oil leak, suggestions?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
oil leak, suggestions?
Noticed this morning I have an oil leak. Put the vette up on the ramps and crawled under and could not determine where it is coming from. Cleaned it up and guess I'll monitor it but looks like a trip to Chevy. Damn... not a good day today. Battery died while it was on the ramps had to go get a new battery.
I stuck the camera down there and took a bunch of picture trying to see if I can see it from the pictures but unable to. It wasn't there when I changed the oil first day of summer.
So folks, any ideas where this might be coming from?
Checked the oil level and its still right at the top mark.
I stuck the camera down there and took a bunch of picture trying to see if I can see it from the pictures but unable to. It wasn't there when I changed the oil first day of summer.
So folks, any ideas where this might be coming from?
Checked the oil level and its still right at the top mark.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I took a bunch by sticking the camera down near the opti but it wasn't darn near impossible to tell anything. I just got the battery in and let it idle for about 4-5 minutes.
Stupid brace is in the way to get a good view of anything. I'll run it around the block and see what more images I can take. Most of them are just not usable. Thanks
Stupid brace is in the way to get a good view of anything. I'll run it around the block and see what more images I can take. Most of them are just not usable. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,165
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville,TN TN
St. Jude Donor '03
If it's like my 95 LT1 my leak was the intake man up front right above the opti. If you have the same problem look real close right above the opti, you will see oily dirt. That is just below the leak. You have to put a new intake gasket on. dealer is about $658.79 I know thats what it cost me. my .02, good luck 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Timing Cover
The oil leak may be coming from one of the timing cover seals.
If it is an intake gasket leak, fix it yourself. Pulling the intake on an LT1 is easier than changing spark plug wires.
If it is an intake gasket leak, fix it yourself. Pulling the intake on an LT1 is easier than changing spark plug wires.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I just drove it around the subdivision and didn't see any new on the oil pan. But I did get a picture of the passenger side right side of the engine. I noticed a little oily like area there. But this was there before I cleaned it and I didn't clean the exhaust manifold. Is this the area your talking about?
I have to drive to south Orlando so when I get back there might be some I'll check it when I get back.
Man this is depressing.
I have to drive to south Orlando so when I get back there might be some I'll check it when I get back.
Man this is depressing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Definately looks like either the front of the intake, valve covers, or both. If you have the tools and the time, I would fix the leak myself and save a good ammount of money. if you have never pulled the intake before, it's not as hard as it might look. 
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by greenvette95
That is just below the leak. You have to put a new intake gasket on. dealer is about $658.79 I know thats what it cost me. my .02, good luck
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I just got back from an 80+ mile trip (interstate), actually first time I've got to run her in about 4-5 weeks since its been just local driving. Anyway, ran her constant at about 2000 rpm which averaged about 75-80+, I looked with a flashlight at the oil pan and I can't see any fluid on the pan. I'll get to look more closely at it tomorrow and also check the torque on the valve covers.
As I was saying before I changed the oil on the first day of summer and when I do oil changes I always wipe everything down underneath. There was no leak then, but I really haven't driven it much other than local since. From the first picture although it looked bad there was no oil on the garage floor.
I'll post an update what I find tomorrow.
Thanks guys for all your suggestions and help.
As I was saying before I changed the oil on the first day of summer and when I do oil changes I always wipe everything down underneath. There was no leak then, but I really haven't driven it much other than local since. From the first picture although it looked bad there was no oil on the garage floor.
I'll post an update what I find tomorrow.
Thanks guys for all your suggestions and help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Oil leak
It could be coming from a number of places. First, clean the area that is oiled, then run the car up to normal temp. When the oil is up to temp, you should be able to see where it is coming from. Give it a try.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Sometimes the problem is that the gaskets have gone hard with age and heat they don't give a complete seal when the engine is cold .
You might get some seepage under these conditions for two reasons.
1. The oil pressure may be up to 5 pounds higher ( I see that on mine all the time until it's up to operating range)
2. When the engine heats up, the metal expands slightly and may be just enough to restore the seal
The key as others have identified is to clean the engine and find the source.
Good Luck
You might get some seepage under these conditions for two reasons.
1. The oil pressure may be up to 5 pounds higher ( I see that on mine all the time until it's up to operating range)
2. When the engine heats up, the metal expands slightly and may be just enough to restore the seal
The key as others have identified is to clean the engine and find the source.
Good Luck
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by rws.1
Sometimes the problem is that the gaskets have gone hard with age and heat they don't give a complete seal when the engine is cold .
You might get some seepage under these conditions for two reasons.
1. The oil pressure may be up to 5 pounds higher ( I see that on mine all the time until it's up to operating range)
2. When the engine heats up, the metal expands slightly and may be just enough to restore the seal
The key as others have identified is to clean the engine and find the source.
Good Luck
You might get some seepage under these conditions for two reasons.
1. The oil pressure may be up to 5 pounds higher ( I see that on mine all the time until it's up to operating range)
2. When the engine heats up, the metal expands slightly and may be just enough to restore the seal
The key as others have identified is to clean the engine and find the source.
Good Luck
you may just have found something that isnt ready to be fixedso do a complete clean and watch it.. don't sweat it ,if you cruzed that far and still ok i'd watch if mine. my 2cents