Oil/Smoke

[scottski87]

ok last might be huge issue going on here. when my current engine got put in it got filled with oil and changed at 500 like it says and a little while later my oil light kicked on while idling (about 2 or 3 weeks later i would say). Check oil levels and it was down below the bottom tick mark. So filled it back up kept an eye out for any leaks anywhere at any parking spot and nothing was dripping. Its not making it into my coolant so next thought was rear main seal. But i waited to monitor this fill up to see how fast its going. About 2 weeks later now its still perfectly fine and full. Now it gets interesting.... when i idle it drops to probably 900 (yes i turned it up to see if it made a difference) and my oil light will kick on and pressure sits about 3 ticks high on stock gauge. Thats problem one. Thought it might be my oil cooler was cracked somewhere like a bad gasket or something. Ordered a new one to replace this one (it was obviously wet and caked with dirt on it). Now got my exhaust done (completely straight out a magnaflow) and sitting at idle it smokes out what looks blue but no oil level change at all. Thats problem 2. Any ideas?

[J. Fast]

Any damage to your oil pressure control wire in the hood? Not one single leak surfacing on inspection either? What weight oil are you using and what do your plugs look like? How are you venting the crankcase, stock setup?

Jeremy

[HCProgramr]

If it's coming out the tailpipe blue, you've got oil making it into the exhaust gasses one way or another...and it doesn't take much to get it that way, even just a couple drops will make a blue puff.

The oil cooler sounds like it was the source of the leak [caked and wet], it's possible someone used that ****able 'gasket-swell' oil in it at one point and the cooler's gaskets dried out while the engine was being swapped.

But, take that with a grain of salt. I'm speculating based on my gaskets springing temporary leaks whenever the car's left to sit too long (1 week and it might or might not, 2 and it most certainly will) and being fine otherwise. The cooler might not even HAVE gaskets at its fittings, for all I know.

Other than that, just keep looking. It's gotta be coming from somewhere. I'm with J.Fast, check your plugs for oil, that'll let you know if it's getting into the exhaust via the combustion chamber or coming from somewhere more troublesome.

It's likely not your rear main...that tends to wet the flywheel, and in turn make your clutch royally slip. At least that's how Ty (Speed Factor) explained it when he saw a wet flywheel during my last 60k. After I get it fixed this summer, I'm going to have to completely re-learn how to drive the car (not A car, THIS car...get a feel for its new quirks and etc.)

[scottski87]

I dont know where that wire is it, i'm sure i could look it up in the manual. And no visible oil leaks and none on the ground, just from the oil cooler. I had to fix a leak from the engine to the cooler already (gasket) and replaced the one on the top left as well in hopes that might fix it (pressure loss or something along the lines maybe) and that didnt do it. I use 10w-30 quaker synthetic hp and just replaced my plugs with v-groove ngk's and 8mm ngk wires with no discoloration to the plugs, just normal wear. Only changed them cause i was getting bucking at full throttle which now went away. I got a new oil cooler (universal) which i need to rig up plus it has different ways of threading (lg nut over the threads that screws onto the other end) which i also need to get under and see how to rig it. I was not about to pay almost 700 bucks for a new STOCK one at that.

[xwire]

you say new engine, was it a rebuild? used? or new OEM short block? low pressure that soon would have me going back to the mechanic and having him help find out what is going on

[HCProgramr]

Makes me wonder if the gasket on the cooler didn't stop your out and out leak, but Von's right...the pressure is still worrisome. Hopefully it's a bad sender/wire/gauge (harmless but annoying, and should be fixed sooner rather than later before a serious problem crops up) and not actually low pressure, but never take something like that for granted.

[ichihollow]

not to be taboo and jump at this but head gasket?

[scottski87]

it was a reman from cali while i was still there and now in florida. but bringing it to a garage is all well and good to find out but if its not now i eat the cost (which is definatly better than a whole new motor dont get me wrong) i was just wondering at home tests i could conduct beforehand and i get there and its something completley stupid (like something not plugged in all the way for instance). and the motor is just under 3k miles on it