What could this be????

I got home from work just a second ago and happened to look under the Miata, I noticed that there was a lot of oil on the concrete.
I popped the hood and checked the valve cover gasket and them crawled as good as I could under the car and it does not look like the oil pan bolt is loose.
What do you guys think this is? rear main seal?
If so what do I need to do?
I have been driving the car real hard since the Auto X day thinking it could take it, now I fear I may have messed something up.
Any advise/help would be greatly appreciated. :cry:

p.s. I have not hit anything and didnt see any type of cracks in the oilpan with a flashlight.
(there goes my fun money) damnit!!!
I guess I will putting off Auto X and Auto X school til I can figure out what is causing this and fix it, til then the Car is parked and not in operation, to avoid blowing the engine.
I am seriously bummed out :cry:

Billy - exactly where was the oil spot located under the car? What's above that area (engine, transmission, rear diff, British car previously parked at that location....)?

What color fluid?

Black, Red, Green?

Check ALL you fluid levels.

If it was just a few spots I would keep an eye on the fluids, but it should still be drivable. You are going to need to better pinpoint the leak.

How much is a lot? Are you sure it's oil? Are you sure it's your oil? What's the level on the dipstick? Did you just change the oil?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rjosey8385

British car previously parked at that location?

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:lol: :lol: :lol:

[quote="Billy Blaze"].....it does not look like the oil pan bolt is loose.
What do you guys think this is? rear main seal?
quote]

Maybe that's the problem....there should be, at least, TWO bolts :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Screamin'Screw

If it was just a few spots I would keep an eye on the fluids, but it should still be drivable. You are going to need to better pinpoint the leak.

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Maybe it's just marking its territory :lol:

I'd get some old news paper, cardboard of somehting that is clean and lay it under the car and see exactly the fluid is comming from. You may have to drive around the block to get it to leeking again, But of course check your fluids before you drive it :shock:

I am about to go outside and betyter observe whats going on but I can answer some of the questions now.
1. the color is the color of Motor Oil, and smells like oil
2. the oil was changed less than 2K ago
3. There has been no other car parked in its spot, and there was no oil on the concrete before it started parking there.
4. The spot of oil was over 12 inches in diameter
5. I will be going after lunch to get some ramps so that I can get under the car to get a better look, my wife has to bring the other car home.
from what I ould tell last night it seems to be right where that noise in the clutch is coming from (at a glance, in the dark) where the engine meets the tranny.
I will post my other findings soon....

Thanks

Make sure your oil filter is tight.

better yet I will take a couple of pics from both sides of the car.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Billy Blaze

from what I ould tell last night it seems to be right where that noise in the clutch is coming from (at a glance, in the dark) where the engine meets the tranny.

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rear-main oil seal?

upon further examination I think I may have found the problem.

However I am not sure I can articulate this correctly so bear with me.

I found under the car oil from the oil pan back to the tranny fluid bolt.

The problem,..
On top I found,......
from the drivers side of the car I looked around the valve cover gasket again and found a fairly large plug made of metal, about an inch and 3/4 in diameter... it covered a hole in the engine, this was laying lose on a hose. It just fell out.
This looks like something should be or could have at one point in time been hooked up to the engine here.
its right under the first cylindrical hump that runs the length of the valve cover (in the rear), there are two bolts above where this plug is.

Any suggestions on what this plug is?
what I can do to keep it in?
What used to bolt up there?

Thanks
I would take pics of this but I cant fit the camera in there its at the very back top portion of the engine on the drivers side right below the back portion of the valve cover.
I appreciate the help.

Ummmm...assuming that the plug was in the block (was it up high or down lower...you mentioned valve cover gasket, so sounds kinda high, or maybe that's just where you were looking when you looked down and noticed it?), sounds kinda like a freeze plug...and if one did pop out, there shouldn't have been oil coming out of it (ummm...you do have coolant and water in the radiator and the car hasn't been overheating....right?) .....anyway, I'm not familiar with Miatae engines, and I'm sure someone who is will have a better idea of what that plug is...

Without a visual reference, it's going to be hard to make a guess. Any pictures you can take (including one of the whole engine bay with a "this is the problem area" arrow) would be very helpful. I know it's hard to manuver the camera around in there, but that's the beauty of digital photography - just keep taking pictures until you getone you can use. :mrgreen:

its up high, directly under the valve cover there is oil underneath where this plug was so some was coming out.

I will take some pics if I can this evening after the wife comes home, she has the Camera.
After seeing the plug I am hoping its nothing major, as I mentioned the car has 41K so I wouldnt think something has already happened to the engine like a blown seal.
I did notice that the engine is moving around a bit, its missing slightly also.
just put new plugs and wires in.

Billy is that at the back of the motor on the driver's side below the valve cover? That looks like a pressed in plug to me. How hard have you been driving that beast to make that plug come out? :roll:

Jerry

Thats exactly where its at.
It looked like there was some sort of compond on it I tapped it back in, drove it around the block and it seems to be staying in right now, but I would like to get it back in there good so I know it wont come out again.
I have been driving it pretty hard...not overly hard though.
I dont know why it would fall out, Im just glad I found it before I lost it.
I will post pics tonight when the wife gets home with the camera

Here are the engine parts diagrams...maybe you can identify what it is you're talking about.

LINKIE

Did you try to partially install a turbo?

Check the oil level. Fill the oil level to max, Start her up, watch the oil flow out. Fix Leak.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammm

Here are the engine parts diagrams...maybe you can identify what it is you're talking about.

LINKIE

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Here are the other diagrams for 90-97 just in case anyone wants them as well...

LINKIE

Wife should be home at 6:00 will have pics up shortly after, Im out in the sticks so this file will most likely take me all night download...lol I am on Dial-up...I miss DSL!!

I appreciate the file though I am sure that will be of great use.

Its just a plug,..1 and 3/4 inch in diameter made of metal below the valve cover( I mean right below) on the drivers side, there are two bolts above it,..like it might have something that could be attached there but the plug is in its place.
Car does not have a Turbo and never had one as far as I know.

I couldnt get the camera in there since its in the back of the motor, but I have a pic with me pointing at the area.

OK here is the best pic I could get of the plug, its recessed into the engine...but if you really strain you can see the outer lip of the metal plug.

http://www.nextarkaraoke.com/miata/oil_leak.jpg

Does anyone know what this plug is?

and if so what I can do to make sure it does not come out again?
ie...some kind of glue or something along those lines to seal it back in there and keep it from popping back out.
I am pretty sure this is the culprit since the leak has almost completely stopped, I think what is dripping now is just excess run- off, one or two drops.
I cleaned underneath the car and am parking it tonight on a clean spot to check for more leakage.
Thanks for the help. :wink:

It's hard to read, but it's listed as 12-603, CAP, SEAL-OIL KLG4-12-603, on page 16 of 90 on the link that Sammm posted...

But since it is hard to read, that G could be a C or an O...

On the diagram it looks like it just taps in... like a freeze plug.

When your car was previously wrecked it probably got dented and they put it back in with some sealer.

Call up your local dealer. If they don't have it, call Town North in Richardson. They stock quite a few parts.

If they don't have it, order it from Trussville Mazda. You'll get it cheaper and they'll ship it to your door... no sales tax either since they are out of state.

RJ

Kewl, i will do that,...should I use a sealer? if so what kind?
or should I just tap it in without anything?

Dunno... never replaced one before ;)

If you get it from a local stealership you should ask them.

Kewl will do,...thanks Channel!!!
BTW should have my springs in a week or so.
cant wait to get the car lowered and the way things are looking I should have the Roadster sport 3 by the end of this month too..woo hoo.
I think I can do that on my own though. :wink:

Where is the lowerign party going to take place Billy? How many strippers will you have there? Will POS be there to help you? :shock:

I dont know when or where yet, I figured since I will be needing the help of others I would have them decide on what would be more convenient for them.
If we do it out here its most likely a good drive for everyone. even though I have a large carport enough for at least 4 Miatae its open to wind.

I will post something when the springs come in though. :wink: