C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Leaks!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 05:58 PM
  #1  
EngineerJay's Avatar
EngineerJay
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Grand Haven Michigan
Default Leaks!

I have been noticing a surge in oil pressure as well as drops on the ground, so I got my '71 on ramps and took a peak underneath. I put paper underneath the car to try to pin point locations of leaks. I noticed one on the drivers side rear of the engine block by the spark plug.

Could this one be coming from the valve cover? the top of the cover looks clean, but im not sure where else it could be coming from.

I also noticed a leak further back around the middle of the car. I don't know if putting the car on ramps caused this one but it is coming from here.

I am not sure what it is, not finding it right away in the AIM. But the fluid dripping is reddish in color.


Any advice/help on the two leaks would be appreciated!

Also an additional question unrelated to the leaks. My '71 had the 78 front spoiler on it, is there a stock spoiler that is supposed to be on it?

Thanks for the help!

Jay
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 06:28 PM
  #2  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi Jay,
I'll take the easier question... yes 71 cars all had a black plastic spoiler about 2" deep installed on them. I believe it was there to help direct air up through the openings in the front valance toward the radiator.
They're available in reproduction but don't fit quite as well at each end as the originals did.
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 07:56 PM
  #3  
gq82's Avatar
gq82
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

The red liquid is either transmission fluid or ps fluid....leaks are somtimes hard to trace. I would start by snugging up both the valve cover and transmission pan bolts.
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 08:34 PM
  #4  
toolman1981's Avatar
toolman1981
Racer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Near Round Top (pop. 90) Texas
Default

I had a leak that presented much like you described. It was coming from the oil pressure sending unit. My car has electrical gaues but I would imagine the mechanical would be in the same place. Top center of the block just behind the distributor.

Reply
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 08:50 PM
  #5  
EngineerJay's Avatar
EngineerJay
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Grand Haven Michigan
Default

Toolman1981, you may be right, there had been a small pool of oil under the distributed.
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 09:14 PM
  #6  
toolman1981's Avatar
toolman1981
Racer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Near Round Top (pop. 90) Texas
Default

Originally Posted by EngineerJay
Toolman1981, you may be right, there had been a small pool of oil under the distributed.
Funny thing is I had already changed my valve cover gaskets, and pulled the intake before I noticed it!!

Reply
Old Oct 26, 2011 | 10:18 PM
  #7  
Drawmain's Avatar
Drawmain
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 943
Likes: 15
From: Valdosta Georgia
Default

I'm thinking your reddish leak is transmission fluid, and from the location near the crossmember I'd check the speedometer cable mount.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Leaks!





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:54 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE