C5 Oil leak
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Cruising
Joined: May 2008
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C5 Oil leak
I just bought my first 'vette, a 98 C5 convertible, and had it shipped over to Spain where I live. Real happy with the car but it's just developed an oil leak and, as there are no 'vette dealers over here, I'm going to do the fix myself. It only leaks when the engine is running and it's coming from the back of the engine in the middle near the oil filter and dropping onto the exhaust. It seems to be near a rubber cap of some sort. It also seems to be red in colour.
I'm guessing it's the output seal on the transmission?
Am I right in thinking I'll have to take the exhaust and the torque tube off? Any help would be much appreciated. I don't have a lift so I'm thinking this is going to be a royal pain in the butt, right?
Regards Chris
I'm guessing it's the output seal on the transmission?
Am I right in thinking I'll have to take the exhaust and the torque tube off? Any help would be much appreciated. I don't have a lift so I'm thinking this is going to be a royal pain in the butt, right?
Regards Chris
Tech Contributor
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From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Is there a chance you could take a photo of the area that is leaking to post here? I don't understand how it could be the trans when it is in the back part of the car, not at the rear of the engine. First thing I would check is to see all the oil levels to make sure that something isn't over filled. How much oil is leaking? Is it like a few drops or more?
Eric D
Eric D
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The transmission front seal may be leaking. This might allow the transmission fluid to flow forward through the torque tube and leak out at the rear of the engine.
Bill
Bill
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On closer inspection it seems to be coming from the back of the engine where the torque tube goes into the auto gearbox. It's just above and slightly to the front of where the two headers join up.
The top of the engine is dry so it's not the oil pressure sensor.
It's only a few drops and it only leaks when the motor is running.
The top of the engine is dry so it's not the oil pressure sensor.
It's only a few drops and it only leaks when the motor is running.
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St. Jude Donor '04
On closer inspection it seems to be coming from the back of the engine where the torque tube goes into the auto gearbox. It's just above and slightly to the front of where the two headers join up.
The top of the engine is dry so it's not the oil pressure sensor.
It's only a few drops and it only leaks when the motor is running.
The top of the engine is dry so it's not the oil pressure sensor.
It's only a few drops and it only leaks when the motor is running.
If it is equipped with an automatic transmission, then one of the cooling lines could be leaking but they are on the right side of the engine, running along side the starter.
The only thing that could be leaking in the area your talking about is either the oil filter, oil temp sensor, the housing that the temp sensor screws into, or the rear seal and/or rear engine cover.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
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From: Littleton Colorado
Use a service like photobucket.com to host your photos when you get them.
Since you say its red, then I'm with runamuk, I would guess a cooler line leak if you have a auto trans.
Both the manual and auto trans are located in the rear, they attach directly to the differential and are linked to the engine by the torque tube. The torque tube still attaches to a bell housing where the the drive line attaches to the fly wheel and engine, on a manual trans its where the clutch lives as well.
The auto trans runs cooler lines along the torque tube and then attach to another set of lines near the bell housing, these lines then run under the engine to the radiator to be cooled. The junction of these lines is kind of near where you are seeing the red fluid. I would suspect that they are loose or damaged.
Fill out your Avatar, the stuff on the left side of the screen. Give as much info about your car as you can, like the transmission and any modifications done to it or if its stock. Year and mileage are a good start.
Hope its an easy fix, but post up some pics, they help out a lot.
Since you say its red, then I'm with runamuk, I would guess a cooler line leak if you have a auto trans.
Both the manual and auto trans are located in the rear, they attach directly to the differential and are linked to the engine by the torque tube. The torque tube still attaches to a bell housing where the the drive line attaches to the fly wheel and engine, on a manual trans its where the clutch lives as well.
The auto trans runs cooler lines along the torque tube and then attach to another set of lines near the bell housing, these lines then run under the engine to the radiator to be cooled. The junction of these lines is kind of near where you are seeing the red fluid. I would suspect that they are loose or damaged.
Fill out your Avatar, the stuff on the left side of the screen. Give as much info about your car as you can, like the transmission and any modifications done to it or if its stock. Year and mileage are a good start.
Hope its an easy fix, but post up some pics, they help out a lot.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
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First of all, thanks very much for all the useful info, it's much appreciated.
My car is a stock 1998 C5 Auto
The leak seems to be coming from where the bell housing mates onto the oil pan. Regarding the red color. I'm not so sure now. It could be brown. However, I don't lose any oil level fron the oil dipstick.
I put a photo on http://330.photobucket.com/albums/14...sdann1/007.jpg
Thanks once again
Chris
Last edited by Chrisdann1; Jul 26, 2008 at 09:58 AM.
Thread Starter
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Thanks for your reply. I appreciate the advice. I had another look and it's coming from where the bell housing mates onto the engine. (Engine crankshaft seal?)
I can email a photo or I posted one on photobucket;
1432/chrisdann/007.jpg
I can email a photo or I posted one on photobucket;
1432/chrisdann/007.jpg
I can't call up the picture either
Thread Starter
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Tech Contributor
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From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Drifting
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From: McKinney TX
