Obd II port

You are welcome.

Roy

Hello Roy, so I took the car in to the shop who originally did the repairs since they will look at it for free. If it is the front crankshaft seal it would be a drag since they were just in the area when a new timing belt kit was put on and a new harmonic balancer. He did say if it was not leaking when they were there he leaves it alone. Anyway I will keep you updated. Thanks Roy.

Okay. Sounds like a plan.

Keep me updated.

Roy

Hey Roy, after a hour diagnosis there were three oil leaks discovered. Rear main seal, transmission seal, and oil pan leak which was real bad. Due to finances we went ahead and did the oil pan gasket. He said seventy five percent of it was leaking from there and I noticed a lot of oil seepage around the oil pan not much on the transmission side, although it may be leaking there. I need to hold off for now. Let me know what you think. Thanks again.
Michael

Good move. Repair the one that leaks the most first.

Check your PCV valve. If it is not working correctly, it will cause the rear main to leak. That seal is the weakest of all seals.

Roy

Yeah, I believe that was the main culprit because I do not see anything leaking now where as before it would have leaked with five minutes time. Not a big leak but always in the same spot dripping on the floor from the upper right corner of the oil pan on passenger side so opposite of where the rear main seal is. However, I will check again to see if any leaking has gone on. By the way cheers on the information with the PCV valve and its relation to the rear main seal. Thank you so much again Roy, you are the best. I will keep you updated.

-Michael

Thank you again.

Keep us updated.

Roy

Hey Roy. Since the oil pan gasket replacement there has not been any leaks on the ground for sure and does not appear to be seeping around that area of the front of the engine. I did clean off the grease stains from the lower part of the timing belt cover and there does not seem to be any new run off of oil there. However, I still see some oil or fluid getting on the alternator drive belt only. Could this be it contacting an existing oily surface from the existing leaking seal of the oil pan gasket? Let me know what you think. Thank you again Roy for your time.
Michael

Can you post a picture?

Roy

Yeah.

I turned the engine to show a moist spot.

Is this after you washed it off?

It almost looks like power steering fluid.

Also, I just checked the PCV valve and it had plenty of suction at idle and with throttle open. However, one of the hoses had a tear, the one leading to the intake manifold so I just patched it with electrical tape, is that okay for now?

Yep, that is good for now, but replace it when you can.

Roy

Yeah, I gave one side a mild spray of brake kleen last night but turned it over now to show if there was fluid. Just had a new pump installed but original lines. I noticed the lines at the top get moist under the insulation cover. Here look.

That is a leaker. It is building up under the cover and dripping down.

Roy

Yea, I was thinking. I do not think it is motor oil because I do not see any seepage. But the oil pan gasket for sure because no leaks on floor so like you said good move on that. So about the power steering lines you think maybe high pressure lines?

Yep, absolutely.

Roy

The bizarre thing is I do not see any underneath those connections but maybe if you follow it somewhere down its somewhere it happens to be getting on that belt. The power steering reservoir is just at minimum, so maybe it is leaking. Any idea how much for the lines?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/mitsubishi,1999,eclipse,2.0l+l4,1432931,steering,power+steering+pressure+hose,7320

Lots of choices for you.

Roy

Cool, thank you so much Roy. Appreciate your help!

Never a problem.

Glad to help.

Roy

Hey Roy, still getting a small oil trail on drive belt for alternator only and do not see any dripping from those power steering hoses I showed images of. Power steering fluid and motor oil levels look good. Could it be the small leak from the rear main seal trailing down that direction from the other side of the engine? Thanks so much Roy!

You are going to need to have someone raise this car up on a lift and inspect under the car for this leak to verify where it is leaking.

Roy

I had that done when I had the oil pan gasket replaced and the three areas that they confirmed were the rear main seal, transmission seal, and oil pan gasket. Out of those three only the oil pan gasket was fixed due to finances and which was the worst leak. I have a feeling it is the front main seal between the crankshaft pulley and timing belt cover due to the location of the oil seepage and getting on that particular drive belt of the alternator. Perhaps they over looked it.

Very possible. Have them take a second look since it has been some time since the gasket was replaced.

Roy

Well Roy I was right. I took the car to another shop for a second opinion and for a small fee they checked for all leaks. The good thing is, it is not leaking from the oil pan but it is leaking in two other locations but not where the other shop said. It is leaking from the crankshaft seal or front main and the camshaft seal like I thought. I need rear and rotors and pads so financially I cannot pay for both but either both of the oil leaks or the rear brake job. They recommended doing brakes for safety but what do you say? It is about $360.00 For the brake job and $816.00 for the two seal jobs. Let me know. Thank you Roy.
Michael

I am definitely all about safety.

Yes, do the brakes and the seals later.

Roy

Okay. Thank you so much Roy. I was just worried about getting oil on the new timing belt but it is not doing that yet and he said it is a small leak. Thanks again Roy. I wonder how the other shop was so off on their leak diagnosis.

Hard to say. They may not have been interested in doing the repair.

Roy

Hey Roy how are ya? Would you happen to know the spark plug torque specs on my 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS or is snug fine?

Hello,

Here are the torque specs for your spark plugs and a video on how to use the torque wrench:

Torque 20 - 30 Nm (15 - 21 lb-ft)
Gap 1.21 - 1.34 mm (0.048 - 0.053 in)

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

and

https://youtu.be/juOClONIWeY

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

Thank you Ken, I appreciate it!

Glad Ken took care of you. I was traveling to Claifornia today and just got here.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Always glad to help.

Roy

Hey Roy, I know you shy away from no leak formulas but is LG 205 okay to use just to revitalize the seal until I fix them in about two weeks to a month? It is lube guard and liquid consistency similar to at-205 from atp. It says use for main seals. Please let me know. Thanks,
Michael

Nope, do not use it. The additive swells the seal to stop the leak. The issue is it keeps swelling the seal and eventually the leak will go to a gush.

It will effect all seals for the oil system. It will eventually leak like a sieve from every seal.

Roy

Any suggestions until repairs are done?

Just keep an eye on the fluid levels.

Roy

Okay sir. Thank you Roy!

Hello Roy, do you by chance have a picture location for an idle air control valve for my car GS model? I got some throttle body cleaner and want to clean the throttle plate and surrounding walls of the throttle body and the IAC if needed. Please let me know. Thank you Roy,
Michael