Okay, this is getting old but I need some advice.

A couple of months ago I developed a significant oil leak out of the blue which I traced (using dye and a black light) to the front DS corner of the oil pan. Being the **** guy that I am, I dropped the cross member, removed the oil pan, installed a new OEM gasket with plenty of RTV (gray) at all 4 corners, added a set of ARP oil pan studs and bolted it all back up to the proper torque specs.

I can tell you know where I'm going with this ;-)

Started it back up the other night, went for a spin, put it back up on the ramps and I'll be damned if the f**ker isn't still leaking.

I can see (again using the dye and black light) oil from about the motor mount on the DS all the way forward, down around the front of the timing chain cover and up to the PS front corner all right on the seam of the pan and the block.

I'm convinced it's coming from the seam of the oil pan and the block somewhere along that described route.

I am certain that it is not from the intake or any of the timing chain cover seals.

So my question is to see if I can get some advice on sealing this sucker up? I know I used ample RTV and I know the pan and the block were well prepped (removed all crud and old RTV) before it went back on. Should I try an aftermarket gasket? Does Felpro make a better sealing gasket than the OEM one? Does anyone use RTV to a greater extent than the Helms Manual recommends (which is basically on the block surface, 1 inch either direction of the 4 corners). Does anyone use it all the way around or on both surfaces?

I doubt I have a flaw in the pan but any thoughts there? This pan is the stock pan and went in when the motor was rebuilt about 12,000 miles ago. And, BTW, it had not leaked for those 12k miles until 2 months ago, so any ideas on what could have cause a sudden leak in the oil pan seal?

Sorry this was so long but I'm pulling the pan again and I would like to get it right this time! TIA guys!

 

I replaced mine not too long ago when I did my cam change. Anyway, I replaced it with the Felpro. The directions said it installed "dry" w/o RTV. Seems like that would make it a better gasket just from that. Their was more "meat" in the corners than the stock gm gasket. I have a pic of it in my sig, installed, showing the front corner if you want to check it out. BTW, I replaced mine w/o removing anything. The pan will drop about an inch and rest on the member. Just unplug the low oil sensor and it will side around the bottom of the pan.

Jeff D.

 

I had the same problem. It turned out to be a leak from inside the timing cover coming from the crank hub. It may not be the same for you but changing it was a big pain. I ended up needing a new hub, full timing cover/water pump, etc. gaskets, and since the oil pan gasket connects to the timing cover, that had to get replaced too. What a pain. If you are seeing oil infront of the pan, it's most likely either from inside the cover, or maybe a bad seal from the pan gasket to the timing cover.

 

PoorMan,

How did the FelPro oil pan gasket compare to the stock gasket (i.e. thicker, softer,...). The stock GM oil pan gasket appears to be of decent quality. It's interesting that the GM manual tells you to apply RTV in the corners of the oil pan, near the timing chain cover, yet the FelPro gasket is applied dry!

Any leaks since you installed? How many miles since it was changed?

Thanks,

Tod