Expert: Sean Halliday - 12/19/2006

Question
I have a 95 Mitsubishi galant ES, I have in the past 2 months replaced the alternator and racknpinion. (my powersteering fluid was leaking from part of the racknpinion.
This past week I have notice a whirling/whistling sound as the RPMS increase and it can still be heard when driving (but gets louder upon RPM increases).
I am not sure if this next part is related to the sound or not butI went to Walmart two days ago to get my oil changed. They said they couldn't do it as it look like I had a leak and they couldn't tell if it was from the oil sending unit/seal/or filter. Since they would not have replacement part if it was the sending unit or seal they didn't do any work.
My car has 185k miles. Now that its paid for , of course I am trying to recoupe on the years of car payments and keep it a while.
Your thoughts would be apprecated,
Thanks
T


Answer
I cant diagnose the noise as theres so many reasons for this.Alternator,power steering pump.bearings etc,,,belt idler...best way is to remove the belt/belts and spin each component individually and see if anything makes noise.As for the oil leak ,you need to steam clean the engine and look to see where exactly its coming out,put talcum powder around where the oil filter is and the oil pressure switch and anywhere you think its leaking.The oil will show up in the talc when you run the engine.