Subject: 1990 mitsubishi eclipse gs
Question: hello,
i am looking at purchasing an eclipse(108k). it's in great shape(exterior, interior).
problem- oil is visible on/under engine and not sure from where. head gasket,main seal....?
i think it should be looked over by a mitsubishi shop and maybe have the compression checked before making any decisions.
can you give me any advice? $1800 as is.
Answer:

Terry,
If this is the turbo model GS, its not a bad deal. If its non-turbo, it sounds high; especially if you're noticing oil on and around the engine.

The head gasket could be bad, rear main seal, and if its the turbo model the oil return line could be bad. The oil pan gasket or oil plug could be going wearing away. The turbo models also have an oil cooler that can leak over time. Any/all of these things could lead to oil under the car. It is possible that the oil you're seeing isn't even engine oil. The power steering lines are also notorious for leaking. Check the power steering fluid level and test drive the car; taking hard turns. If you hear lots of noise when turning, that could be the oil pump whining from lack of oil. Also check the transmission fluid level if its an automatic. You can't check the level on a manual transmission unless you get under the car and remove the fill plug.

Though, on a 13 year old car, its not surprising it leaks oil. My '90 GSX doesn't leak any oil, but it does burn a little bit. Its unavoidable. Some common causes for oil on the engine is a loose dipstick and/or oil cap. The rubber gasket on the oil cap gets rock hard over time and does not provide a good seal. The same goes for the rubber fitting on the dipstick. You can replace both of those for under $20.

A 1990 Eclipse with only 108K on it is rare to find. If you can find that your oil leaks are minor, the compression is fine, and you can talk the price below $1800 (especially if it's non-turbo), it sounds like a descent deal.

Good luck!