Help!
In May knowing I was going to Carlisle next week I brought my 96 LT4 to my mechanic to fix a minor oil leak that had developed since taking the car out of storage. I've owned the car for 2 and a half years. It had 19K on it when I bought it now it has 34K. Some time in it's past someone tried to fix a leak by smearing RVT everywhere.
My mechanic that works on nothing but Corvettes and is regarded as the best Corvette mechanic in the state by most, determined the leak to be the crank sensor o ring which he replaced. again much RVT everywhere.
In June I noticed it was still leaking so I brought it back. He could not see for sure where it was coming from without partially disassembling the motor. Once exposed he saw it was the timing chain cover gasket so he replaced that along with all the associated seals and oil pan gasket. Since the intake manifold was beginning to seep oil at the front also and he had the car there I told him to go ahead and replace that. All for $1559.42 with the oil change. This on top of $250 spent in May. Sunday was the first time I put any miles on the car and it's still leaking. It appears to be behind the opti. other than the seal that was just replaced what might leak there? It's not that I'm cheep as evidenced by what I spent chasing this minor leak but I do want it fixed.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave

 

I can understand your frustration, especially after spending that much money. I have replaced the seals on the front cover 3 times, and eventually the leak rears its ugly head. The best thing you can do is go to your local auto parts store and get an oil dye kit. The kit will come with some leak dye, some yellow glasses, and a black light. You put the dye in the crankcase and drive it for a week or so, then use the glasses and the black light to pinpoint exactly where the leak is. I would use some brake cleaner and clean the engine as best as you can before adding the dye in. This way you have a clean motor and can spot the trail.

Just know, that these LT1 motors are leakers. As long as you don't have a water fall of oil coming out, and its just some minor seepage or a few drips here and there, I'd honestly just live with it. Nature of the beast kind of thing. I know you didn't want to hear that, and neither would I. I am pretty **** about my engines leaking or being dirty, but the LT1 you just kind of have to accept as a way of life. If someone says their LT1 is bone dry and has no leaks OR any seepage, they are probably lying or haven't given their engine a thorough inspection.

 

Thanks Torch... I'm thinking it's the seal around the distributor drive again still. Is there anything else back there that would leak? I don't believe so. And you are absolutely right about it not being what I want to hear LOL.
Dave

 

As long as you are sure its not the front crank seal, the only other seal is the water pump drive seal, which is actually more prone to leaking than the opti seal.

 

BIZARRE!
After re replacing the water pump seal and the opti seal as well as trying another opti it turns out that the rtv on the back side of the intake manifold didn't bond and the oil was running from the rear of the block to the front looking like it was at the front of the motor.
I'm supposed to head down to Carlisle at 0500 Tuesday morning. Right now the car is sitting in the shop waiting on another intake manifold set. It's supposed to show up at noon tomorrow. I hope this does it. I started fixing my little oil leak in May so it would be thoroughly tested before I headed to Carlisle.

Hopefully this update will save someone else the work of redoing everything!!
Save the wave!!

 

And why not bring it right back to the guy u just paid all this money to stop your oil leaks?????????????????????????

 

He has it! He's a stand up guy that went through a lot to ID the problem. He'll fix it. It's all torn down waiting for the gaskets to show up tomorrow

 

Perfect. Problem Solved with Cash

 

Well lets hope this solves the problem. Shouldn't cost anymore than it already has. After 25 years of wrenching some 20 years ago I don't like to any work on my other cars. The Corvette is different though. I was planning on replacing the 3 front seals myself but my wife talked me out of it. As she said I don't have the time, I would need to buy some tools (of course I would) and I don't have the patience! I hate it when she's right. With luck that's all behind now and I'll have an uneventful ride the 500 miles to PA.

 

I always hate it when my old lady tries to get involved with anything but bringing cold beverages to the garage and hanging out or just looking like a sexy bunny sitting in our vettes when we go for our rides.