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C5 Oil Leak

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Old Oct 29, 2020 | 01:11 PM
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Looking for someone in the Illinois 60560 area that can help me find an annoying leak on the Mrs. 03' LS1 automatic. I just had back surgery so I'm not able to do much of anything. She's hoping to take the car to Florida next month to visit her dad and take him for a drive along the cost before he passes away. I did a rear main seal on my 2000 LS1 manual last year so I know what's involved and I'm hoping it's not that but it is leaving a similar small puddle in the exact same spot in the garage but leaks more severely while it's running just like my 2000 did. Millage is around 89K. I pulled the intake and did an oil pressure sending unit on it last year as that stuck at 40 lbs. Could be the positioner but, again, I can't even try to look at it. Any recommendations as to someone I can have look at it for us is appreciated.
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Old Oct 29, 2020 | 02:11 PM
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You may also want to post this in the Great Lakes Regional Section.
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Old Oct 29, 2020 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by gemrsn
Looking for someone in the Illinois 60560 area that can help me find an annoying leak on the Mrs. 03' LS1 automatic. I just had back surgery so I'm not able to do much of anything. She's hoping to take the car to Florida next month to visit her dad and take him for a drive along the cost before he passes away. I did a rear main seal on my 2000 LS1 manual last year so I know what's involved and I'm hoping it's not that but it is leaving a similar small puddle in the exact same spot in the garage but leaks more severely while it's running just like my 2000 did. Millage is around 89K. I pulled the intake and did an oil pressure sending unit on it last year as that stuck at 40 lbs. Could be the positioner but, again, I can't even try to look at it. Any recommendations as to someone I can have look at it for us is appreciated.
I would definitely check out that oil sending unit. I've seen them leak from places on the sender other than the threads. I just got to Florida from Michigan, so I can't help you. Hopefully someone can step up and offer some help to you. However, if it isn't a huge leak, like a quart every 500 miles, you could still send the wife down and she could take her dad on the trip. Just have her keep an eye on that dipstick!
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Old Oct 29, 2020 | 04:36 PM
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Sorry to hear of your back surgery, I'm sure you've considered and ruled out the possibility of taking the car to a specialty shop and having them put it up on a lift and take a good look. But you might want to give it some more thought, particularly in light of the upcoming road trip.

I live in Carol Stream, I had my leaky seals and axle seals replaced a few months ago by a transmission shop in Villa Park. I think it is about 40 minutes from you (you're in Yorkville, right?). They weren't cheap- but they are good (65 years in the business) and came highly recommended. I've been very satisfied (no more leak).

Atomic Transmission, Villa Park, IL. (630) 941-1270. I'm guessing they'd be happy to have a look at what's going on and could tell you with certainty what the problem is

Last edited by wdcraig; Oct 29, 2020 at 04:41 PM.
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Old Oct 30, 2020 | 03:28 PM
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I had replacement oil pressure sensors leak twice, right at the seam where the plastic meets the metal. That thing is so frustrating. Car has about 140k miles now. The last one I installed was brass and it's not leaked yet.
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Old Nov 16, 2020 | 03:45 PM
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Thanks to all for your suggestions!
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Old Nov 16, 2020 | 11:52 PM
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Quite possible your PCV has failed and the excessive crankcase pressure has pushed out possibly (most likely) the oil pan gasket or rear main seal.

I’ve posted this before several times, very common issue at the Corvette only shop I worked at. In the Atlanta area we did maybe 3-5 per month due to the same cause. Oil pan reseal much less expensive than rear main seal obviously but that’s the coin toss you made to yourself when you bought the car not knowing to check the PCV. Change the PCV hose assembly when the repair is made, which was as $125ish years ago, when you do the job to keep the issue from happening again within a couple months.

-If she’s making a trip of importance and the car is not dripping oil on the exhaust causing stink and FIRE, just give her 2 quarts of oil for the trip and teach her how to check and add until she gets back. She should have 1.5 quarts left over when she gets back.
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