westsidebalto

Several weeks ago I received a "Low Oil Pressure" warning that instructed me to shut off the engine. I was a few miles from home, but only a half mile from a store, so I bought a quart and topped off. I was able to limp home, and the message disappeared. Fast forward two weeks, same issue. I had a spare quart on hand, topped off, drove home, error went away.

Tonight I jacked her up, popped off the cover, and have two leaks as evident in the attached picture of the underbody plastic tray.

Looking up into the engine, the passenger side leak is perhaps from the cylinder head gasket? And maybe the one in the middle is from the oil pan?

I'll attach more pics in a minute.

westsidebalto

I also noticed oil around the base of the driver's side servo. Not sure if that's significant (I think it's been there a while). Some good news while I was underneath, I learned my alternator has already been replaced.

Attached is a picture of the steering module, covered in oil, and I believe the bottom of the oil pan. Also attached is picture looking up at an engine gasket on the passenger side of the engine.

Thoughts?

e6t.lab.rat

Possibly the oil pressure switch or vacuum pump is leaking. The oil pressure switch is located just behind and under the vacuum pump. It's can be a challenge to replace with the vacuum pump still on but it can be done.

DTD

Had a leak on a 550 @ right rear valve cover. Fell at same spot on first pic. Did you look up top to see valve cover?

DTD

Maybe brake booster vacuum pump. Don't know how it would leak so far back unless it runs front to rear.

healthservices

Pull loose the coolant reservoir to get a better look at the oil pressure switch. clean off oily area with brake clean. Put reservoir back in and start car, Pull reservoir off again check for source of leaks. There are a lot of things that leak in that area. front timing cover, vacuum pump, oil pressure switch, valve cover gasket.

westsidebalto

Will try that. There's definite residue on the driver's side of the vacuum pump. Perhaps it would be worth it to replace the pressure switch and vacuum pump even if they aren't currently gushing oil.

This might sound dumb, but do I have to drain oil to replace the oil pressure switch?

e6t.lab.rat

No need to drain oil but you will need a 24mm deep socket.

westsidebalto

Thanks, I did see that. I have a good deep socket set, but not sure if it includes a 24.

westsidebalto

So I replaced the oil pressure switch (it was oil leak city down there) and "repaired" the vacuum pump. I replaced the gasket on the engine side of the pump and coated the outer cover gasket with RTV gasket maker like many others have done.

Once it was all back together again and I started the engine, I did notice the vacuum pump seemed to whine a bit (which it may have before). Anybody else experience this?

I had slightly scratched the inside of the pump wall with a screwdriver while trying to remove a stripped screw from the cover. This could be related to the whining. I suppose the whole thing could fail, but I don't want to shell out $400 for a new one on a whim.