Car Is Leaking Some Sort of Oil (Front Passenger Side)

[RedRaptor]

This is what I found when I approached my car this evening...

The car is leaking a black oil substance from the front passenger side of the engine splash shield.

I did some searching here and it seems like the problem is my engine mount is cracked and leaking fluid.

I called Avante but they said the next available next is this Friday. Jose the service advisor said it should still be fine for me to drive during the week.

Looking for a 2nd opinion on what the problem is. If its the engine mount, should it be covered under Powertrain Warranty?


http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8195/img3362bo3.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3192/img3363ds3.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5981/img3364sf0.jpg

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/1507/img3371dg8.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5331/img3370uk7.jpg

[Skarbro]

Which mount is it supposedly?

I believe that mounts are part of the suspension, not the powertrain.

[Gizzmo_jr]

If anything, the notorious passenger top (#3 I think) mount. It's fluid mount and people on M3F have complained about them.

[Flagrum_3]

Have you looked under the hood? Inspected the engine mount and area?, or checked your oil level? ...before you do those things I would not assume its the EM.Be on the cautious side and unless your absolutely sure its the EM, I wouldn't go driving around for a week.I suggest you take it in asap...I also think it was quite irresponsible of the Advisor at Avante to give you that advice!!....Be on the safe side....

my 2 centavos.


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[RedRaptor]

I have inspected all my fluilds. Oil levels are fine, power steering is okay, ATF is okay and coolant is okay.

As you can see from my picture...its too brown and sludgy to be any of the fluilds mentioned above?

Yes, I am quite disappointed that the earliest they can look at it is this Friday.

[Fuman]

i think you popped your engine mount.

[Flagrum_3]

I have inspected all my fluilds. Oil levels are fine, power steering is okay, ATF is okay and coolant is okay.

As you can see from my picture...its too brown and sludgy to be any of the fluilds mentioned above?

Yes, I am quite disappointed that the earliest they can look at it is this Friday.

Can't tell much from the pic, maybe its my monitor.But good to hear you checked all levels, I just wanted to be sure you knew it wasn't an engine oil leak before you started driving around...better safe then sorry!.There's other dealers out there that will do the work and almost certainly before Friday.Why not give some a call? I don't know about you but it would bug the shit outta me driving around knowing I had a busted mount.


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[RedRaptor]

Argh...I don't know how the engine mount would even pop. I don't drive this car hard at all nor have I ever tracked it.

flagrum: I did check the engine oil level right after I noticed the leak. The colour of the engine oil is different than the leaking fluid you see on my fingers. The engine oil level was fine as well.

[Fuman]

Argh...I don't know how the engine mount would even pop. I don't drive this car hard at all nor have I ever tracked it.
a big pot hole would do it.
thats what happened to me

[RedRaptor]

a big pot hole would do it.
thats what happened to me

Fuman,

Was yours replaced under warranty? I'm guessing it wasn't. How much did it cost to replace it?

[Fuman]

Fuman,

Was yours replaced under warranty? I'm guessing it wasn't. How much did it cost to replace it?
Under warranty, and they had the part available.
Fixed it on the day I brought it in =)

[Ex-Rolla]

i believe there is a TSB out for the motor mount... Joe could clarify, but i had mine replaced under warranty.

[RedRaptor]

My car is a 2004 so my bumper to bumper warranty is done. If its powertrain, then I guess I'm still covered.

Mark: Did your engine mount leak as well?

[KenYork]

Does the other side of the engine undercover have the stuff too?

[3GFX]

Clean it up a bit and try and find the source. Get gritty and you'll find it, then you know what you'll be in for.

[chinsterr]

A month back I went into MOT and they told me that my engine mount was cracked, but there was nothing leaking from my car. Just thought I'd share.

[Krisekca]

Engine mount is covered under power t.
there is TSB didnt ur car vibrate ?

i had to engine mount changed ... couple weeks a goo
2004 Gt 84Km

[Krisekca]

top engine mount*

[Ex-Rolla]

My car is a 2004 so my bumper to bumper warranty is done. If its powertrain, then I guess I'm still covered.

Mark: Did your engine mount leak as well?

Mine didn't leak... my problem was when i was driving around 80 to 90 km/h, my car would shake violently... It was the mount that was causing the problem. The one located right above where you found the leak.


http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/mazda3/bulletin/01-035-07-1844.pdf

This link doesn't specifically mention anything about the leak, but i believe this engine mount is where the leak is coming from (not sure if this mount contains the fluid, but it's the only mount where your leak is coming from.)

When you get a chance, touche around/under/above the mount. if you feel some oily substance, that's what it is :)

good luck!

Edit - After reading the TSB, i noticed i get a nast knock when i start the car... hmmm time to get the mount checked :( ... Again!

Edit 2 - just a thought, but check yourpower steering fluid as well... it's similar in colour to what you've shown.

[TheProfessor]

RR, why not just take it in to another dealer? I wouldn't necessarily want to be driving around for a week regardless of what the problem ends up being.

[RedRaptor]

ExRolla: I did see the mount you are talking about. I can't see any liquid coming out of it now but it is oily around the mount. Not sure if that is just engine grease or the fluid. It seems like if it is the mount, its completely leaked out.

Yes I have noticed more vibrations than normal lately, but I wouldn't call them violent but very noticable.

I checked the oil levels this morning after 1 whole day of having the car sit. Engine oil is fine and power steering fluid is half between MAX and MIN.

Prof: I'm thinking the samething. Sucky part is I work in Brampton and live in North York. Also, I don't know how friendly dealerships are when you walk in and what warranty work done but you don't regularly service your car there.

[Krisekca]

ExRolla: I did see the mount you are talking about. I can't see any liquid coming out of it now but it is oily around the mount. Not sure if that is just engine grease or the fluid. It seems like if it is the mount, its completely leaked out.

Yes I have noticed more vibrations than normal lately, but I wouldn't call them violent but very noticable.

I checked the oil levels this morning after 1 whole day of having the car sit. Engine oil is fine and power steering fluid is half between MAX and MIN.

Prof: I'm thinking the samething. Sucky part is I work in Brampton and live in North York. Also, I don't know how friendly dealerships are when you walk in and what warranty work done but you don't regularly service your car there.

there is TSB on it they should do it they are getting pay from mazda

[Ex-Rolla]

Rob. Did you get it checked out? what was the problem?

[RedRaptor]

Mark. Dropped it off at Avante this morning. I haven't heard anything yet but I'll provide an update on what the problem was. Anthony mentioned that it might be the oil cartridge cracking and oil was seeping through.

[Flagrum_3]

Mark. Dropped it off at Avante this morning. I haven't heard anything yet but I'll provide an update on what the problem was. Anthony mentioned that it might be the oil cartridge cracking and oil was seeping through.

Well? any update.


:pop


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[Skarbro]

Yeah I'm curious as to what it was also.

[RedRaptor]

Was out of town at the cottage since Friday. But I got my car back from Avante at 5:00PM. It turned out that the engine mount was broken causing all the fluid to leak (as Fuman and others have said). Luckly they had part in stock, so I got the replacement done and an oil change I requested (not related to probably, it was due time anyways).

It was covered under the 5/100km Powertrain warranty so the engine mount was no charge.

Car was washed and even had one of the guys come up to me and ask me about my RX8Shinkas. All in all, it was a good experience with Avante and I was well taken care of by Anthony.

[TheProfessor]

Sounds good, glad it all worked out for you.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Thanks for keeping us updated.

[3GFX]

Yea man, glad it worked out :D

[mazda3ride]

Which mount was replaced? Do all the mounts have fluid in the them?

[Ex-Rolla]

cool

[Xerox]

Would driving the car with a broken engine mount have any long term adverse effects on the car?

I took my car in for service and was just notified mount #3 was broken and will be replaced under powertrain warranty.
I did notice it was more difficult to smoothly get the car to get going from a stop (driving manual - there was more vibration than usual - I thought it was in my head). Hope this fixes that.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Theoretically the other mounts will keep the motor in place but with extra stress due to weight. I'd worry about things being off axis with the drivetrain and so forth.

[mazda3ride]

Does the #3 engine mount that is replaced under warranty also have oil in it?

[RedRaptor]

Not my mount or car, but sok07 from Mazda3Forums. Pictures of a broken Engine Mount #3...

http://www.sok07.trapzerohosting.net/Mazda3s_gallery/EngineMount_3/