mariofromnewyork

Well my car was leaking oil. I took it to the dealership and they did their dye test and told me it was the rear main seal and lower pan gasket.

I had a new clutch installed and while they where in there had them replace the rear main seal and lower pan gasket.

Well I look on my floor and oil. Lost about a 1/4 qt in a 1500 miles so its not to bad so where else could it be coming from.

I looked under the car and its not coming from the filter or filter plug. It is towards the rear of pan looks like its collecting on the 2 bolts there but coming from some where else. I looked up but didnt see any visual drips i also started it and let it run for a few minutes but it didnt drip or spray while idling.

I just wanna know where i can look and i know this vague but before i go to the dealer and drop $100 for the dye test again would like some feedback!

I also searched like a 100 threads so please help if you can@!


Mario

Tech

Could be valve cover gasket

Eric D

Check the oil pressure sensor behind manifold on driver's side. Is oil pressure working ok?

mariofromnewyork

Yeah oil pressure at idle warm sits at 29-31psi and when reving can go up to 55psi ac delco filter. Before i had a mobil 1 filter idle warm 36psi.

Valve cover I look there too.

Thanks

MArio

byronhunter

Question, did the dealership that diagnosed the leak do the repairs?

mariofromnewyork

No i had the speed shop that replaced the clutch repair it!

Mario

Blue 92

Any chance you walked in and said:

While you're doing the clutch replace "the rear main seal and lower pan gasket" or did you ask them to fix the oil leak?

mariofromnewyork

Exactly!

I took what the gm techs said and went with it. I had a reputable shop fix those leaks but obviously their are more so just looking for other areas that could be leaking due to the old leaks being sealed up and putting pressure on some others.

I am going to look at the valve cover and i am hoping its not the upper pan gasket.

What is involved with replacing the upper pan gasket?

Mario

TR97C5

My thoughts would if its not coming from the back of the valve cover or the oil pressure sensor for sure and your sure its motor oil would lead me to believe it’s the rear main seal or oil pan if your sure that’s the area. I would jack up the car clean as much as you can under there around the rear of the motor, pan etc take the car for good drive park it over night and next day don’t move the car see if you can exactly where drip on the floor ( or jack it up) matches under the motor. If it looks like coming from the rear of the oil pan take back to who did the rr main and oil pan. Just one other thing check make sure the oil isn’t dripping from anywhere else up front and as your driving it blows back to around the rear of the oil pan and then when the car sits drip from where the blow landed if you know what I mean.

If they replaced the pan gasket and rear main like you said thats it there is no upper pan gasket in rear as far as I know or is there?

mariofromnewyork

So is there a upper pan gasket?

TR97C5

Ok I looked in my 1997 service manual no upper pan gasket just one oil pan gasket. There is a oil temp sensor near the rear of the oil pan and attached to the pan w/gasket maybe could be leaking there? Drivers side near the rear of the oil pan.

mariofromnewyork

Ok ill look at that!

Thanks a lot man!

Mario

TR97C5

I scaned a quick picture for you from my service manual (#17) is the oil temp sensor (#16) gasket, might be hard for you to see looking under the car because its looks like it might be behind (#21) the close out cover.

dgrant3830

I had my '99 in for a leak a long while back. The dealer said it needed a new pan gasket which I provided to them but they also said a plug for where a distributor would go for non-electronic ignition usage, was leaking too. Somewhere on the rear of it, but I never saw the thing. I know oil was leaking from something up above the rear of the engine but sure couldn't see it and I know it was not the oil pressure sender. Anyway, whatever they fixed, it stopped.

mariofromnewyork

Thanks to all!

mariofromnewyork

thanks

Mario

dgrant3830

The majority of the labor for the rear main seal is removal of the entire driveline to get to it...

mariofromnewyork

I know thats why when i had the clutch replaced i had them change that. What about the upper pan gasket?>