Oil leak
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
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From: Waxhaw NC
Oil leak
I replaced my intake gasket about 3 weeks ago since back of my intake was wet and I fgured the china wall leaked and thats what caused the oil to drip down to the oil filter and getting it wet as well.
Unfortunately after I changed the intake gasket and china walls sealed correctly, the oil still drips down to the oil filter but it seems like its not as bad. Wondering where the oil is coming from -- the oil sending units are not leaking, valve cover gaskets are good and the China walls are no longer leaking. When I changed the oil a couple of months ago I made sure the old oil filter gasket was removed so I'm good with that.
One thing that is strange is when I see the oil filter wet after a drive, I would wipe it dry and in a day or two without driving the Vette, I would check the oil filter and its wet again. How's the oil leaking when the engine has not been started in a couple of days -- obviously no oil pressure. Rear main seal? Is there anything around the oil filter that would cause a leak?
Unfortunately after I changed the intake gasket and china walls sealed correctly, the oil still drips down to the oil filter but it seems like its not as bad. Wondering where the oil is coming from -- the oil sending units are not leaking, valve cover gaskets are good and the China walls are no longer leaking. When I changed the oil a couple of months ago I made sure the old oil filter gasket was removed so I'm good with that.
One thing that is strange is when I see the oil filter wet after a drive, I would wipe it dry and in a day or two without driving the Vette, I would check the oil filter and its wet again. How's the oil leaking when the engine has not been started in a couple of days -- obviously no oil pressure. Rear main seal? Is there anything around the oil filter that would cause a leak?
Last edited by shaft1; Mar 29, 2015 at 05:30 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Is the oil coming from above the filter and dripping down the block or is it dripping down the filter. Your profile tells me you have a LT1...always good to tell us what year car/engine you have.
I had an issue with oil dripping down the filter. The filter seal was good. Turned out it was the adapter for the filter to the block. I bought a gasket kit for the block to adapter and it did not solve the problem. The gasket was very thin, like copy paper thickness. I ended up making my own gasket from some gasket material I had that was about 1/8" thick. I punched the holes for the bolts smaller so the bolt had to thread thru the gasket. Then I put a little "The Right Stuff" on the gasket material both sides and around the bolt holes. This solved the problem and have not had a issue since. There was a thread a while back where someone had a similar issue and found that the bolts that held the adapter to the block were a fraction too long. I don't recall if they ground off a little amount off the end of the bolt or used a washer under the head.
I had an issue with oil dripping down the filter. The filter seal was good. Turned out it was the adapter for the filter to the block. I bought a gasket kit for the block to adapter and it did not solve the problem. The gasket was very thin, like copy paper thickness. I ended up making my own gasket from some gasket material I had that was about 1/8" thick. I punched the holes for the bolts smaller so the bolt had to thread thru the gasket. Then I put a little "The Right Stuff" on the gasket material both sides and around the bolt holes. This solved the problem and have not had a issue since. There was a thread a while back where someone had a similar issue and found that the bolts that held the adapter to the block were a fraction too long. I don't recall if they ground off a little amount off the end of the bolt or used a washer under the head.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Waxhaw NC
Is the oil coming from above the filter and dripping down the block or is it dripping down the filter. Your profile tells me you have a LT1...always good to tell us what year car/engine you have.
I had an issue with oil dripping down the filter. The filter seal was good. Turned out it was the adapter for the filter to the block. I bought a gasket kit for the block to adapter and it did not solve the problem. The gasket was very thin, like copy paper thickness. I ended up making my own gasket from some gasket material I had that was about 1/8" thick. I punched the holes for the bolts smaller so the bolt had to thread thru the gasket. Then I put a little "The Right Stuff" on the gasket material both sides and around the bolt holes. This solved the problem and have not had a issue since. There was a thread a while back where someone had a similar issue and found that the bolts that held the adapter to the block were a fraction too long. I don't recall if they ground off a little amount off the end of the bolt or used a washer under the head.
I had an issue with oil dripping down the filter. The filter seal was good. Turned out it was the adapter for the filter to the block. I bought a gasket kit for the block to adapter and it did not solve the problem. The gasket was very thin, like copy paper thickness. I ended up making my own gasket from some gasket material I had that was about 1/8" thick. I punched the holes for the bolts smaller so the bolt had to thread thru the gasket. Then I put a little "The Right Stuff" on the gasket material both sides and around the bolt holes. This solved the problem and have not had a issue since. There was a thread a while back where someone had a similar issue and found that the bolts that held the adapter to the block were a fraction too long. I don't recall if they ground off a little amount off the end of the bolt or used a washer under the head.
What kinda of gasket material did you use? Something I can buy at the local auto parts store.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 202
From: Trinity FL
Is the oil coming from above the filter and dripping down the block or is it dripping down the filter. Your profile tells me you have a LT1...always good to tell us what year car/engine you have.
I had an issue with oil dripping down the filter. The filter seal was good. Turned out it was the adapter for the filter to the block. I bought a gasket kit for the block to adapter and it did not solve the problem. The gasket was very thin, like copy paper thickness. I ended up making my own gasket from some gasket material I had that was about 1/8" thick. I punched the holes for the bolts smaller so the bolt had to thread thru the gasket. Then I put a little "The Right Stuff" on the gasket material both sides and around the bolt holes. This solved the problem and have not had a issue since. There was a thread a while back where someone had a similar issue and found that the bolts that held the adapter to the block were a fraction too long. I don't recall if they ground off a little amount off the end of the bolt or used a washer under the head.
I had an issue with oil dripping down the filter. The filter seal was good. Turned out it was the adapter for the filter to the block. I bought a gasket kit for the block to adapter and it did not solve the problem. The gasket was very thin, like copy paper thickness. I ended up making my own gasket from some gasket material I had that was about 1/8" thick. I punched the holes for the bolts smaller so the bolt had to thread thru the gasket. Then I put a little "The Right Stuff" on the gasket material both sides and around the bolt holes. This solved the problem and have not had a issue since. There was a thread a while back where someone had a similar issue and found that the bolts that held the adapter to the block were a fraction too long. I don't recall if they ground off a little amount off the end of the bolt or used a washer under the head.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
I had gasket material that I had bought a couple of years ago on another project. Material was blue and thick. You should be able to buy gasket material from most auto parts stores. I also have a set of hole punches that make this much easier.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 122
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From: Waxhaw NC
Got the oring and gasket replaced last night. What a PITA to remove the old gasket that was stuck on the engine block. I used a razor blade to scrape the old gasket out but with very limited room to move around it took a while to remove it. The old oring was hard as a rock felt like it was made out of plastic.
So far no more oil leak. Thanks you guys for the help.
So far no more oil leak. Thanks you guys for the help.
