yzercyber

'03 WRX with 101k miles. Stock engine.

I just finished an oil and filter change. I ran the engine to check for leaks and noticed an oil leak that wasn't there before. The drip point is under the turbo, on the heat shield mount. The leak is about one drop per 10 seconds or so at idle RPM. The oil blew onto the exhaust heat shield during a quick run around the block. That made some white smoke.

No leaks near the filter area or the drain plug. I always wipe these areas down with clean paper towel ofter an oil change.

Look like I have a trip to the mechanic in store for Monday.

Any ideas about the oil leak???

theo79

iTrader: (6)

hmm id say maybe check your intercooler pipes (take off top mount and check y pipe and bov hose and stuff) i've found some oil inside of my y-pipe (normal so i hear)

I thought oil burned blue?



if you do find there is excess oil in there (shouldnt be a huge amount just a little bit) wipe it clean as possible with a rag.

if you have silicone intercooler hoses spray the inside right where the hose clamp is going to go with hairspray lol...i hear this keeps them from blowing off....which happened to me....last thursday...ask bluej20 he was there! =)

Wingless Wonder

iTrader: (7)

It could be the oil supply line for the turbo.

yzercyber

The oil supply line is OK. Everything that can be seen with the tubro heat shield on looks OK. I'm thinking it the turbo oil return line. I can't see that. It's a PITA to get to. You have to pull TMIC, shields, and the turbo to fix it.

I'm going to crank it this morning and make sure it isn't the same thing that happened a few years ago after an oil and filter change: mysterious oil leak and smoke that just suddenly disappeared without any reason or cause.

yzercyber

The cold start this morning produced only 3 drops of oil before the engine reached normal operating temperature. A carefull 10 minute drive and a couple of minutes of idling smoked all of the oil from the turbo area and heat shield. A twenty minute road test with some full boosts produced no more oil. I took a 100 mile trip later in the afternoon on state highways and country roads with no issues.

There is still a little oil present on the drip point I described above, so there is still a little seepage. I'll keep an eye on things and have it looked at next week during the 100K maintenance. Looks like the seepage comes from the turbo oil return line under the turbo.