Dumb question, but....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,161
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From: Easton PA
Dumb question, but....
My enigine leaks oil from the rear area onto the exhaust. Smokes like he11 when stopped at a light. Don't notice any oil loss on the dipstick, and haven't gotten under there yet. Would this be oil pan gasket or rear main seal, or what? I'm kinda lost here. Not sure what to check. Plan on checking it out in the winter.
Small block 350 motor. Thanks :seeya
Small block 350 motor. Thanks :seeya
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,161
Likes: 0
From: Easton PA
Re: Dumb question, but.... (Vetteboy)
Thanks. Might as well check out/change the oil pump whileI'min there, after taking the pan off.
If it a hard job to replace the seal? I have the dealer shop manual but didn't check it out yet.
Thanks
If it a hard job to replace the seal? I have the dealer shop manual but didn't check it out yet.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Dumb question, but.... (82dukman)
not too hard. You just drop the rear main cap and change the 1/2 seal on that part.
There are two "sticks" that go into some slots, they are also seals. Hard to explain, you will see when you get down there.
The difficult part, besides dropping the pan, is the upper 1/2 of the seal.
You can use a small non-sharp tool to push one side of it in and the other side will come out. Grab ahold of it and pull the old one out. There are tools that are basically a wire you use to install the upper 1/2 of the seal. You thread it up around the crank journal and then use it to pull the seal into place.
I like to install the rear seal offset. That means the two halves of the seal don't line up with the two halves of the main cap. I have always thought if they line up, there is a better chance at a leak. Use a little black RTV to seal up the area and you are done.
I would make sure it is not the valve cover gaskets leaking down on the back of the motor, or the oil pressure sending unit first.
Clean the motor really good an look for new leaks.
Good luck.
There are two "sticks" that go into some slots, they are also seals. Hard to explain, you will see when you get down there.
The difficult part, besides dropping the pan, is the upper 1/2 of the seal.
You can use a small non-sharp tool to push one side of it in and the other side will come out. Grab ahold of it and pull the old one out. There are tools that are basically a wire you use to install the upper 1/2 of the seal. You thread it up around the crank journal and then use it to pull the seal into place.
I like to install the rear seal offset. That means the two halves of the seal don't line up with the two halves of the main cap. I have always thought if they line up, there is a better chance at a leak. Use a little black RTV to seal up the area and you are done.
I would make sure it is not the valve cover gaskets leaking down on the back of the motor, or the oil pressure sending unit first.
Clean the motor really good an look for new leaks.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,161
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From: Easton PA
Re: Dumb question, but.... (BSeery)
Thanks Bseery. I think I'll get some Gunk degreaser and spray it all over and power wash it off. I thought about the valve cover gaskets but I wasn't sure. I guess I can live with it for another couple of weeks. Never thought about the pressure sending unit though.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Dumb question, but.... (82dukman)
Thanks Bseery. I think I'll get some Gunk degreaser and spray it all over and power wash it off. I thought about the valve cover gaskets but I wasn't sure. I guess I can live with it for another couple of weeks. Never thought about the pressure sending unit though.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,161
Likes: 0
From: Easton PA
Re: Dumb question, but.... (daily_driver)
could be the oil sensor tooo...
mine leaked like a siv until i replaced it....
when driving that could easily wind up on your exhuast
mine leaked like a siv until i replaced it....
when driving that could easily wind up on your exhuast
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 0
From: colorado springs CO
Re: Dumb question, but.... (82dukman)
oil sensor??
its so easy it aint funny...
just screw it off...
and screw new one on..
they sell em at napa auto parts for like ~10 bux or soo..
its a pretty common part.
its so easy it aint funny...
just screw it off...
and screw new one on..
they sell em at napa auto parts for like ~10 bux or soo..
its a pretty common part.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,161
Likes: 0
From: Easton PA
Re: Dumb question, but.... (daily_driver)
oil sensor??
its so easy it aint funny...
just screw it off...
and screw new one on..
they sell em at napa auto parts for like ~10 bux or soo..
its a pretty common part.
its so easy it aint funny...
just screw it off...
and screw new one on..
they sell em at napa auto parts for like ~10 bux or soo..
its a pretty common part.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 0
From: colorado springs CO
Re: Dumb question, but.... (82dukman)
yah i hear that....
but other more common oil leaks than a rear main seal are prolly tranny line..(did u check that oil level??)
and also power stearing.....
when driving the wind carries it onto the exhaust....
even a leaking fuel line by the fuel pump can do it (been there ...done that..)
so id say 1st to monitor the fluids and find out exactly what is leaking....
then check what side... then youve got it...
youll probably find it to be a combination of things
:jester :jester
murphy's law!!!
but other more common oil leaks than a rear main seal are prolly tranny line..(did u check that oil level??)
and also power stearing.....
when driving the wind carries it onto the exhaust....
even a leaking fuel line by the fuel pump can do it (been there ...done that..)
so id say 1st to monitor the fluids and find out exactly what is leaking....
then check what side... then youve got it...
youll probably find it to be a combination of things
:jester :jester
murphy's law!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 2
From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Dumb question, but.... (daily_driver)
There's some stuff called "Dye-lite" you can buy at most auto parts stores that makes finding the exact source of leaks really easy. You put it in the oil and/or tranny fluid (it's compatible with both), run the car a few minutes, then get under the car with a black light. The leaks show up as a green glow, like it's radioactive. Helluva lot easier than cleaning everything under there up. Their webpage is http://www.tracerline.com
JB
'78SA
[Modified by JB, 11:26 PM 11/5/2001]
JB
'78SA
[Modified by JB, 11:26 PM 11/5/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,066
From: Virginia USA
Re: Dumb question, but.... (JB)
A friend of mine has a 75 and he thought his rear main seal was leaking but when we investigated it, it turned out to be the rear corner of the valve cover gasket (Bubba put it on and the corner of the gasket was completely "squished" out) The bottom of his car looked like the Exxon Valdez. I guess you have an automatic (don't know the specs of the early 80's Vettes too well and don't know if a 4 speed was even offered in 82) take the torque converter inspection pan off the bell housing and inspect the rear main really good before trying to changed out the seal. Good luck and hopefully its something simple.
John
John
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,161
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From: Easton PA
Re: Dumb question, but.... (theandies)
Thanks John. The underside of mine also looks like an oil spill :lol:
I think it might be valve covers or the rear main. Mine is an auto so I guess I will have to look at the rear main.Still think I might Gunk it before I rip it apart so I don't slide out of the garage :lol:
I think it might be valve covers or the rear main. Mine is an auto so I guess I will have to look at the rear main.Still think I might Gunk it before I rip it apart so I don't slide out of the garage :lol:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Re: Dumb question, but.... (82dukman)
Just remember that oil doesn't run uphill. If you have oil at the head, the problem is above there. Most likely cause is the valve cover, in my experiance.