I have a 04 Kia Optima with 103k miles. I just had a tuneup on it and valve cover gasket replaced. I know the mechanic did a fantastic job, but the car is still losing oil, I see it near the gasket on the right side, but it never drips to the ground. Every month I have to add 2 qts of oil because the dipstick is dry. Also when I start up my car when it's cold, it has a bad smell but no smoke and the smell goes away after it warms up. It also idles low and vibrates while in idle (at stop signs, etc). Can somebody help?
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
Hi , don't know your level of mechanical expertise but if your talking about th V6 engine it is a seriously involved job to undertake , i've included a link to a kia forum for more info and advice , keep me posted if you wish valve cover gasket replacement Kia Forum
That is the valve cover gasket not the manifold gasket, oil doesn't flow noise the manifold. Before you replace any parts have the engine pressure washed top and bottom, then after it is clean drive it for about 20 miles and then locate the actual leaking area.
Sound like you have spun a bearing do to a blown head gasket. Does the oil on the dipstick look almost like a chocolate milkshake in color? If so your coolant has reached the oil pan and that can definitely cause the engine to spin a bearing causing a loud knocking sound.
This is general car knowledge. An 04 kia probably has individual coils for each plug on the valve cover. Remove the screws holding the coil on the valve cover, gently pull/twist off (stuck like a cork) plugs should be down deep in cylinder head. Modern engines have iridium (100,000 mi) plugs. Yours could be this ,check the stickers in engine bay.
If you are losing a quart a day, you had better fix something, that is a lot. I can't see you losing that much through the rocker cover though unless you drive 300 miles a day.Is it puddling up under the car? Or burning off the exhaust when you stop? Rocker cover gaskets are tricky, they take a lot of patience and time.
ok make sure to check or replace the unexpensive pcv valve
if that one is cloged it will coause all kind of leaks even whit new seals
and on the head gaskets problem i will recomend to get your radiator serviced or replaced because 90% of the mechanics check your radiator for cloged lines but they always do it at the top and by gravity all the garbache acumulate on the bottom, if you don't beleive it ask your mechanic hos does he inspect your radiator
No check engine light on.
Also have had the timing belt replaced twice. Last time was a year ago.
×