Oil leak, could you please give some suggestions for repair?

My car is a 99 Chevrolet Prism, not much but paid for and it only has 109,000 original miles on it, so i would really like to fix if possible. The oil is leaking somewhere, because i use about 1 quart of oil every 100 miles. There is this black smut around the tail pipe on the back of my car also. I have taken it to 2 people for repairs. It cost me 116.00 for the 1st trip then another 148.00 for the next trip and it is still not fixed. I paid to have the PCV valve and Intake Gasket replaced and that is still not helping. They are saying there are no signs of a oil leak underneath the car anywhere!Oil leak, could you please give some suggestions for repair?
Take to a mechanic that isn't stupid. It's leaking and they should be able to tell why.Oil leak, could you please give some suggestions for repair?
You must not have completely read my question. I have taken it to a mechanic!!!!!!!!1 Report Abuse

Thank you Report Abuse

You cannot drive this car nor afford it adding a quart of oil every 100 miles. I would take it to the dealer or AAA recommended mechanic to check the engine gasket or other cause of the leak. They do this every day. It can't be the oil pan gasket because the tail pipe has carbon residue, which may indicate a very serious and expensive engine problem. You should have noticed lots of grey smoke coming out of the exhaust, especially when you start the car.





I agree with gailforcewind, though, that this repair could cost more than a newer used car. It would be better to look now before the engine is totally destroyed. Look for used Civics or Corollas that will last over 250k with regular maintenance.
Your leak is not on the outside of the engine but on the inside. Like was mentioned its burning oil. Don't pay anymore unless the mechanic is smart enough to understand that. It will probably be quite expensive.
If it isn't visibly leaking oil, then it must be burning oil. Take it to a competent mechanic this time.
Your burning oil...


Probably the valve seals..


That would also explain the black around your exhaust pipe....
Are you sure you mean 1 quart every 100 miles? Maybe you meant 1 quart every 1000 miles? If it truly is using 1 quart every 100 miles and not leaking it externally, then it must be burning the oil in the engine which means you have a very serious engine problem. A technician who really knows about your engine (like your dealer technician) needs to do some simple tests on the engine and determine whether it can be fixed or whether it's best to replace it with a remanufactured engine.
The car is burning oil. It's serious and you really do need to look for a replacement.





A 99 is equipped with a Toyota engine that is very durable. The oil situation could be bad valve guides, bad valves, both or worse. I'm sure the car smokes, though you may not notice it while driving. An internal engine problem such as this really outweighs the value of the car. Get rid of it and find something else.





You're on borrowed time, best of luck.
sorry to be the barer of bad news, it sounds like burnt engine


rings,this would be a engine tear down lots of labor hrs,


there is a additive you can get in any auto store, walmart,k-mart, big lots. etc that you can add its made by stp, and numerous others, it states it stops smoking and oil lose,


its thick as honey, put it in were you add oil,


it does slow down the lose of oil, and smoking, were these rings are burnt they now have gaps around them and this thick


gunk will help seal.


this no fix but may get a few extra miles before it dies.


you can spend the money for a new engine,not rebuilt ,


for about 3000.00 but trading it in and buying a new or newer


car is whats going to happen soon..


good luck
It is not leaking, it is burning the oil. That is why it is black around the tail pipe.





You can go to Auto Zone or Pep Boys or the like and get Marvin's Mystery Oil or another additive that bumps up the thickness of the oil and should slow the burning down.





Short of boaring the cylinders and putting in new piston rings (very expensive) you will have this problem. Just check your oil every time you get fuel and add.
oil goes 2 ways...it leaks or burns.....109,000 is not so old...is it tuned...bad running causes soot but thats not oil....the repairs u got dont really affect oil use...fiind another mechanic..to do a compression test....put cardboard under car to look 4 leaks...try thicker oil...20w 40 or 20w 50
OK here is what I would do , Take it to the car wash some have engine cleaner some don't however clean the motor top and bottom , Be careful not to wet the top to much sides and both ends, Now when you get home you need a piece of cardboard to put your car over let over night and start looking , Reason I said bottom It could be the oil pan gasket, hope this helps