By TC on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 12:22 am: Edit

After I switched to 100% Synthetic Oil, my engine stops leaking oil. I want to spend sometime this week to degrease my engine. Anything I should watch out for? Thanks in advance.

By JA on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 07:24 am: Edit

Try to keep the "Gunk Engine degreaser" or whatever you use off of electrical wires, gaskets, and any rubber/plastic. Its ok to get a bit on, but it dries it out. Have handy an old spray bottle of water. I degreased and it worked GREAT. You have to likely do the oil pan twice though.
-JA

By Rob on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 12:00 pm: Edit

What paricular type of oil did you use/ My garage floor looks horrible.

By TC on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 02:13 pm: Edit

Rob,

I used the CASTROL SYNTEC FULL SYNTHETIC 10W-40. I have never used it before and it was on-sale at the time so I bought some. My goal was to improve the gas mileage but it also stopped my engine oil leak. It sure is a nice surprise. My leak was never that bad, few drops here and there. Good Luck

By Jarrod on Friday, May 25, 2001 - 05:56 pm: Edit

How much oil did you leak - lets say around 3000 miles or so. Mine leaks about 3/4 quart every 3000 miles. Just trying to see what everyone else gets.

About degreasing, what about the breather tubes, I want to degrease mine as well, but I saw from a previous posting that someone might have forced water down their breather tubes and the tranny fluid was foamy and way over the HOT line.

By tc on Saturday, May 26, 2001 - 11:48 am: Edit

Jarrod,

Mine is not that bad. I will say it is about 1/4 quart every 3000 miles.

You can always plug it up before you do it.

By bill on Sunday, May 27, 2001 - 12:43 am: Edit

i have been using Mobile 1 10-30W full synthetic and my 96 d1 seems to leak/burn that at a faster rate that organic oil. but i doubt that the synthetic oil would have any effect on the leaks -- likely because it is cleaner looking it just seems to be dripping less.

my car uses a quart every 1000 miles or so. between the engine, transmission, transfer case and power steering leaks, my driveway looks like the exxon valdez was there. it gets replaced when i get rid of the Rover -- i've given up trying to keep it clean w/ that car around.

i do swear by the synthetic oils however -- my 78 Toyota truck has 180,000 Mobil 1 miles on it w/o any engine work and the crankcase is spotless inside.

bill

By bill on Sunday, May 27, 2001 - 12:48 am: Edit

forgot my two cents on degreasing:

i take my discovery to the local self-car-wash about once a month and hose the engine compartment and underside off w/ the high pressure hose and soap.

this is, after all, a car that is supposed to be able to ford 4 foot deep water.

done this a few dozen times will no ill effects to the engine or electrical system. just be careful that you don't break any flimsy plastic stuff or knock any wires loose.

bill