Pa-ting!!

Kinja'd!!! "Ryanator122" (hawkeye122)
04/08/2015 at 18:20 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 13

On my way home my car sounded like it did the Lotus thing and shed a metal part. Now exhaust has oil coming out of it?

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The only thing I found were these three holes (bracket point?) and the car made no other noises. I was just down the hill from my house, so I went ahead and drove it home. Oil level seems fine (so it didn't just blow ALL the oil out of the exhaust I suppose?) and I see nothing which is blatantly missing. Suspension bit maybe? Small support for a hose somewhere? For context, this is the manifold in front of the gearbox on my Mazda6 s Automatic (2005)

I'm half tempted to start it and see if it throws oil/smoke out the back, but I don't want to grenade it either. Help me? It has had a minor oil consumption issue, but I've kept on top of it and recently it hasn't burned/leaked as much.


DISCUSSION (13)


Kinja'd!!! Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:22

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That part behind the exhaust looks suspiciously wet.


Kinja'd!!! Brian, The Life of > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:23

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Do you have an oil pressure gage or at least the functioning idiot light? If yes, and your pressure is fine, you shouldn't grenade it because of the oil.


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:27

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that doesnt look like a whole lot of oil if it isnt condensation. Exhaust nice and tight? Does it smell like oil when hot?

Alternate theory, you do have a leak there somewhere, the blowback from the leak is just collecting in that heat shield


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > Brian, The Life of
04/08/2015 at 18:28

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I think those have just idiot lights. Ryanator just click the key to the pre run state before you start it, and make sure the light is coming on, and goes off right after you start it


Kinja'd!!! Ryanator122 > Brian, The Life of
04/08/2015 at 18:31

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It sort-of functions? In warm weather it would flicker when the engine was in Drive+stopped at a light. As my oil got lower (when it was leaking/burning) it would flicker and be "on" for a bit more time, but in never threw up a legit "You're out of oil" bright, continuous light. People on here and my mechanic narrowed that down to a finicky sensor, and I decided to leave it be, since flicker, flicker more, and on is way more oil pressure info than I had with just a light that was on/off.


Kinja'd!!! RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:32

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The three holes look like they're for draining, and that the actual exhaust pipe is within that thing as a shield. I'd look elsewhere for the leak - I suspect it's following the pipe down from somewhere and then coming out from having dripped into the shield.


Kinja'd!!! Ryanator122 > 505Turbeaux
04/08/2015 at 18:33

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It may be condensation, but if it is it's real grimy. Although there's definitely oil generally around the bottom end of the engine. I've just never noticed before..


Kinja'd!!! Ryanator122 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
04/08/2015 at 18:34

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It does, and it has forever. Hence I check my oil every 300 miles.


Kinja'd!!! Ryanator122 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/08/2015 at 18:36

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I thought it looked like some kind of shield as well, given the two spot welds. I'm pretty sure there's a seam somewhere near there though, that's why I'm a bit worried


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:36

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yeah I am going with the theory that that is oil from that leak swirling around down there in the wind as you drive and collecting in there. Or is is leaking directly in there. Fire hazard right there, be careful. I would grab a can of brake clean and hose it down when the motor is cool and start hunting that leak


Kinja'd!!! Ryanator122 > 505Turbeaux
04/08/2015 at 18:39

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I'd love to. The problem is my general lack of jack stands and the fact that Mazda/Ford crammed this engine into the frame not designed to accommodate it, and as such I really have no ability to see anything worthwhile.

Aside from the fire hazard, it's worth driving around a bit?


Kinja'd!!! 505Turbeaux > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:42

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I have seen worse not go up in flames. If you start smelling burning oil get that thing sussed out immediately, don't wait. I had a friends saturn self immolate at a gas station once on him. And if you have a class B fire extinguisher, carry it around to make me happy


Kinja'd!!! BorkBorkBjork > Ryanator122
04/08/2015 at 18:51

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I highly doubt it's oil. Most likely its just condensation mixing with carbon build-up in the exhaust to give the appearance of oil.