Well I have been trying to track down my oil leak for a while now. I got under the car yesterday and it looks as if a significant amount of oil is on the oil pan towards the front of the car(though there is oil everywhere). There seems to be a ghetto gasket that someone made thats sticking out as well. Could this be the leak even though there is oil all around my engine bay? Looks like there are alot of bolt holding that thing on too Oh and can I just get the gasket from Mazda and if so does anyone have any idea how much? Thanks alot.

 

Things that are in front that may leak:

-Front cover of the engine
-Oil return for turbo
-Oil metering pump
-Oil pan

If you are sure it is the oil pan than.... I have heard if you do not have a gasket in place than you do not need one in there. Personally, it makes me warm and fuzzy to know there are two layers of RTV and a gasket in my pan.

The labor to remove this pan is alot. Taking it to do dealer will result in a quote +$400. The work is simple though.

The engine has to be supported because the passenger side engine mount is also holding the oil pan. The two ways of support are a jack and a block of wood under the tranny to support the engine. Or, support the engine from above with a hoist.

There are a lot of 10MM bolts to remove. The ones under the front cover will be the most chalenging to remove/install.

Do not sand or any thing blast the pan to clean it. Just soak it and sand it if you wish. Don't want crap to get in your engine.

Things you need :

-Oil pan gasket
-RTV sealant
-Engine mounts if yours are shot (perfect time to replace)
-Gasket between engine and oil pick up (Why not replace it)
-Jack and jackstands
-Wire brush to remove old RTV (Make sure wire dosn't scratch mating surface on pan.

Also, be VERY carful on how aggresive you get on prying the pan off. If you get to happy with it you will bend the pan. They are hard to straighten out. So just be carful removing that pan.

Also you said there was gasket material protruding. It maybe RTV sealant that was squezed out when the pan was installed. Is it gasket (Paper) or RTV?

James

 

Its RTV coming out. What exactly is the front cover? I really want to fix this leak so it may go to the local rotary shop, hes pretty fair with prices.

 

It probally was the sealant from the previous install on the oil pan.

The front cover is just that. Look at the front of the engine. It is the housing that covers the front of it.

Right bebind the pullies. There is a gasket in there that seals the front cover and the rotor side housing. If this breaks down oil will come out.

James

 

Well I might just change the oil pan gasket and see if it fixes it. If not I guess I pay to have it fixed.

 

Use the Mazda sealant stuff. I've had better luck with that then, some off the shelf RTV stuff. IT's a lot of work but not terribly complicated. Careful taking the pan off and remember to pry it off, around all corners. The stock gasket is paper thin and sucks donkey ***** by the way.