Small Oil Leak - Somewhere Under Optispark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 159
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Small Oil Leak - Somewhere Under Optispark
Small leak. Building up on frame just under optispark/ big pulley. I have the white manual and will get the car up on ramps to try to find it but I'm new to these engines.
If anyone can orient me as to what could be oozing oil in that location, please advise.
Thanks!
If anyone can orient me as to what could be oozing oil in that location, please advise.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Thanks. I'll start trying to locate them.
It may be worth mentioning the car ('92 Vert, 5.7L) only saw 900 miles of action from 12-2-2006 to when I picked her up (Oct., 2011). Right now, she has 66500 on the clock.
Car has been sitting in my garage for last two months while I cleaned up the paint.
I noticed a few drops by tailshaft seal area as well.
I'm wondering if seals dried out during long period of inactivity.
It may be worth mentioning the car ('92 Vert, 5.7L) only saw 900 miles of action from 12-2-2006 to when I picked her up (Oct., 2011). Right now, she has 66500 on the clock.
Car has been sitting in my garage for last two months while I cleaned up the paint.
I noticed a few drops by tailshaft seal area as well.
I'm wondering if seals dried out during long period of inactivity.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Could very well be that seals have dried up and oil is being pushed out. Might be worth putting some miles on it in larger numbers like taking a trip of 100 miles or so to insure that the engine is at operating temps for some period of time. Clean the area where you see leakage beforehand and check after driving.
You may have to repeat that a couple more times. Also start with a fresh oil change and a good filter. Mobil-1 5W-30 synthetic was the factory fill.
You may have to repeat that a couple more times. Also start with a fresh oil change and a good filter. Mobil-1 5W-30 synthetic was the factory fill.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,228
Likes: 347
From: Albuquerque, NM
As mentioned there are several oil seals in that area... crankshaft, water pump, and optispark drive. Also, one very common oil leak on LT1's is the front and rear of the intake. If the front of the intake is leaking it could run down and appear that it's coming from the optispark area.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
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Any tips on getting a good line of sight on back / rear of intake? I'm new to these engines. Looks pretty crowded in those areas.
Water pump and opti, associated seals were replaced 11-24-2010.
Serp belt and tensioner repl. 3-31-2003
I'll jack her up and try to find leaks from underneath. Next, I'll wipe everything down and take her on a few 100 miles trips and recheck.
Thanks again.
Water pump and opti, associated seals were replaced 11-24-2010.
Serp belt and tensioner repl. 3-31-2003
I'll jack her up and try to find leaks from underneath. Next, I'll wipe everything down and take her on a few 100 miles trips and recheck.
Thanks again.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
Any tips on getting a good line of sight on back / rear of intake? I'm new to these engines. Looks pretty crowded in those areas.
Water pump and opti, associated seals were replaced 11-24-2010.
Serp belt and tensioner repl. 3-31-2003
I'll jack her up and try to find leaks from underneath. Next, I'll wipe everything down and take her on a few 100 miles trips and recheck.
Thanks again.
Water pump and opti, associated seals were replaced 11-24-2010.
Serp belt and tensioner repl. 3-31-2003
I'll jack her up and try to find leaks from underneath. Next, I'll wipe everything down and take her on a few 100 miles trips and recheck.
Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Remove driver's side fuel rail cover...remove the two plastic clips that hold the throttle cable and/or remove the cable end from the throttle body.
Removing the left fuel rail cover yields a better view of the rear intake.
Removing the left fuel rail cover yields a better view of the rear intake.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
That's not a leak, that's paying homage
Since the first sports cars were British, I'd always heard that oil leaks were the GM engineers way of paying homage to their forerunners! 
(if my '93 didn't leak, I'd think it was low on oil.)
(if my '93 didn't leak, I'd think it was low on oil.)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 159
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Thanks gents.
I got under there this AM.
There is an approx. 1/2" OD hose on the left side of car extending down by the sides of the plug wires to the opti. It runs along the left (drivers side) of opti, behind main tensioner pulley, just in front of the oil pan.
At the top, it's connected with a hose clamp and it looks wet there.
If anyone can clue me in on an "easy" way to get to that clamp, I'll try tightening it down. It doesn't look possible from underneath the car.
I'll also get a mirror and try it get it in front of the balancer snout to see if there's any oil blowing onto the hose and dripping onto the crossmember. If that were the case, wouldn't I see more than a small amount of oil on the floor or low oil level?
I got under there this AM.
There is an approx. 1/2" OD hose on the left side of car extending down by the sides of the plug wires to the opti. It runs along the left (drivers side) of opti, behind main tensioner pulley, just in front of the oil pan.
At the top, it's connected with a hose clamp and it looks wet there.
If anyone can clue me in on an "easy" way to get to that clamp, I'll try tightening it down. It doesn't look possible from underneath the car.
I'll also get a mirror and try it get it in front of the balancer snout to see if there's any oil blowing onto the hose and dripping onto the crossmember. If that were the case, wouldn't I see more than a small amount of oil on the floor or low oil level?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
It wasn't motor oil
Got under her again with a mirror and while there was no room to squeeze the mirror in, I traced the "hose" running behind the main tensioner to the power steering reservoir.
Next, I had the bright idea to check the PS fluid level and found it very low.
As mentioned, it looks like where the lines is clamped to the pump(?) with hose clamps is seeping oil. Guessing the PS fluid is running down the line and dripping onto the crossmember.
I'm hoping the white manual I have tells me how to get to that hose so I can check fitment/ reclamp but if anyone has a few ideas how to get there, I'd surely welcome them! Impossible to reach from the underside.
In the interim, I cleaned everything off and will monitor/ try to confirm.
Got under her again with a mirror and while there was no room to squeeze the mirror in, I traced the "hose" running behind the main tensioner to the power steering reservoir.
Next, I had the bright idea to check the PS fluid level and found it very low.
As mentioned, it looks like where the lines is clamped to the pump(?) with hose clamps is seeping oil. Guessing the PS fluid is running down the line and dripping onto the crossmember.
I'm hoping the white manual I have tells me how to get to that hose so I can check fitment/ reclamp but if anyone has a few ideas how to get there, I'd surely welcome them! Impossible to reach from the underside.
In the interim, I cleaned everything off and will monitor/ try to confirm.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Not sure when I'll be able to take her back out for a spin (my car only sees fair weather) but it looks like I have to pull the S-belt to get to the pump?
If that's the case, I'm considering replacing the pump.
Is there anything to watch out for? Is there a sticky on pump removal? White service manual doesn't say much.
If that's the case, I'm considering replacing the pump.
Is there anything to watch out for? Is there a sticky on pump removal? White service manual doesn't say much.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
Not sure when I'll be able to take her back out for a spin (my car only sees fair weather) but it looks like I have to pull the S-belt to get to the pump?
If that's the case, I'm considering replacing the pump.
Is there anything to watch out for? Is there a sticky on pump removal? White service manual doesn't say much.
If that's the case, I'm considering replacing the pump.
Is there anything to watch out for? Is there a sticky on pump removal? White service manual doesn't say much.
