1994 Geo Prizm oil leak! Help! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

tornado542 · 02-09-2010, 12:19 PM

Hey guys,

I have a small oil leak from the front left of the engine. almost under the battery. I think one of the oil pan gaskets may be worn or the gasket for the bolt that drains the fluid might be worn. Is this front left area more likley to be transmission fluid or engine oil?

Thanks

cipher93 · 02-09-2010, 12:24 PM

Are you sure it's oil? I'm not sure why oil would be leaking from there, as oil should leak from the left side of the engine, where the oil pan is. If it's on the right side (battery/airbox side) it could be transmission fluid. Get under and look and see what's wet. If it's the kind of grate like pan on the right side, it's probably transmission fluid/oil. If it's on t he left side, it's the oil pan.

tornado542 · 02-09-2010, 12:43 PM

yes, the back end of the grate like pan...is wet. That is where the leak is comming from. So you are saying its transmission fluid? I ran my car for 130 miles last night and did not see any drop in trans fluid levels. Do you think i should just add some stop-leak when it goes down?

Rip The E Brake · 02-09-2010, 05:30 PM

Just flush the trans and replace the transmission filter and pan gasket. its not hard at all.

tornado542 · 02-10-2010, 12:27 PM

How many hours of labor would that be? Im prolly going to take it into the shop.

Rip The E Brake · 02-10-2010, 12:32 PM

They will bill you for atleast 3.

It is something you can do, with a floor jack, a razor and a ratchet.

Drain the fluid through the allen drain bolt, if equipped.
Retorque drain plug to 36 foot pounds

Remove the 10mm bolts around the perimeter of the transmission pan.

Drop the pan and remaining fluid.

Clean the pan with brake parts cleaner or equivalent, do NOT use a lint producing rag, let it air dry or use a MICROFIBER RAG

Install a new cork gasket, NO sealant and reinstall pan with bolts torqued to 43 inch pounds.

Refill transmission fluid with 3-4 quarts fluid. Check level once warmed up and adjust if necessary.

tornado542 · 02-10-2010, 12:39 PM

Can i use the instant gasket maker that I can get from kragens? Or should I buy a premade gasket online?

trife96 · 02-10-2010, 12:55 PM

you should use a pre-made gasket IMO. It won't be much more money and a sure fit

Rip The E Brake · 02-10-2010, 01:02 PM

Just goto a local parts store, such as autozone, and purchase a gasket and filter kit. The filter is easy to put on, just yank the old one out, (SAVE THE ORING ON THE NECK, you may need it for the new filter) and put the new one in.

They are about $14usd.