Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Engine oil leak.Help!!

Yeah I have the same problem - mine is damp around the crank seal but much more wet around the front of the oil pan ( thick enough for dirt to easly sick to ) noticed a few wet spots ( no concentrated puddles ) on garage floor. Bummer but also glad others have and R dealing w/this prob. I've just rolled over 51k, will clean soon and go from there.

Ditto for me. Wet around the pan, probably gasket, also maybe drain plug.
Seemed to get worse after last oil change. Went from 80K miles on Havoline synthetic to Mobil 1.
I smell the burning oil now and then after it drips on the exhaust pipe.

I have had oil fumes from the fresh air vents in my 1998 SVT since I acquired it at 24K miles (now at 67K). I see the poster right above is getting oil fumes. Has anyone else with these oil leaks smelled fumes from the vents?

Yes - I too am getting oil fumes. So far, not in the cockpit. They are noticeable after I have driven my car and gotten out of it, especially when it is in the garage. The oil is dripping onto the manifold under the car. The other night, I also noticed a droplet of oil clinging to the oil pan just prior to dripping onto the garage floor.

Here's an update on my situation I had the car at the dealer for a list of issues check engine,front end clunking oil leak from pan. This what they said, Need O2 sensor $250 including diagnostic charge $70. I'm doing myself. Clunking is sway bar links are bad didn' get the quote on this part. Oil leak should be done the man says I trust these guys by the way. the price $400 clams ouch. Told me was a major pain to change about 5 hours seems high but I wouldnt want to do it I'm not a mechanic nor do I have the time too so I had them do it. If you think I'm insane for paying that much for the oil pan let me know. but thats what up so far. On the plus side I found out the dealer near my work who said I need a tranny rebuild was full of manure. This dealer is out of the way but they always treat me fair and tell me what I need and need not do.

my baby seems to be leaking oil from the belt side around the power steering pump pulley area

stinks when i drive it hard and i have to add oil every couple days or so depending on how much driving im doing

No one mentioned to try re torqueing the bolts on the pan. This has worked for me. However, been using synthetic oil for ten years, when one converts to this from dino after using dino for 10000-50,000 miles you are almost guaranteed a oil seepage in a year or less. Sometimes it goes away sometimes it stays. In my cases it has never gotten to be more then seepage. Current Zetec converted at 30,000, both tranny gasket and oil pan and crank seal seem to seep but none to the point they make any diff on the dipsticks. Currently 67,000 miles.

Well, here's the update:
I replaced the oil pan gasket yesterday, and it appears that was the leak. Apon inspection, I could clearly see oil seeping through the pan gasket at the end beneath the crank pulley.

"95 contour SE in NE", that is WAY too much to may for the job!!! I did it myself taking my time in about two hours.
I am happy to report that after nearly 4 years and 60,000 miles of driving, the pan was spotless inside. Not a trace of sludge or metal in the pan.(I've also been running an underdrive pulley for the last two years).

All's well that ends well. Thanks for the info, folks. It appears these leaks are a lot more common than I ever imagined.

Jabberjack...

my 98 svt appears to have the same problem. It leaks at the corner where the oil pan and timing cover connect. It then leaks on the engine cradle and drips on the floor. I'm NOT looking forward to replacing that!