Anybody want to diagnose this oil leak?

It's been nagging at me... going to get the car up on Tom's lift later this weekend, but it seems to me most of the leak is from the gearbox side of the pan. This is the same pattern I get after 24 hours. There's always a little blob of greenish coolant (?) as well, but only once after the car's been driven and put away hot, then no more after it cools. The oil leak is constant, pretty much this amount every day. The engine oil level seems pretty much the same after 45 days of this. The picture is from the tail of the car looking forward (driver's side to the left).

I want to check the transmission oil level, but need the lift for that. My head is way too fat to get under the Dino.
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I'm going to get a look at it this afternoon. I suspect the oil gets blown around the pan when I'm driving, so I'd have to dry it off then let it seep to see where it's coming from. I don't care about the leak, as long as it's not a symptom of anything but age. I put a plastic pan under it that catches most of it, and the rest comes up off the racedeck with just a little citrus degreaser.

 

We got it on the lift, and most of of the drips seemed to be coming from the bolt heads. Rather than take them off and mount the beveled washers (because I haven't bought them yet!) He gave each a quarter turn with the torque wrench. It seems to have reduced the leaking. We'll see in the morning. The green stuff was a slight drip from the gearbox side -- it was the gearbox oil, which is, oddly, green! The gearbox was full, so no worries there.

The better news is that, seeing the underside of the car for the first time, and with someone who actually knows what he's looking at, the car seems as original and in as good shape as advertised and attested. Couldn't find anything done wrong, except one minor sheet metal repair underneath the back left wheel well, where there was a welding seam left rough -- it's actually under the car. Clean, no rust, no garbage. New brake lines, hoses etc. as promised. And, a nice wood plug in the hose that used to go to the smog pump, which is in my cabinet.

It was amazing to pull up to a house with two Dinos and two XKE's in the yard, not to mention an Austin Healy in full racing regalia. My Dino made three.

 

Sorry - I was away from the computer -- too many chores, too little time!

I'd love a bag of nuts and bolts! I PM'd my address.

Torquing the bolts reduced the leak about 40%.

 

I can probably use Tom's, or if not the shop that works on my Mustang (he also works on vintage Packards and all kinds of stuff) will probably let me use his lift and his tools

My only question is if I do them one at a time will a lot of oil seep out, or should I wait until I'm changing the oil anyway?

 

If you have enough... dm's gonna send me some, too, so when I get them, I'll give them to you. Good to have around I'd bet.

Might have to wait a week, tho. Got a ton of stuff going on this weekend/the 4th. Maybe next weekend??

I took another cruise across Stone Hill Rd. to Peapond Lane last night when the sun was low and it had cooled off. These cars are a symphony. Didn't see another car the entire circuit, too!

BTW - the car started fine in New Canaan on Sat... two dead turns, then go, just like at your house! I have taken to carrying a portable jumpstarter, just in case it gets balky. I probably should test the battery -- I think it may be the culprit. With the Mustang, if I run it for an hour, the charger shows a full charge. The Dino always needs juice. Either the alternator or the battery. The alternator belt is new.

Of course, the XJS eats batteries, chargers, fuses and probably little children. I don't know what your X-types do, but the electrical system on the '95 is something out of Dr. Frankenstein's lab. I guess it was a Lucas marvel! I have pushed that car almost as much as I've driven it, which isn't really a whole lot!

 

Prince of Darkness

 

Did I send you the paypal payment (I'm getting senile!)

Mike