This one is a 1996 Mazda 626. It has the 2.5 liter V6 that is also used in the Mazda Millenia and the Ford probe. The complaint was a severe oil leak. I traced the leak from dripping off the oil pan to the inside top of the timing cover. It appeared to be coming from a rubber plug, but turned out to be a bad cam seal on the front bank. The seal was burned out to just a metal shell. The cam oil journal had become clogged due to infrequent oil changes. The customer understandably thought that because other leaks required topping off the oil frequently that that was like a virtual oil change. I don't blame him at all. The trouble is that the filter isn't ever changed either and so the crud accumulates in bad places in the motor. Without lube the cam became red hot and melted the seal as well as severly scoring the cam and the cylinder head. The correct action is a $1500+ replacement of the head and cam. I told the customer I might save the both by clearing the oil journal and cleaning it up and installing a new seal all for $250 with no guarantee. That was several months ago and it's still doing just fine- not leaking at all.
= ) This customer was a gambling man and won!
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