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I knew my rx8 had something that was leaking but it was very minor compared to the other issues I fixed and I decided to take a look at it. When you face the engine the oil leak has a little puddle on the left side around the middle I'd like to say. I got some footage, would anyone have an idea for me to start?
Picture was right next to the alternator on the left side, just a little puddle from build up. Any clues?
Is there oil spray on the underside of the engine cover? Underside of the alternator and bracket? Around the main pulley?
It could be a few things: front main seal (manifests at high rpm usually), OMP gasket or a broken OMP line (easy to verify visually) or maaaybe oil cooler line if you live in areas where rust is a thing. I actually have the front main seal condition, have had for years.
Yeah I've noticed a little bit of a spray, but yeah its basically underneath the alternator! I've been told its probably a gasket but I don't think that's the case, but yeah basically what you said is where it is.. My question is, would it even be worth it? I basically top off the oil every other week or sometimes 3 weeks. I just hate seeing my car with a leak. Rust is a thing over here but I make sure whenever there's salt water on the vehicle I spray with clean water and let it dry in a ventilated garage.
The thing with salt is the oil fitting to the oil cooler rusts and eventually leaks, it's not easily reachable with a hose. But anyway, it sounds like it's not that.
I mean. Replacing the front main is a bit of pain, I've lived with it so far. I think I'll just deal with it when the engine needs replacement. In my case it only manifests at the track when I'm wringing the car out. It doesn't leak while driving normally. Clean it up and see if it comes back?
Yeah I'm gonna clean it here this weekend and see if it comes back within a couple of weeks, cause it's a very small oil leak it just puddled up and it looks very massive but I check the oil and if anything there's minimum to no loss so.. Thank you for helping me out, sorry for the late reply! I'll keep you updated on it!
So I did clean it out and it went away and its very slowly building back up... I also do live in an area where there is humidity so half of it is water and half of it is oil..
I forgot to mention that was after a bit of driving, wasn't after a couple of days. But it is just oil that's leaking and it's not doing anything harmful from what I know.. engine is running fine and it still kicks my head into the seat.. driving and everything else and throttle is fine.. I guess to really see what it is, is it really lift it up. I think I'll get that done this weekend when I get time. Hopefully we can diagnose it by then, and its still in the same spot essentially. Just a little bit of build-up after me cleaning it. I'll keep you updated though throughout the week, and thank you for helping me, I really do appreciate it.
I forgot to mention that was after a bit of driving, wasn't after a couple of days. But it is just oil that's leaking and it's not doing anything harmful from what I know.. engine is running fine and it still kicks my head into the seat.. driving and everything else and throttle is fine.. I guess to really see what it is, is it really lift it up. I think I'll get that done this weekend when I get time. Hopefully we can diagnose it by then, and its still in the same spot essentially. Just a little bit of build-up after me cleaning it. I'll keep you updated though throughout the week, and thank you for helping me, I really do appreciate it.
Still sounds concerning as NO oil should be leaking out of the engine. You should ensure any oil lines are not leaking. If it is actually coming from the engine this is a huge problem. This means an oil seal has failed. I would think though it is more likely a leak from an oil line.
I would pull the left front wheel and remove the oil cooler cover and inspect the oil cooler lines in that area. These are prone to rusting at the fittings and causing an oil leak. I've done a few sets over the years for customers and they continue to be one of the first things I check when inspecting an 8.
Well I'll check that area then this weekend, that'll be a good place to start! Passenger side right?
Cayman, I do believe it is from an oil line because there is a very tiny amount of spray, I don't think it's coming from the actual engine but just a line hopefully, or even better, something even smaller than a line
Two pics which should give you some idea of what's below your alternator, and likely oil leak suspects. The first shows the alternator removed, ...the second a few add'l bits. My guess based on your pic and explanation is the likely suspect is one of your OMP lines (you can see four brownish lines snake up the front, run under the harness, then across the top). Second pic shows these running to 1 of 4 oil jets on the top of the engine. These are fragile, and if cracked could cause your issue.
The oil cooler hoses are worth inspecting..., but are physically (vertically) below the location where you've indicated your oil is pooling. Of course the oil could move vertically upward...while driving...but that would require quite a large leak, ...resulting in oil everywhere.
Hey sorry I never got back to you in two months lol, but I really appreciate the help! I haven't done anything to the engine yet but I've fixed my dashboard by going to a upholstery kinda guy and he did it for 60$, Currently my computer is dying as the MOBO is having its controllers die out, so I need to save up and get a working computer and I also do need a new processor, but as soon as that oil leak gets fixed I will let you know what it was if it's something else, again I really do appreciate everyone's help, this was not in vain!
So I tore part of the car open, removing the battery and airbox and I got a couple of good shots.. I'm 80% sure its a OMP line but would a cracked line also be the cause of oil getting into the combustion chamber? I have a video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0ck...TheM26Pershing
Unfortunately the mechanic I go to was not comfortable tearing the car apart so I have to go to a dealership
Its a lot of oil honestly. I do believe you have a significant enough leak to get it diagnosed. This is the main word "diagnose". You do not want to go to a dealership to fix it but you want them to identify the issue.
Yeah, Looks like I might have to do it myself if I don't want to spend 2k+ knowing them.. but my father's friend had an rx8 and he went to that dealership to have a front main seal replaced and he said it wasn't too expensive, so I have no idea but to just have them diagnose it. I really appreciate your help too, thank you very much
Got it confirmed to be a line and the OMP, and a front cover gasket... They wanted 4500 to fix it all So I'm gonna do the pump and the oil line, but there is no oil coming from the front of the engine or the back, just on that one side where the OMP, and the lines are. Is it possible they even tried to sell me a new gasket when I didn't need one? I'm gonna start looking for those parts.. I've found a couple for 80$-130$ for lines, and for a pump around 100$-300$, does that seem about right?
That doesn't make a lot of sense. A line, sure, fine, but the OMP? Are they installing a new one at that price? You may need to replace the o-ring, but that's just an o-ring and an hour of work. Not 4500.
And the front gasket? Can they point out where exactly it's leaking? Sounds fishy.
Haha yeah, I looked online and it's about a thousand dollars for a brand new one, so maybe that's why, and yeah you are right.
And with the front gasket they really just said that it was "needed" but there is no oil leak from the front of the engine lol, I also am not so sure about the OMP because that line leaks enough to cover the OMP, but they did clean it and looked after they test drove it cold...
did I mention that they shut it off halfway cold? I wouldn't trust them with the gasket. I'm replacing the lines myself and if the leak still heavily persists I'll replace the O-ring in that OMP, and if it still persits then maybe I'll double check the gasket, but physically there is no leakage coming from where the gasket is located according to them.
I also did have another mechanic check it out that had a rotary about 50 years ago lol.. he said he only saw the leak coming from one place which was where the oil line was, and said if it was the pump it would be a seal. I've heard of OMP deletes.. how well do those go? All jokes aside, Hopefully that's all the engine needs to get rid of that leak.
Last edited by RX-8 40th Anniversary; 10-29-2020 at 11:31 PM.
I replaced my engine not too long ago and while I was at it I ended up replacing one of the oil cooler lines that runs from the oil filter housing all the way to the oil cooler hose by the radiator. I was at my friends house and I let it warm up before I was ready to leave and as I got in and drove to the end of the driveway I had noticed the oil light on and no oil pressure showing. Turns out my oil cooler hose completely popped off and leaked a huge puddle of oil on the driveway, I ended up clicking it back together but it's not tight and has some wiggle room. Is there any way to secure it properly so it doesn't pop off again?
there’s supposed to be a wire clip that keeps them from separating. You had to have taken it out in order to get the line apart the prior time.
so the new engine ran dry? not good …
.
Thank you for your reply, I did install the wire clip and when it popped off I reinstalled it again. It still seems to be leaking from there onto the power steering rack. Im thinking I may need a new o ring or clip im not sure just trying to get some feedback.
Ya it did end up running dry for a minute or so at idle before I got in and noticed. Still seems to be okay… hopefully
07-07-2020, 01:12 PM
So I'm gonna do the pump and the oil line, but there is no oil coming from the front of the engine or the back, just on that one side where the OMP, and the lines are. Is it possible they even tried to sell me a new gasket when I didn't need one? I'm gonna start looking for those parts.. I've found a couple for 80$-130$ for lines, and for a pump around 100$-300$, does that seem about right?
All jokes aside, Hopefully that's all the engine needs to get rid of that leak. 
Leaked out all of my oil
