hmmm..a strange one.

[CaptainSlow]

So took the car out to today's SS and after returning home and putting the Eunos away in the garage I noticed some oil drips on the drive way where it had stood whilst I opened the garage door.

Initially I thought the oil had come from my Forester which usually stands on the drive but after checking it and finding nothing I went into the garage to check the Eunos. There seems to be a build up of fresh oil on the sump casing and it does look like it may come from the CAS. What is puzzling me is that there is a coating of oil along the offside sill and lower door/rear arch, in addition there is some on the offside front tyre and wheel arch. Would a leaking CAS drop enough for this to occur? Whilst driving I didn't notice and oil pressure problems.

[MX-5 Lazza]

That does sound a bit odd. Oil from the o-ring or cam-cover usually just ends up dripping on the floor rather than spraying out far enough to reach the sills. Check less obvious things like the oil-filter.
Also, are you sure the oil is engine oil? Brake fluid could well find it's way to the sills if a brake pipe was leaking. Also check the clutch slave cylinder.

[CaptainSlow]

Yeah pretty sure it is oil, I'll give it a wash during the week and see if it occurs again.

[CaptainSlow]

Well the mystery does deepen. I've just whipped the offside front wheel off and the brake hose/caliper and clutch slave look ok. However, I did notice the inside of the front nose cone/valance just behind and below the side repeater has a good covering of black oil. The nearside has a smaller amount.

I'm not entirely sure it has come from my car (here's hoping). I did go to MBW SS this morning so may have picked something up there.

[MX-5 Lazza]

In that case you need to give it a pressure wash from a garage to clean off as much of the oil from that area as possible then go for a short blat and take another look to see if any more oil has appeared. That would be be an odd place to find oil unless it's spraying up off a tyre in which case it might not be yours. Sounds like it was quite a lot of oil though and I'm sure you would notine if you drove through THAT much oil!

ETA: There are some core-plugs that do sometimes corrode & fail that could possibly spray oil a fair distance...

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Sunday 12th December 22:07

[reaper668]

I had something similar happen to mine. Turned out the rocker cover bolts where coming loose and as the car warmed up oil started passing the gasket.

[BIG DUNC]

Has it used any power steering fluid?

[CaptainSlow]

Power steering fluid level looks ok. Just noticed some oil in the rear arches. I'll take it to the jet wash tomorrow and blast it all off and then go from there.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Could also check for a blown shock...

[gforceg]

This might seem too obvious to even mention but does the dipstick suggest you're losing oil?
I'm going out on limb here because I've only had our 5 for a few weeks but could pipework to an oil cooler be spraying at high pressures but not leak when cooled down? Does a puddle develop at rest or can you only see the sprayed evidence?

Apologies if I've steamed in with nonsense.
Greg

[CaptainSlow]

I have post a more general question in GG as the issue has got much worse with more widespread puddles on the floor plus dampness on the bodywork. One suggestion was the Air Con drains but I'm not sure that will cause dampness on the body.

[MX-5 Lazza]

That could well be a blown shock. Check the wheel arches.

[CaptainSlow]

Well I'm now beginning to suspect condensation due to the amount and clarity of water.

[MX-5 Lazza]

CaptainSlow said:

Well I'm now beginning to suspect condensation due to the amount and clarity of water.

Shock oil is clear and when mine went it coated the wheel-arch and all down the side of the car and down a chassis rail... I'm not sure you'd see anything from the AC - wouldn't that evaporate quickly?