Hey Everyone,

I have '90 240 Wagon. It leaks oil. A quart and half every 2000 miles or so. A couple questions...

1) Is it hard to change the oil pan gasket?

2) What is a normal cause of a leak on the 2.3?

Thanks,

Craig

 

I don't think that is too bad. Old motors can leak oil caused by blowby... some questions...
1. How many miles are on your wagon?
2. How blue is your exhaust?
3. If it parks for a while, does a pool of oil develop?

You may just check around the oil pressure sender (located just up by the Oil Filter) and the filter itself (make sure it is tight) and make sure the plug bolt is tight. The oil bolt on the 240s usually has a copper ring that helps seal it up. Does yours still have that?

 

Thanks for the reply. It has 243000. There is no blue in the exhaust, runs clear. Overall, there is oil everywhere underneath the car, not necessarily on the ground, just everywhere on the under carriage.

The filter is good. I'll check the sender. The oil plug doesn't leak. The valve cover gasket has a lot of oil build up around it, but looks dry compared to the pan...

With the oil pan gasket, do you have to lift the engine?

 

Leave the pan alone, for now...
First make sure that your PCV/flame trap is not clogged as this will blow ALL kinds of seals. With engine running take off oil cap, place something flexible (like a rubber glove) over the hole and see if the pressure is positive OR negative (blows or sucks). It SHOULD suck a little rather than blow. If it blows at all you have a clogged PCV and you have to address that first.
As far as 'common oil leaks', the front seals, cam, crank, and intermediary shaft, rear main (PITA) as the tranny has to come out, etc. Oil pan? Rarely.