Questions and Answers

Oil Leaking Voyager Q. Hi, I have written to you before about my friend with a 1997 Plymouth Voyager (4 cylinder) with an oil leak. They did not think that it was from the seal. I heard that it could be the PCV valve. Is that true? Also on her van the service engine soon light comes on sometimes, and when it is on and she tries to accelerate the van starts sputtering.

If she turned off the heater it would get a little better. Are these problems related, and could you please give me some suggestions on what the problem could be.

Thank you.

A. I really can't tell you where the oil leak is coming from since I don't have the van here in front of me. I don't think it's real possible the PCV is at fault. Oil from that usually winds up inside the air filter housing.

That engine is a notorious oil leaker. It could be coming from the front crankshaft seal, oil pan gasket, oil pressure switch, oil filter, valve cover gasket or the rear main seal. Which is most likely? Take your pick, they are all common on this engine.

What you probably have to do is clean the engine real good and let it run to see where the oil is coming from. There are also dyes you can put in the oil and, with a special light, use that to determine where the leak is coming from.

If the check engine light is going on, then what you need to do is access the Diagnostic Trouble Codes in the computer. That will give us a starting point to look for the problem, Again, there are a number of things that can cause that light to come on. The code will be in the computer even if the light is off.

Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA