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Engine oil leak?

Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 207,000 MILES
I’ve got the car listed above GLS model with a catastrophic oil loss. It’s on the right side of the engine and isn’t from the valve cover, though it reaches almost up to it. Could this be from a failed pan gasket? Is there anything else on that side that could fail that big?

The upper radiator hose burst, also, but I would think that would just be from overheating after the oil loss.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 4:29 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Hi,

When you say right side of the engine is that standing in front of the engine or sitting in the driver seat? Driver side or passenger side?

Also, the major causes of oil leaks are oil filters, pan gaskets, or crankshaft main seals.

If it were me, I would put my money on a crank seal. When those fail, the oil comes out pretty quickly.

Let me know the detail about which side and we can go from there.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 4:42 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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Sorry, it is the right side as seen from the front of the vehicle. I guess that would make it the actual left side of the engine. That would put the oil filter and main seal on the other side, away from the leak.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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I thought it might be the pan gasket, but I’d never seen one blow oil that high on the engine.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 4:51 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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Picture.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 4:52 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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You actually have a main seal on each end of the crankshaft. If the leak is on the side away from the filter then the rear main seal is what I would guess.

I agree with you. A pan gasket normally doesn't put out that amount of oil as you are describing.

Nevertheless, if you can't tell where it is coming from, I would suggest to clean off the engine using a degreaser and then add an oil dye. They sell the kits for about $10.00 at parts stores. Then run the engine until you see the oil coming out. Then use the black light to find the source.

Here is a guide that has some common areas:

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

Let me know if you can't find it doing this and we can figure something else out.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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Should I replace the seal and the seal case? Or would the seal be the likely culprit?
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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Also, would a blown head gasket be another likely culprit?
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 5:39 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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It looks like you can get just the seal as this most likely the issue, but you will want to make sure this is where it is coming from because you have to remove the transmission in order to replace it. Unfortunately, Alldata does not have a specific procedure on how to replace this seal but you have to remove the flex-plate which you have to remove the transmission to get to.

Here is the procedure to remove the transmission. Once this is out, you will see the flex plate and the seal is just behind this.

Let me know if you need more information but again, this is a lot of work so we need to make sure this is it. Doing the dye test will confirm it is coming from there before you disassemble. Thanks
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 5:52 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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Yeah, I’m definitely going to clean it up and dye it. I’m not looking to do unnecessary work. I’ll let you know how that goes.
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
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Sounds great. Keep me posted. I will wait to hear back. Thanks
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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 6:06 PM
Tiny
BUMBLENUGZ
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Okay, so things have progressed. After cleaning everything up with brake cleaner, replacing the upper hose, and refilling all fluids, I ran the car for about 45 minutes. There was a small coolant leak along the radiator seam, but that’s it. No oil leak. Since then, the ac hasn’t been cooling after the engine gets hot, especially when it’s hotter outside. I’m in southeast Texas, so yeah. And I’ve had to add coolant on a number of occasions. Cylinders 1 and 2 have begun to misfire when the engine is first started, but it runs smoothly after a few seconds. Cleared the codes and it repeats each time it’s started.

Today, it won’t start at all. Turns over, but no dice. Checked the oil and there’s moisture, but not milky. Am I likely looking at a bad oil cooler, a blown head gasket, or a cracked head or block? I’m about ready to shoot it and bury it.
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 1:13 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. I would suspect a head gasket issue or cooler. A cracked block or head is rare and normally happens after repeated overheat issues.

Here is a test on head gaskets. I would do this first because it is a less intrusive test than an oil cooler. The only definitive way to test a cooler is to hook up an air supply and submerge it in water and look for bubbles. This means you need to take it off (obviously).

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test
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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 AT 4:35 PM
Tiny
ELANTRASTU
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  • 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
2003 Hyundai Elantra Automatic

So I recently purchased a 2003 Hyundai Elantra and this is my first car,

Yesterday I noticed that it was leaking oil and after driving it for a while, when I finally I parked the car in the driveway I noticed some smoke coming out from under the hood of the car

The oil is dark black/brown in color and the smoke is caused due to this oil coming in contact with the heated engine I guess.

Is this a normal or serious problem -how much will it cost to fix
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
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I'm not sure of the location of the leak, but it sounds like you simply have a bad valve cover gasket, that needs to be changed. The oil is probably leaking on the exhaust manifold causing the smoke, there is a small possibility that it can cause a fire, just because the oil is petroleum based, but Ive driven cars that leaked too but they did not leak on the exhaust manifold, so I would have it fixed asap, just to be on the safe side, if you want you could get a little extinguisher, just in case, and I'm not trying to scare, you but I have to think of your safety, that is 2carpros, it shouldnt cost you too much to change a valve cover gasket, the gasket is about ten dollars. Your situation on a scale of one to ten for seriousness, I would rate between six and seven
thanx
jody
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ELANTRASTU
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Hi Jody

Thanks for the response - I think I'll try to get it fixed asap
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
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Anytime, thank you
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MOMMYOF2591
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  • 1 POST
  • 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 1 MILES
I have the car listed above sedan and it is leaking all oil out. I put oil in it and it all comes out. Why is it not holding the oil?
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello,

Oil leaks are caused by gaskets that create a seal between metal parts to hold fluids in failing. Can you please describe where the oil is leaking from or take a picture of where the oil leak is coming from? If there is a lot of oil sprayed all over making it hard to determine where the leak[s] are coming from, you can take your vehicle to a car wash a give the engine a quick wash so that the leak[s] will be easier to determine where they are. Try not to get any electrical connectors or components sprayed directly. You can also do this at home with a soapy bucket with Dawn dish washing soap and some elbow grease. Yes, Dawn dish washing soap. The stuff will work on car grease and oil very well. Make sure to check on the front, back, both sides, the top and underneath the engine. They are all areas that could possibly be leaking oil. We can go from there.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MAKINSBEANS
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  • 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
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I have a 2003 Hyundai Elantra with $57500 miles. My last oil change was in January with no problems

4 days ago I noticed my oil light came on. This was the first time it ever happened. I pulled over and checked the oil. It seemed low so I added a bottle and went home. I didn't drive the car for the next couple days and let it sit.

Yesterday morning I checked the oil level and it was low and I noticed some oil on the ground beneath the car. It wasn't a puddle, but I noticed a softball size stain on the pavement.

Last night I took the car to a national chain auto repair because it is close to my home. They changed the oil and as I was leaving a mechanic alerted me that my car was leaking. When we both looked it was actually gushing oil.

They took it back in the shop and put it on the lift and said it was a leaking oil pan gasket and would cost $350 to fix. Today I called to check on the progress of the repair and was told it a leaking front crank shaft seal and they recommended that I change the timing belt as well and that the cost would be $720.

A couple hours ago I called back after not hearing anything ( I was told my car would be ready by 3pm) that they can't seem to fix the seal (they said they tried twice) and that I need to replace the entire engine at a cost of around $2000 or more. They also told me that "you probably didn't have problems before because they used a thicker oil during your last oil change that kept they oil from leaking out too fast"

I feel I am being ripped off because they don't know what the problem is and how to fix it so their solution is to replace the entire engine. A $35 oil change has now ballooned to over $2000 in repairs to replace an engine.

I know the car isn't new but it has been well maintained and has very low mileage.

Please advise and thank you in advance for your expertise.
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
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Get it out of that shop. It sounds like they dont know where it is leaking from, so they are going to throw out the baby with the bath water.I would have the vehicle towed to another shop for a second opinion, may be a bad cam seal or oil sending unit, you never now. But after hearing that, I wouldnt let them proceed with anything
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Friday, February 12th, 2021 AT 11:09 AM (Merged)

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