Hello fellas, I'm hoping someone can help me on here. so here's what happened. I was driving on freeway about 70 the other day and I noticed my car was smoking from the back so I pulled over and sure enough I was leaking lot of oil. so I towed it back home. yesterday I got the car up on ramps and noticed that the oil leak is coming from the far end of the engine on the driver side. Also the car only leaks when the engine is running. even at park with the engine on it will still leak. so I was thinking that that might be the oil pressure sender due to the car only leaking while engine is on? I also checked around the valve cover gasket and doesn't look like its leaking anywhere near that. please help fellas. thanks

my car is a 2004 Convertible triple black corvette - automatic (about 100k miles)

 

You said a normal problem with our LS1s, the oil pressure sensor. That's where I would start.

 

Thanks bud. Ya im gonna do some work this weekend.

 

Moved to C5 Tech.

 

Move to c5 tech? Not sure what you mean bud?

 

oil leak Solved!

So what I did was left my phone on video record. Turned on car for about 15 seconds then turned off. Went and checked the video and sure enough when I started the car oil started to come out from that sender so what I did was replaced it. Now it works fine and no oil leaks. Now replacing the oil pressure sender is a whole new topic There are 3 ways that I know of on how to replace it. 1) remove air intake manifold to get access. (worse case scenario) 2) use a socket with a swivel and extension. (problem with this method is when putting the new sender in is a pain in the left buttcheek to do so you will need a kid with small hands to put the senor in and turn in a couple times to start so that it starts to thread in) 3) This is what i came to the conclusion to do. removed the wiper cowl then used a drermal and cut out a little hole right above the location of the oil sender. Then after I did all that I ran into another problem. After I tightened the sender when I pulled the socket with the extender out the socket got stuck on the sender so what I had to do is i unloosened the sender and took it out and then I ran to Walmart got some JB weld and applied it to the socket and extender then i let it cure for about 4 hours then went back and tightend the sender in and pulled out the socket no problem. what a wonderful new years day I had. I love corvettes! Haha

 

Glad ya figured it out! Sounds like it cost you a socket and extension though. When I did mine I choose route #2

 

Glad that worked for you. When I tried #2 I just could not get in the sender to start screwing in. just couldn't do it. I tried that method for about and hour and just gave up and did #3. Now I need to replace my AC compressor. I'm thinking of doing the work myself but I'm kind of ify on the charging with Freon part . Have you replaced yours yet?

 

So in the grand scheme of things do you still think option 1 was the worst case scenario? It only takes 30 mins to pull the intake.

 

Sometimes trying to outsmart the service manual never ends well. Jb weld? Waiting 4 hours? Driving to the store? Drilling holes? Removing cowl? Sounds easier to remove the intake to me.

 

It takes me about an hour to remove the intake manifold. Oil senders are notorious for going out on corvettes so I made it so that next time this unit goes out it will take me 5 mins to replace. took be a bit to do it this way but next time will be cake.

 

I been a mechanical Engineer about 17 years so I don't always go off of the service manual. Like to think outside the box. Sometimes good sometimes bad. most times good. haha thanks for your input tho

 

I think the gm engineers may have some years on you. Lol. Looks like you lost this battle. But maybe you’ll win the next one.

 

well, it’s not like they go out every year or two or five. Maybe once every 15-20. You’re more forward thinking than I am! Lol.

 

Haha your probably right. I hope I don't have to replace that dam part soon. It was $60. I'm still new to Corvettes and Chevy's. Never had a Chevy until about 6 months ago. I bought a 04 C5 Triple black convertible. I've always had BMWs and motorcycles. I do appreciate your guys input. That's why I am on here. I'll post some pictures of my car this weekend. Thank you guys