Oil Pan Leak
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Oil Pan Leak
I have read all the other oil leak threads.
I have replaced my oil pan and gasket. It only leaks at the front where the timing cover meets oil pan. and only after preasure is built up.
Two questions/solutions.
Is it possible to loosen all bolts on timing cover and will it shift down ever so slightly then snug bolts. Then retighten oil pan to solve oil leak?
Or is having Oli Pan corner bolts too tight possibly causing leeakage?
I have replaced my oil pan and gasket. It only leaks at the front where the timing cover meets oil pan. and only after preasure is built up.
Two questions/solutions.
Is it possible to loosen all bolts on timing cover and will it shift down ever so slightly then snug bolts. Then retighten oil pan to solve oil leak?
Or is having Oli Pan corner bolts too tight possibly causing leeakage?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
Once you break it loose you'll need to replace the gasket.
I used a reinforced gasket coated it with sealant and snugged the bolts then let set overnight and torque to spec. never had a leak.
You must put a glob of high temp RTV at the corners were the front and rear seal meet the block or it will leak.
Also make sure it really is the pan gasket. The front seal can leak and blow oil all over the front and sides of the pan and look like a pan gasket leak.
I used a reinforced gasket coated it with sealant and snugged the bolts then let set overnight and torque to spec. never had a leak.
You must put a glob of high temp RTV at the corners were the front and rear seal meet the block or it will leak.
Also make sure it really is the pan gasket. The front seal can leak and blow oil all over the front and sides of the pan and look like a pan gasket leak.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
A factory timing chain cover (stamped steel) that's warped from over-tightening will leak and will look like an oil pan gasket leak in the area you're describing.
Secondly, are you running the factory PCV system? It will help limit the crankcase pressure and limit oil leaks.
Secondly, are you running the factory PCV system? It will help limit the crankcase pressure and limit oil leaks.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Couldn't see what year your car is from the mobile site (killing time waiting for a friend), but if it is pre-1975 you might have the wrong gasket for your application. There are both "thin" and "thick" style gasket front lips. A stocker 68-74 pan would use a thick one, but if the pan was ever replaced after 75 it would take the thin style because GM changed the design in that year, including for replacement pans. You can tell by measuring the front of the pan. Anyway because I'm not sure of the year of your car I could be way off base. I also recommend the Fel-Pro one piece gasket, it's nice. Good luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
I appreciate all the comments.
I ended up retightening bolts after I ran it for a while. Then took black high temp RTV and coated the blue gasket from where the engine block meets timing cover down and around to the other side. Made a smooth layer so it looks like a fitting gasket and have had no problems since.
I ended up retightening bolts after I ran it for a while. Then took black high temp RTV and coated the blue gasket from where the engine block meets timing cover down and around to the other side. Made a smooth layer so it looks like a fitting gasket and have had no problems since.