Anyone else have LS3 engine seals leaking?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 4
From: San Diego CA.
Anyone else have LS3 engine seals leaking?
My 29 month old seems to have sprung a leak.
Backed the car out of the garage yesterday and saw engine oil on the floor. The oil pan is covered with oil residue from front to back so I'm thinking it's the front seal. Must have just started in the last few days cause I've never seen any oil drips on the floor before.
It's an LS3 with just over 10K that gets driven once or twice a week.
Is this common for the LS3?
Had my LS1 C5 for 7 years and this never happened.
Looks like it might be a big job to replace this seal, so I'm glad it's still under warranty.
Backed the car out of the garage yesterday and saw engine oil on the floor. The oil pan is covered with oil residue from front to back so I'm thinking it's the front seal. Must have just started in the last few days cause I've never seen any oil drips on the floor before.
It's an LS3 with just over 10K that gets driven once or twice a week.
Is this common for the LS3?
Had my LS1 C5 for 7 years and this never happened.
Looks like it might be a big job to replace this seal, so I'm glad it's still under warranty.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,901
Likes: 361
From: TX
There is a TSB out for leaks at the Rear Cover Assembly Area.
Bulletin No.: 05-06-01-034I
Date: September 23, 2009
Here is a small excerpt.
Bulletin No.: 05-06-01-034I
Date: September 23, 2009
Here is a small excerpt.
Condition
Some customers may comment on an engine oil leak.
Cause
Upon initial diagnosis, it may be determined that the leak is coming from the rear cover gasket. This condition may be caused by engine block porosity on the sealing surface. This issue pertains to aluminum block applications only.
Correction
Follow the steps for Oil Leak Diagnosis in SI to determine the source of the leak. If the leak has been diagnosed as coming from the engine rear cover assembly, refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and remove the engine rear cover assembly. Inspect the engine block and engine rear cover for porosity on the mating surfaces.
- If porosity is found on the engine rear cover (see illustration below), replace the engine rear cover assembly, GM P/N 12633579.
- If porosity is found on the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity.
The porosity issue is in the gasket sealing surface at the top of the cover, near the high pressure oil crossover port. Refer to the picture below. The oil leaks by the gasket and runs down the side of the cover, and may appear to be a leak at the t-joint area of the cover. The fix is to replace the cover with GM P/N 12633579. Also, if porosity is found anywhere on the sealing surface of the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity. Refer to the illustration below.
Some customers may comment on an engine oil leak.
Cause
Upon initial diagnosis, it may be determined that the leak is coming from the rear cover gasket. This condition may be caused by engine block porosity on the sealing surface. This issue pertains to aluminum block applications only.
Correction
Follow the steps for Oil Leak Diagnosis in SI to determine the source of the leak. If the leak has been diagnosed as coming from the engine rear cover assembly, refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and remove the engine rear cover assembly. Inspect the engine block and engine rear cover for porosity on the mating surfaces.
- If porosity is found on the engine rear cover (see illustration below), replace the engine rear cover assembly, GM P/N 12633579.
- If porosity is found on the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity.
The porosity issue is in the gasket sealing surface at the top of the cover, near the high pressure oil crossover port. Refer to the picture below. The oil leaks by the gasket and runs down the side of the cover, and may appear to be a leak at the t-joint area of the cover. The fix is to replace the cover with GM P/N 12633579. Also, if porosity is found anywhere on the sealing surface of the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity. Refer to the illustration below.
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