Leaking Oil Pan: Common Problem?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Leaking Oil Pan: Common Problem?
I just took my C6 into the dealer service department for an oil change, and they discovered the oil pan is leaking. They said they don't know what the source of the leak is yet, and will have to take it apart to find out. The service rep also told me this is a relatively common problem on C6s. I don't remember reading any threads about this before, but I do often go for long periods without getting on the Forum. Has anyone else had this problem?
Apologies if I'm asking a question that has come up before. And God bless warranties.
Apologies if I'm asking a question that has come up before. And God bless warranties.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
yes. I wouldn't say it's the majority, but many have reported it. sometimes, a seal leak, sometimes, gasket. others have had pinhole, or general porosity. almost all replaced/repaired under warranty. your dealer service dept. may not have seen it before, but it is something that I'm sure they can find in either their TSBs or general knowledge from warranty rep.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 613
Likes: 1
From: Apache Junction AZ
I don't think it's very common either as I've not seen a lot of threads about it. Also to say it's a common C-6 problem is painting all the different engines etc. with one broad brush, which I don't think is correct either as the lower HP verses the higher HP engine are going to present different problems at different times of their life cycle.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Newton NC
It happened to my 08 after approx. 8,000 miles. I came out to the garage and saw a puddle of oil under the car. The dealeship said they had seen the same issue on other C6's. They repaired it under warranty and it has been fine since...now at 14,000 miles.
The Consigliere
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 23,011
Likes: 6,046
From: 2023 Z06 & 2010 ZR1
Don't think it's common in the sense of most people having it. It's not "uncommon" though.
Happened to my 06 Z-06 not too long ago. It's got 22k miles. Dealer replaced the oil pan seals. She's been tight as a drum ever since.
Happened to my 06 Z-06 not too long ago. It's got 22k miles. Dealer replaced the oil pan seals. She's been tight as a drum ever since.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 419
Likes: 12
From: Land O Lakes Florida
Just got mine replaced Wednesday, they replaced the oil pan gasket. It took 2 days, they have to drop the crossmember under the pan to get to it and also have to align the car afterwards. I reset my oil life before i brought it there. They ask when was the last time the oil was changed and checked the oil life, otherwise they charge you for the oil.
Filter you have to pay extra. Now this is my dealership , I dont know how other dealers are.
I brought the car home and I could still smell oil, figure it would be residue, brought it back to the dealer and no oil leak in the pan.
I drove home and the smell was strong, only at a stoplight. Saturday I washed underneath engine, and move to the rear. I found the culprit, my axle was leaking and spaying the oil to the exhaust.
I just dropped her off. They told me my car was CPO from previous owner so Im going to get the rocking seat fixed and my vanity mirror on both side are falling off.
Filter you have to pay extra. Now this is my dealership , I dont know how other dealers are.
I brought the car home and I could still smell oil, figure it would be residue, brought it back to the dealer and no oil leak in the pan.
I drove home and the smell was strong, only at a stoplight. Saturday I washed underneath engine, and move to the rear. I found the culprit, my axle was leaking and spaying the oil to the exhaust.
I just dropped her off. They told me my car was CPO from previous owner so Im going to get the rocking seat fixed and my vanity mirror on both side are falling off.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated. I'm not worried about it. It's all under warranty, so it's not the biggest deal.
SilverC6: just out of curiosity, how many miles do you have on yours?
SilverC6: just out of curiosity, how many miles do you have on yours?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 122
From: st paul minnesota
Had the pan gasket on my 16,000 mile '05 replaced this Spring under the extended warranty. No leak on the floor, but seeping. Have 19,000 on it now prior to storage with no leak evident. Timing was good as I had just installed a new set of wheels/tires so got an alignment out of the deal as a bonus...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,106
Likes: 1,608
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Saint Charles Il.
I had a few drops of oil on the floor over a months time in the cold weather. The dealer found the leak and repaired it under the warranty. As stated before, it is really a job to repair it, since the cross brace is removed and a realignment is required. The dealer replace the oil and filter without charge.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 791
Likes: 230
From: SoCal CA
Just got mine replaced Wednesday, they replaced the oil pan gasket. It took 2 days, they have to drop the crossmember under the pan to get to it and also have to align the car afterwards. I reset my oil life before i brought it there. They ask when was the last time the oil was changed and checked the oil life, otherwise they charge you for the oil.
Filter you have to pay extra. Now this is my dealership , I dont know how other dealers are.
Filter you have to pay extra. Now this is my dealership , I dont know how other dealers are.
) so I used the coupon to get the oil filter for free. I was nowhere near 100% oil life. The service manager told me that the oil was paid for by GM because it needed to be removed for the repair, but the filter didn't need to be removed, so it was not paid for by GM.They also had to remove the cross member and align the car. No leaking yet. Gotta change my oil soon so I'll take a good look then.
Is it common? Not sure, but it happened to me and I have had three issues so far in my 07. Dead battery, diff clunk and leaking oil pan. All taken care of the first time by my dealership, so no complaints from me.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Longwood FL
Just had my 07 with 25.500 miles at the shop for the oil change and the pan is leaking. They told me that is is covered by the powertrain warranty. But since the shop I take it to lost their Chevrolet dealership, I now have an appointment on Saturday at a dealership. Also have the diff clunking that they say there is a program upgrade for - also covered by the powertrain warranty. hope all goes well.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
Their is really no excuse with todays technology for oil pan gaskets to leak, nor for waterpumps to fail prematurely (i.e. never under 100,000 miles) due to leaking waterpump mechanical face seals. Chevrolet needs to get a new seal supplier, or to purchase higher quality seals from their existing supplier.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,503
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma City OK
My 08 LS3 started leaking recently around 24k miles. Dealer replaced the oil pan gasket and it is leaking again. I read somewhere that there is a different design oil pan that will eliminate this completely.