Take a look at the hose running from my PCV to my catch can in this picture. Where could that oil be coming from? It is not from my VC gasket.

 

Does the hose have a pinhole?

 

^I do not believe so for a couple of reasons. 1st the spray pattern on the hose does not resemble that being that its not more concentrated in the center aka the origin point if there were a pinhole. Also, this is brand new hose which I got for my new catch can setup. The oil leak was present prior to this setup so the oil that is getting on the hose is most likely being sprayed onto it from wherever this leak originates from...

 

As mentioned earlier in this thread I've been following this for awhile on my car. I was recently replacing the knock sensor (don't ask) and figured I'd snap some pictures while I was under there hoping it might help. I moved the IM bracket around in hopes of better showing the issue.

From what I can make of the pictures, the leak is coming down from the top of the block, between cylinder 3 and 1. Looking back at some photos I had when the head was off, I don't recall there being any pressurized oil sources in this area, just drains, so I would tend to think it's not the head gasket.

Looking at what the OP said in his first post, I tried to look for some leaks around the IM to head. Even though I'm running a catch can setup, I've wondered if I'm getting some oil into the IM since I've been getting a ton a part load (-3 --> 0 psi) knock. Hard to tell from the pictures, but there MIGHT be some oil around one of the bolts?

Conclusions so far.
-Not oil pressure sensor
-Not random plug under IM bracket
-Not valve cover gasket (back of head looks clean)
-Not Oil pan gasket (has been resealed, also leak is too high up there)
-Not dipstick
-Not cam seals (checked mine as well)

Let me know what you think of the pictures and If I need to add more.

Heel2toe - on the vent line leak, i'd imagine it's not the issue as it seems like the area under is not covered in oil (from what I can see in the picture). That said, since it's easy to get to, wipe it down and then do some spirited driving and report back. (I think I read earlier that you said it showed up moreso under boost)

 

Double Dot thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts as well as snapping some photos. I'm completely stumped with this one and have been for a while.

The leak is certainly not stemmed from the vent line running from the PCV. I just thought it was interesting that oil would collect on it and I wasnt sure if it would give us insight as to where it could be coming from.

I pulled off my dipstick tube replaced the o-ring and applied a thin coat of sealant around the o-ring to ensure a leak free seal. Popped that back in and let it sit. Its too early to tell if that was my issue but I highly doubt it as the old o-ring appeared to be in great shape.

My only other thought is by my oil pressure sending unit for my oil pressure gauge. Its not one of those oil filter sandwich adapters but its tapped in right around there. There are a couple fittings that could potentially be leaking and its obviously under pressure so that could make a mess. For some reason the other day my oil pressure gauge stopped working so I need to figure that out anyway. When I turn the ignition on it immediately maxes out. I dont know if its the gauge, wiring or sending unit but Ill take a peek hopefully get it working properly again and maybe even find that its too loose and my culprit all along. A man can dream right?

 

I was under my car this weekend to troubleshoot my oil pressure gauge. The terminal broke off on the sending unit so that was an easy fix.

Anyway, the back side of my block and oil pan is an oily mess again...Its not leaking by the oil pressure sending unit nor is it coming from the dip stick tube. This is absolutely crazy, I'm so sick and tired of thinking about this stupid leak

Wherever it is coming from, its under enough pressure or its high enough up that its spraying into that PCV line that I showed in the picture. What gives!? I thought I was mechanically included but this one is crushing me.

I'd pay a shop to fix it but I dont think it makes much sense dropping ~$1000 fixing my motor when I would like to build it in a year or two anyway.

 

Just an update from my side as I believe I am chasing a similiar (if not the same) issue. I pulled the timing belt cover as I wanted to check some things (random part throttle knock issues, thinking maybe noisy tensioner bearings - aka i'm getting desperate). Either way I found some oil that is clearly coming from the head gasket joint (see pictures). The leak coming down the back of the block is still there, and just recently I noticed some coming from the front of the block which used to be dry as a bone.

The back of the block as always been tricky to tell where it's coming from, but with these new occurances showing up in easier to see areas, I'm pretty convinced it's coming from the head.

History
10,000 miles ago (when i bought the car) I had to pull the head as I had low compression in one cylinder. I had to recut the valve seats to fix this. During the rebuild I had the head decked, cleaned the block deck by hand, and used an OEM head gasket. I also used the normal ARP head studs torqued to 83ft-lbs iirc (it's whatever came with the studs) in the recommended steps and sequence. I didn't go in and loosen and retorque the studs, but I did pull check them to 83 ft-lbs and none turned anymore. I know it's not the same as loosening them, but it does say that none were super loose.

Other than the leaks, coolant level has never changed, and the oil and coolant have never shown any signs of mixing. I'm mainly pulling the head at this point b/c this oil leak pisses me off and i'm also interested in checking the valves and everything else. I'll get some pictures when I pull the head and have one of the headgasket specific guys I work with inspect the HG and hopefully pin point the leak orgin.

Any recommendations of things to look for during the teardown? I'm wondering if I can get away without decking the head yet again

 

Im starting to think that it has to be my headgasket as well. Is that picture the passenger side of the engine right by the side engine mount? Its hard to tell but Im pretty sure thats what Im looking at...in my case there is a little bit of sludge/ oily crap on the front of my block similiar to how yours looks but the real issue is on the back of the block.

Its really strange bc my car runs great other than the fact that its loosing oil. There are no tell tale signs of a blown headgasket. If it were leaking how much oil could really escape without it being significant enough such that there would be other problems?

 

I just took down my car to change up the IM and noticed the same leak and had some issues loosing right before. I'm in the process changing it along with timing belt stuff. I was told to go with the evo 9 gasket and had the head machined and sanded the block. I can keep you updates on how it does after this

 

heel2toe - yes you are correct, that is the passenger mount. Doing a little searching I cam across this thread. See post #20. Sounds like others may have this issue and AMS recommends a "special sealant" around the oil ports in the head. I'm going to give them a call on Monday and find out what this "special sealant" is and where exactly they put it on the HG.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...dgasket-2.html

Locdizzle, yea keep us updated if you will. I had the head machined 10k ago when I was replacing some valves. I'm hoping to not have to skim it again. My plan is to check it with a straight edge. Hmmm, didn't know about the evo 8 vs 9 HGs being different, I'll try to remember to ask AMS tomorrow.

best of luck!

 

the only oil feed hole from block up to the head is on the transmission side

 

Hey Todd,

yes that is correct. that said there are multiple drains around the block. The holes in the head are larger than the holes in the block, meaning oil can build up there and possibly seep out slowly over time.

The other likely option (after talking to some head gasket designers at work) is the seal for the feed to the head is leaking, so the oil leaks internally to the MLS gasket, then finally makes its way out from the head at the back of the block.

I'm not sure which it is, and really only "believe it b/c I actually see it" coming out of the block there

 

the oil feed has a seal built in to the gasket , the chances of either of those scenarios happening is extremely unlikely , it would be my very very last port of call diagnosing an oil leak .

 

did you look at the compressor side of the turbo

 

I couldn't agree more, and have been telling myself that for awhile now. However after finding the leak by the T-belt (post 112 has a picture), then the one on the front of the block (not exhaust manifold stud), and then confirming the oil wasn't coming from the intake manifold on the back of the block, I was all but convinced. I'll report back what eric from AMS says about this and what sealant they use to fix these leaks. My other plan is to get a straight edge out and check the block for flatness.