Oil leak

CTECH

MEMBER
2005 DODGE NEON
144,000 MILES

I am working on car listed above with a 2.0 liter engine. Has a major oil leak. From my first view it looked like the oil was coming from the oil pan. After finishing numerous other repairs on it, I took it for a drive pulled it back into the garage and the thing was pouring out oil. After cleaning it up I filled it back up with oil and started it, I also checked torque on the pan bolts, I then started it, no leak, then I revved it up to about 2,000 rpm's now the oil started pouring out, leak is coming from somewhere around the front of the engine. Thinking possibly crank seal or oil pump. You would think if it was the crank seal it would leak all the time, but with the oil pump would possibly leak when pressure builds up more. Now am I on the right track here and what is the easiest way to find this mystery leak? Been working on equipment for sixteen years and usually the more it leaks the easier it is to find but this one goes in the books for the worst.

8 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

This sounds like a front main seal which is common. Here is a guide top help you see what you are in for when doing the job and diagrams to help you see how to do the job on your car below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/front-main-seal-replacement

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-is-leaking-oil

and

https://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/dodge/neon/2005

You will need to remove the timing belt as well.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers

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Saturday, July 14th, 2018 AT 8:47 PM (Merged)

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

Check that the oil filter is tight and the oil pressure switch is not leaking, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Saturday, July 14th, 2018 AT 8:47 PM (Merged)

CHRISFROMEWA

MEMBER
1 POST
2005 DODGE NEON

Four cylinder automatic 43,000 miles.

My car SXT model was recently having problems with starting, and also would not rev above 2,100 rpm's. The malfunction indicator (check engine) light was also on. The error code indicated the camshaft position sensor was the problem. I changed the sensor, and the problem seemed to have gone away completely. I did not drive the car for two days because it is my daily driver for work, and it was the weekend.

On Monday I drove my car to work, and on the way home the oil pressure light flashed on when I was about two miles from home. There was no where to stop and check, or even add oil, so I drove the rest of the way home. It flashed on twice more. When I got home, I checked the oil level, and it was empty. There was also a clicking noise, probably the valve train, that I noticed about a block from home. There were large pools of oil inside the motor, and lots of oil on the undercarriage. I added a quart, and most of it spilled onto the ground. I added a second quart, trying to identify the leak, but nothing leaked out. I followed with three quarts, but there was no leaking. I left a drip pan underneath overnight, and noticed some oil, maybe one cup full, on the pan in the morning.

Did I do something wrong when changing the sensor? I only removed the four bolts to the sensor, and one vacuum hose above the sensor. Everything was reconnected tightly. The leak seems to be toward the top of the engine, but I cannot seem to locate it.

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Saturday, July 14th, 2018 AT 8:47 PM (Merged)