Hey guys, I've got quite the oil leak and I'm about to replace this sensor. It's been spraying oil on everything, including my belt. Do I have to drain the oil pan before removing this or is it high enough on the pan the the oil won't pour out once I remove it? Any other tips would be helpful as well.

EDIT: I'm fine with keeping a bucket handy to catch some of the oil, just as long as I'm going to have to catch more than half.

 

Ok, so the reason I thought it was my oil level sensor that was giving me problems was because last year when I had my engine put back together, the guy told me I was going to have to replace it eventually, because the seal was starting to go. I looked underneath, and around the sensor its virtually completely dry. I could tell there were a couple of drips, but nothing to be concerned about, and certainly nothing that could produce any kind of a spray.

SO.... I got the car up and I had my buddy look where it was spraying from as I reved it up. At idle, the oil really doesn't leak. But as the oil pressure increases, it's spraying. It appears to be coming from the U shaped blue gasket thats in between the oil pan and the engine. Does anyone know what might cause this and what the fix entails?

 

That's called an oil pan gasket, it's all one piece.

 

What would have caused this to have such a bad and sudden leak? It's spraying oil everywhere. Would I be able to try tightening the bolts?

 

sometimes things go bad for no reason. You can try and see if the oil pan bolts are loose, but since you say it leaks more with rpm's I would look at the timing cover seal, opti seal and water pump seal, also look at the intake where it meets the block.

 

Your bolts shouldn't loosen up around the oil pan over time unless they weren't tightened enough when the motor was worked on recently. The oil pan gasket itself is pretty cheap but its a PITA to change with the motor in the car, and esp with the stock k-member.

You can prol change it out yourself with lots of elbow grease and time. Nothing got caught behind the dampner to rip the gasket or anything did it?

 

are you completely sure its the oil pan gasket?
Had something very similar to what your having, spraying at high rpms and mine was the front main seal.

 

In response to Mswezey, mine was (and still is) the front main seal. It leaks so bad that the oil will coat the bottom of the oil pan, making it appear as though the oil pan gasket is leaking.
What I would do is use some engine cleaner and clean oil from around the oil pan, front main, etc. Then start it up to pinpoint where oil is coming from. Try not to drive it first, since the air will blow the oil around, hiding the source of the leak.

 

It sure looked like it was coming from in between the oil pan and the gasket. If it's the front main seal, will this make it easier or harder to fix? I definitely can't drive it around until this is fixed. It's spraying oil on everything, including my belt.

Kinda depressing. Everything else is working/running great. I only got to drive the car for 30 miles last year until I ripped the tranny up (which I knew would happen, just thought it would have lasted more than 1 day). Only got to put 500 miles on it the year before because an air pocket in the cooling system. Got my Lvl 2 performabuilt, 36# injectors and magnaflow catback(to keep the police happy) installed a week ago and I thought I'd be able to enjoy the car for once.

 

I've already ruled out that it's not the intake. It's coming from the bottom. The intake manifold and valve covers are all dry, plus they can't spray oil where it's being sprayed. Also, it's not the water pump seal, it's definitely coming from lower than that.

 

There's not enough "pressure" in the oil pan to cause oil to "spray" out - at least there shouldn't be. If its "spraying" its coming from a point in the oil circulation system, where there is pressure. Front main would be a good candidate.

 

What kind of a job am I looking at here, if it were to be the front main? Parts? Labor? Do-it myself hours?

 

Front main is considerably easier to change than oil pan. Go and either rent or buy a good QUALITY puller and you should be able to do the job in a couple hours.

 

Excellent, I should be able to do the job either Tuesday or Friday. Hopefully this takes car of everything. The car is running great with the exception of this little oil issue. My ACC 3200 stall and Performabuilt Level 2 4L60e are working out great. The streetability is wonderful. The car pulls extremely hard when I want it to (considering I have ZERO traction in 1st and 2nd gear *street tires and awaiting LCA's). Hopefully I'll really get to enjoy it this weekend. I've got a 454 Nova that wants to run.