[Unknown User]

Hi, I own a 82 ZX non turbo. I'm leaking oil
at the front of the engine. It looks like
it is coming from the head gasket. I took
it to a mech. and he told me that only water
leaks from the head gasket. He is B.S. or is he telling the truth. I heard that you can put dye
in the oil to see were the oil leak is coming from. I went to all the auto stores and they did
not know what I was talking about. Can I use any
dye or is their special dye for this.
Thanks for any info.

 

[Joshua L.]

The head gasket can leak oil from the front of the enginethrough the head gasket, it seals the front cover to the head also. The only oil there though is thrown from the chain. Are you sure it is oil? My 83 leaked what I thought was oil from the front also, it was black like oil, but after half an hour it evaporated. Oil doesn't do that! It was the gasket sealing the thermostat housing to the head, it leaked and ran down the engine takeing grease, dirt and oil with it turning it black. Easy fix, new gasket. Check around good, use a flaslight even in day light so you can see EVERYTHING! The front may leak also, only lower in the front.
Good Luck,
Joshua L.

 

[Unknown User]

> The head gasket can leak oil from the front
> of the enginethrough the head gasket, it
> seals the front cover to the head also. The
> only oil there though is thrown
> from the chain. Are you sure it is oil? My
> 83 leaked what I thought was oil from the
> front also, it was black like oil, but after
> half an hour it evaporated. Oil doesn't do
> that! It was the gasket sealing the
> thermostat housing to the head, it leaked
> and ran down the engine takeing grease, dirt
> and oil with it turning it black. Easy fix,
> new gasket. Check around good, use a
> flaslight even in day light so you can see
> EVERYTHING! The front may leak also, only
> lower in the front.
> Good Luck,
> Joshua L.
If you're serious about the dye the eastwood company sells the system. It also requires an infrared or black light for the dye to show up. I can't remember which. They have different color dye for colant,engine oil, tranny fluid and so on that lets you know which system is leaking.

Jeff