Oil starting to drip,,,
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Oil starting to drip,,,
Took my car in for an oil change yesterday and found that it was starting to leak where the oil pan meets the block. The leak is very minor, no drips yet in my driveway. To have this repaired is about $550. It's quite a big job.. A few people I know have had the gasket changed and a year later it starts to drip again. You guys think it's worth changing.?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: Rapid City SD
That's a rhetorical question right?
Is it worth changing to you? You're the one who has to fork out the cash, or do the labor himself. Does it bother you that your car is leaking oil and everytime you drive it will blow all over the bottom of the car? Personally, it would drive me nuts, but then again, I don't even drive my car in the rain, so I guess that makes me abnormal compared to most of this forum. I just like to fix things as they happen, or mole hills eventually turn into mountains.
Is it worth changing to you? You're the one who has to fork out the cash, or do the labor himself. Does it bother you that your car is leaking oil and everytime you drive it will blow all over the bottom of the car? Personally, it would drive me nuts, but then again, I don't even drive my car in the rain, so I guess that makes me abnormal compared to most of this forum. I just like to fix things as they happen, or mole hills eventually turn into mountains.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
It used to be the previous generations of chevy V8s were known as having wet bottoms. They had a habitual tendency to leak from the rear oil seal or the valve cover gaskets. We lived with those leaks from 1955 to until the late 80s when they redesigned the valve covers and the rear oil seal. There was never a single engine or vehicle problem attributed to the wet bottoms on the millions of those vehicles that were built.
Is it worth $550 to prevent a leak that costs less than $4 to allow it to keep leaking and that will never do any harm to anybody. By the way what other things could go wrong while trying to fix a non-problem? The old saying is still true: "If it ain't broke don't fix it".
As for a person going nuts over it they really need to talk to somebody about what is important in the world.
Bill
Is it worth $550 to prevent a leak that costs less than $4 to allow it to keep leaking and that will never do any harm to anybody. By the way what other things could go wrong while trying to fix a non-problem? The old saying is still true: "If it ain't broke don't fix it".
As for a person going nuts over it they really need to talk to somebody about what is important in the world.
Bill
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
oil leak
I have a 2000 with 12k miles. Mine has same problem. Can't confirm if its leaking from the upper oil pan joint where it meets the block (passenger side) or if its a main seal or rear cover gasket. I ruled out the oil pressure sensor which seems to be a common problem. My oil level was high but I lowered it and it still leaks. Just a few drops.
What did you finally decide to do or find out?
Any help is appreciated
What did you finally decide to do or find out?
Any help is appreciated
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
My 2004 Z06 leaked from the corner where the upper oil pan, block, and back cover come together after I changed the oil. It leaked enough to run down and drip on the ground, so I checked into how the parts go together. I think it is not just a gasket, but there has to be sealant on that seam, and especially in the corner where the three parts come together. The next time I changed my oil, I left the oil level a little below the full mark, and the leak stopped.
There may be a slight film over time, but not enough to run down and drip anymore.
As has already been said, I would be more concerned about something else getting damged trying to repair it than cleaning off a little oil once in awhile.
There may be a slight film over time, but not enough to run down and drip anymore.
As has already been said, I would be more concerned about something else getting damged trying to repair it than cleaning off a little oil once in awhile.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
First, are you really sure it's motor oil? My car was leaving a few irritating spots in the drive, on the passenger side, front, near the motor mount. Took it to a dealer for an oil change and they added dye. Went back a few days later. Car was racked and mechanic said I needed an oil pan gasket and the small oil pressure sensor gasket at a cost of approx $500 -$600. Meanwhile, the a/c didn't seem to be getting as cold as it should. Went to another shop and had it purged and recharged. Long story short, the oil I was seeing was the a/c compressor slooowly leaking at the pressure relief valve right below the inlet/outlet tubes on back, NOT the oil pan or sensor gaskets. Part is $40 and should take about 30-60 mins to repair and then recharge system.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: San Jose Ca
It's quite possible it's oil residue from a sloppy *** technician who used a can of brake clean to "clean up" after an oil change, and didn't wipe it down with a rag.
Have it cleaned again, and check it in a few thousand miles.
Have it cleaned again, and check it in a few thousand miles.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Originally Posted by PaintFence
I have a 2000 with 12k miles. Mine has same problem. Can't confirm if its leaking from the upper oil pan joint where it meets the block (passenger side) or if its a main seal or rear cover gasket. I ruled out the oil pressure sensor which seems to be a common problem. My oil level was high but I lowered it and it still leaks. Just a few drops.
What did you finally decide to do or find out?
Any help is appreciated
What did you finally decide to do or find out?
Any help is appreciated
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
If you are to do it I would not have a $550 dollar bill to pay! Do it yourself!IMO!
You learn so much more about your Vette when you do fixes of this caliber because you can visualy check out the inside of you motor as well as any underneath parts that might be in need of some attention and or fixes!
An oil leak is always worth the fix, soon it will leave a drip in the driveway, I always hate to have to defend a leaky car!
Thanks,Matt
You learn so much more about your Vette when you do fixes of this caliber because you can visualy check out the inside of you motor as well as any underneath parts that might be in need of some attention and or fixes!
An oil leak is always worth the fix, soon it will leave a drip in the driveway, I always hate to have to defend a leaky car!
Thanks,Matt
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Originally Posted by madmatt9471
If you are to do it I would not have a $550 dollar bill to pay! Do it yourself!IMO!
You learn so much more about your Vette when you do fixes of this caliber because you can visualy check out the inside of you motor as well as any underneath parts that might be in need of some attention and or fixes!
An oil leak is always worth the fix, soon it will leave a drip in the driveway, I always hate to have to defend a leaky car!
Thanks,Matt
You learn so much more about your Vette when you do fixes of this caliber because you can visualy check out the inside of you motor as well as any underneath parts that might be in need of some attention and or fixes!
An oil leak is always worth the fix, soon it will leave a drip in the driveway, I always hate to have to defend a leaky car!
Thanks,Matt
I don't even do my own oil changes. I used to, but not much time these days, and for an extra $20 i can have someone else get dirty. I will get it done probably in the spring after the winter storage. I'll see how bad the leak is then..
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Worthwhile checking to see if it is the EOP sender seeping up top and the oil running down over the bell housing to where you are seeing it. I had this condition at or near the time my OEM sender went south. After I replaced it, no problems at all.
HTH,
Robert
HTH,
Robert
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,045
Likes: 9
From: Montreal ** Enjoy the ride !!
Originally Posted by LoneStarFRC
Worthwhile checking to see if it is the EOP sender seeping up top and the oil running down over the bell housing to where you are seeing it. I had this condition at or near the time my OEM sender went south. After I replaced it, no problems at all.
HTH,
Robert
HTH,
Robert
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
oil leak
Has anyone seen the gasket on the cover under the intake leak oil, and running down the side of the motor, making it look like the pan gasket leaking.
Everything is so confined on these motors it is nearly impossible to see where a leak is coming from.
With my leak, I'm wondering if its smarter to take the intake off first and see if I can see the leak from above, before getting in a major repair of fixing an oil pan gasket which may not even being the source of the leak.
(I wonder how may times I can type LEAK!)
I ruled out the oil pressure sensor, its dry.
Everything is so confined on these motors it is nearly impossible to see where a leak is coming from.
With my leak, I'm wondering if its smarter to take the intake off first and see if I can see the leak from above, before getting in a major repair of fixing an oil pan gasket which may not even being the source of the leak.
(I wonder how may times I can type LEAK!)
I ruled out the oil pressure sensor, its dry.
