oil pan gasket problem?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
oil pan gasket problem?
Has anyone here on the forum had trouble getting there oil pan gasket to seal? I have replaced my oil pan gasket for the third time and it is still leaking at the front, where the oil pan meets the timming cover. I replaced the oil pan gasket with a one peace fel-pro. Fel-pro says not to use any gasket sealers so I didn't. Am I missing something? Any ideas??
Thanks, Ray
Thanks, Ray
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by rtracy
Has anyone here on the forum had trouble getting there oil pan gasket to seal? I have replaced my oil pan gasket for the third time and it is still leaking at the front, where the oil pan meets the timming cover. I replaced the oil pan gasket with a one peace fel-pro. Fel-pro says not to use any gasket sealers so I didn't. Am I missing something? Any ideas??
Thanks, Ray
Thanks, Ray
A FSM is money well spent.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
Originally Posted by nutz4c4
What year is the block?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
Originally Posted by 96GS#007
You don't use any gasket sealer on the gasket, but per the Factory Service Manual (FSM) (not a cheap Haynes) it should be installed with 1 large dab of RTV placed at each transition...from the block to the timing chain cover and from the block to the rear main.
A FSM is money well spent.
A FSM is money well spent.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
Well, thanks for the posts. I'll have to try something. I wounder if I was to get a gasket from like a 79 chevy 350 or some year that they had the cork sides, whether that would work better? Has anyone on the forum done there own oil pan gasket and got it to seal?
Race Director
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Although it goes against the service manual, I never install a 1 pc oil pan with sealant in the corners. I have been fortunate and not had leaks. Be aware that felpro makes many 1 pc pan gaskets for the small block chevy. If you have a 2 pc seal crank and are using a later, factory type replacement gasket, it will leak. The reverse is also true. Confirm your parts before proceeding.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by rtracy
Does the factory manual show a one peace gasket or does it have the cork sides with rubber front and rear? I called three different auto parts stores and all they had listed were the one peace. I think the one I had on my old motor was the cork sides. Maybe I should try a camaro gasket do to the fact that the block I have in the car now is a two bolt main. Do you know if they are the same gaskets or not?
FWIW, OEM was one piece from at least 1990 forward.
LT1 Camaro gasket is the same as the LT1 Vette gasket.
OEM part number: 10108676, ~$30 + shipping from Chris May at Superior Chevrolet.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by rtracy
Well, thanks for the posts. I'll have to try something. I wounder if I was to get a gasket from like a 79 chevy 350 or some year that they had the cork sides, whether that would work better? Has anyone on the forum done there own oil pan gasket and got it to seal?
Chevy has a few hundred thousand L98s (later ones), LT1s, and LT4s out there with one piece gaskets and they sealed up just fine. Mine is leak free as well...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
Originally Posted by 96GS#007
Why in the world would you do that?? If you have a one piece rear main seal, use the one piece gasket. By switching to the old style gasket, all you're doing is introducing more leak paths.
Chevy has a few hundred thousand L98s (later ones), LT1s, and LT4s out there with one piece gaskets and they sealed up just fine. Mine is leak free as well...
Chevy has a few hundred thousand L98s (later ones), LT1s, and LT4s out there with one piece gaskets and they sealed up just fine. Mine is leak free as well...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by rtracy
GS96, do you use any sealer in the corners when installing an oil pan? Although mine is leaking on the archof the pan.
I'm beginning to think you may have an oil pan that's warped. Is it a new pan?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
I fought an oil leak in that exact spot on my old 1992 corvette. I eventually sold the car, with it still leaking. The guy who bought it from me eventually discovered a hairline crack in the block that was causing the leak. I've never heard of a block cracking where mine was cracked, and I attributed to it to a once in a lifetime casting flaw.
It's a long shot, but maybe that is the cause of your problems as well?
I tried 5 or 6 different techniques to get it to seal. From a dry gasket, light silicone, gobs of silicone, etc... I even tried tieing the gasket to the pan with sewing thread, thinking I might have been slightly knocking the gasket out of alignment on install.
Good luck, and let us know what you find.
It's a long shot, but maybe that is the cause of your problems as well?
I tried 5 or 6 different techniques to get it to seal. From a dry gasket, light silicone, gobs of silicone, etc... I even tried tieing the gasket to the pan with sewing thread, thinking I might have been slightly knocking the gasket out of alignment on install.
Good luck, and let us know what you find.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: WAY UPSTATE NY
I may be wrong but I do remember something about different width on the "arch" of the timing cover. The one piece gaskets are difficult to get in there ... especialy if your doing it in the car. I always use a little dab of sealer at the corners. By the way this is not a plastic timing cover is it? Had an issue with a couple of those leaking at the side and following the cover down to the "arch" of the pan and dripping there. Mechanic replaced 2 oil pans because of it. Still leaked until I replaced the timing cover. He aint my boat mechanic no more! Anyway make sure where the leak is b4 you throw more time and money at it! FWIW... SCE makes an excellent 1 piece gasket,2$20 bucks from summit.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
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From: NY
Originally Posted by 96GS#007
Yes. As I mentioned in my original post, I put a dab at each corner where the gasket transitions from flat to up over each "arch".
I'm beginning to think you may have an oil pan that's warped. Is it a new pan?
I'm beginning to think you may have an oil pan that's warped. Is it a new pan?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
I'm thinking about removeing the motor so I can get a better look at it. I have been looking at it with a mirror and flash lite and it looks to me like it is comeing from the oil pan. There is oil with a dusting on the bottom of the timeing cover but it is dry not wet like the oil pan.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 1
From: NY
Originally Posted by nutz4c4
I may be wrong but I do remember something about different width on the "arch" of the timing cover. The one piece gaskets are difficult to get in there ... especialy if your doing it in the car. I always use a little dab of sealer at the corners. By the way this is not a plastic timing cover is it? Had an issue with a couple of those leaking at the side and following the cover down to the "arch" of the pan and dripping there. Mechanic replaced 2 oil pans because of it. Still leaked until I replaced the timing cover. He aint my boat mechanic no more! Anyway make sure where the leak is b4 you throw more time and money at it! FWIW... SCE makes an excellent 1 piece gasket,2$20 bucks from summit.
Race Director
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by rtracy
I'm thinking about removeing the motor so I can get a better look at it. I have been looking at it with a mirror and flash lite and it looks to me like it is comeing from the oil pan. There is oil with a dusting on the bottom of the timeing cover but it is dry not wet like the oil pan.
Are you sure it's not the crankshaft seal in the timing chain cover? A leak there can look just like it's coming from the front of the oil pan.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
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From: Lahaina Hi
The stock oil pan gasket for the lt1 is cork on each side and rubber in the front and back.
The after market oil pan gaskets are mostly one piece.
The timing covers are different widths.
My L98 uses a one piece pan gasket and my LT4 uses a 4 piece rubber and cork.
I changed the oil pan on the lt1 to a canton which they have 2 oil pans for the same year one has a different width in the front and rear for a one piece pan gasket.
You need to find out if your front timing cover is tin like the L98 or alum like the ltx engine.
The LTX cover is wider and uses a different gasket.
The after market oil pan gaskets are mostly one piece.
The timing covers are different widths.
My L98 uses a one piece pan gasket and my LT4 uses a 4 piece rubber and cork.
I changed the oil pan on the lt1 to a canton which they have 2 oil pans for the same year one has a different width in the front and rear for a one piece pan gasket.
You need to find out if your front timing cover is tin like the L98 or alum like the ltx engine.
The LTX cover is wider and uses a different gasket.