my experience) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMohan Posted June 4, 2005 Author Share Posted June 4, 2005 cam seals or oil pump seals? Both are common leaks. The cam seal will cause a lot more oil to leak out than the oil pump seal (in my experience) Thanks for the info guys...any idea how long a replaced cam seal should last once it is replaced...or better yet...what would cause one to wear down in just a little over a year....I don't drive my car too hard very often.....and how much should a repair for these things run....thanks.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattocs Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 sometimes the seals last 50,000 miles...sometimes they last 250,000 miles. The cam seals and oil pump seals are not to bad (pricewise). If you need a timeing belt, get them done then...you'll save money. I think the cam seals are like $200 or so...but a timing belt, cam seals, oil pump seals, and waterpump are like $450 - $500. Not sure about individual pricing...and YMMV depending on location. I don't know why they go...but surly they will last you until your next timing belt change, and it can be done again then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMohan Posted June 4, 2005 Author Share Posted June 4, 2005 sometimes the seals last 50,000 miles...sometimes they last 250,000 miles. The cam seals and oil pump seals are not to bad (pricewise). If you need a timeing belt, get them done then...you'll save money. I think the cam seals are like $200 or so...but a timing belt, cam seals, oil pump seals, and waterpump are like $450 - $500. Not sure about individual pricing...and YMMV depending on location. I don't know why they go...but surly they will last you until your next timing belt change, and it can be done again then. Does it seem unusual to need to replace a cam seal again after only 30K or so...also, the guy at the shop when he sold me on the timing belt said I shouldn't need one again for 100K, is this accurate...should I not need to replace the thing this time after only 30 k or so..... I just don't want to blame anyone for shotty work if that isn't the case or be taken advantage of.... thanks for all the help everyone...it is very much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattocs Posted June 4, 2005 Share Posted June 4, 2005 newer models (all 2.5l I think) have a timing belt change interval of 105,000 miles. Older newer gen ones are 60,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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