a small puddle of oil after oil change

[Denisk]

This may have been beaten to death already, but here goes. 120K on the clock, valve cover gaskets are semi dry, no history of any major leaks so far. Went for an oil change and a few days later found a small puddle under the front driver side, not more than half a cup maybe, but still embarrassing. Checked oil level, its above the full mark on the oil dip. Dripping oil collects on the driver side steering rod and drips to the ground from there, its really hard to see where exactly its coming from on the engine, but seems to be from somewhere on the front which is obscured... Any ideas? Is it a broken seal somewhere on the front end of the engine, is this a result of a slight overfill of oil or both? Thanks in advance. PS, while under the truck for the oil change I noticed that the transfer case was also kind of wet but my tech reminded me that the seals there were changed a year or two back and its fairly normal for some wetness there... Thanks!

 

[KyleT]

PAS fluid or oil?

 

[Denisk]

PAS fluid or oil?

Very good question. Looks like oil to me but I never touched the steering fluid in my life. How do I ascertain its not the PAS?

 

[messar]

Front crankshaft seal? Or, oil pressure sensor.

Either way, give it a good degreasing, and see where the oil is coming from.

Mine was the crank seal - took about an hour to change out. Biggest problem is removing the harmonic balancer....

 

[Denisk]

Front crankshaft seal? Or, oil pressure sensor.

Either way, give it a good degreasing, and see where the oil is coming from.

Mine was the crank seal - took about an hour to change out. Biggest problem is removing the harmonic balancer....

Thank you thank you to both of you!

 

[Denisk]

Thank you thank you to both of you!

Well, it turns out its not so easy: took it to my tech who degreased the engine from any angle imaginable, including from the bottom. Watched it on the stand with the engine running, and steering being turned, nothing. Brought it back home, the engine looks super clean, no leaks to be seen anywhere. When pulling the plastic catch screen from under the engine we did find some liquid and he thought it was definitely PAS, but we saw no leaks and its all dry now. Should I let it sit for awhile or should I drive it for things to start manifesting themselves?

 

[seventyfive]

i was going to ask if you still had that belly pan/splash guard on your truck.

trying to get the oil filter off you usually get a half of pint of old oil in that pan when pulling the filter off, depending on whos doing it... if you pop a hole in the filter and let it drain while you drain the sump, you can get the filter off without getting any oil in the belly pan.

shit, i see you have a saab in your garage. you interested in a very very clean 9-5 turbo 5 speed wagon, black on tan? customer looking to sell it. it is very clean. let me know, we are up in Frederick.

 

[K-rover]

i was going to ask if you still had that belly pan/splash guard on your truck.

trying to get the oil filter off you usually get a half of pint of old oil in that pan when pulling the filter off, depending on whos doing it... if you pop a hole in the filter and let it drain while you drain the sump, you can get the filter off without getting any oil in the belly pan.

X2.. Probably residual from the filter. I would drive it and check it periodically to be sure.

 

[Denisk]

Big thank you for words of wisdom, obviously comes from experience. Will do as you say. Seventyfive, thanks, love saabs but no particular need for a wagon. My advice study closed deals on similar cars on ebay , note prices, clean/detail, take good photos and write a good description, then put in on Craiglsist (free) and on Ebay (free) but ebay may eat a small commission of a finished transaction. Thats the best way to sell now IMHO, Saabs dipped in pricing unfairly after GM drove it to death.