Oil on starter bolts - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

skokie · 01-20-2008, 09:38 AM

I was gravity bleeding the brakes and while I was on the front passenger side i looked at my new mini start and I noticed that there was oil on the bolts. When I swapped my rear main seal I did put a new one piece oil pan gasket on but I could not tell where the oil came from. This engine has not been started in 2 months. I checked the front of the pan to see it it was blow back from when it was started and it looks clean. Has anyone seen this before?

Thanks

**Palf70Step** · 01-20-2008, 09:50 AM

Mine always had oil on the starter/starter bolts, but then none of mine (till this one, which has yet to be started) were new like yours.

Possibly small leak from back of the intake or valve cover.

Leak around the fuel pump mounting, or oil filter?

Just wild a-- guesses though.

skokie · 01-20-2008, 12:19 PM

Im going to get under there tomorrow and clean up the oil pan, around the oil filter, fuel pump, and flexplate. After that I should see where the oil is coming from.

c10addict · 01-20-2008, 11:33 PM

Got the same thing on my Nova... Cant figure it out.... Its so minor though I havent really spent too much effort trying to figure it out... I will be curious to see what you find....

dave2953 · 01-21-2008, 12:03 AM

When the rear of my intake was leaking I always had oil on the starter bolts. You could check that. Not sure what else could be the culprit.

piecesparts · 01-21-2008, 12:52 AM

I agree, take a look at the intake or head rear area, then if that is dry the rear seal is dripping on engine shutdown and then getting a flipping action on starter crankover.

kenm78 · 01-21-2008, 02:22 AM

Don't overlook the dreaded valve cover gasket as well!

PumiceMan · 01-22-2008, 02:14 AM

I agree - check the valve cover. My '68 camaro was dribbling a little oil from the starter area as well. I was afraid it was a pan gasket or rear main, but I eventually found that the rear corner of the pass side valve cover was leaking. Oil would run down the block and collect on the bottom of the starter, then drip on the floor. Turns out the cork gasket had pulled away from the corner of the cover just enough to let the oil by. New gasket did the trick.

01-20-2008, 09:38 AM	#1
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	Oil on starter bolts I was gravity bleeding the brakes and while I was on the front passenger side i looked at my new mini start and I noticed that there was oil on the bolts. When I swapped my rear main seal I did put a new one piece oil pan gasket on but I could not tell where the oil came from. This engine has not been started in 2 months. I checked the front of the pan to see it it was blow back from when it was started and it looks clean. Has anyone seen this before? Thanks __________________ RIP to my son Dylan. 5/17/2002 - 8/18/2018 If you want to know more about rare forms of pediatric cancer or if you want to help fund pediatric cancer research, please check out the website for the non-profit I started. https://slothforpedcancer.org 68 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=223234

01-20-2008, 09:50 AM	#2
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,220	Re: Oil on starter bolts Mine always had oil on the starter/starter bolts, but then none of mine (till this one, which has yet to be started) were new like yours. Possibly small leak from back of the intake or valve cover. Leak around the fuel pump mounting, or oil filter? Just wild a-- guesses though. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! Last edited by Palf70Step; 01-20-2008 at 09:50 AM.

01-20-2008, 12:19 PM	#3
skokie Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose Ca. Posts: 3,354	Re: Oil on starter bolts Im going to get under there tomorrow and clean up the oil pan, around the oil filter, fuel pump, and flexplate. After that I should see where the oil is coming from. __________________ RIP to my son Dylan. 5/17/2002 - 8/18/2018 If you want to know more about rare forms of pediatric cancer or if you want to help fund pediatric cancer research, please check out the website for the non-profit I started. https://slothforpedcancer.org 68 build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=223234

01-20-2008, 11:33 PM	#4
c10addict Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: pittsburgh pa Posts: 1,970	Re: Oil on starter bolts Got the same thing on my Nova... Cant figure it out.... Its so minor though I havent really spent too much effort trying to figure it out... I will be curious to see what you find.... __________________ 68 C10 Shorty TPI,Bagged, and all the good stuff. Classic trucks feature June 06, On the cover of Jegs Christmas Catalog 08 67 C10 Shorty Shop truck project Bagged and Z'd under destruction and getting nowhere fast. 64 C10 Shop Truck/Daily driver, Bagged, Dropmember, SOLD!!!! Gone but not forgotten.. 54 GMC under the knife getting a S10 chassis swap and bagged. See my build thread... 07 GMC Sierra 5/7 drop, 22's and 24's Air ride on my mind.. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=339340 See pics of my trucks in my profile

01-21-2008, 12:03 AM	#5
dave2953 Dave's not here, man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winder, Georgia Posts: 2,000	Re: Oil on starter bolts When the rear of my intake was leaking I always had oil on the starter bolts. You could check that. Not sure what else could be the culprit. __________________ - 2014 VW Jetta - 2015 VW Jetta - 1966 Ford F-250

01-21-2008, 12:52 AM	#6
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Oil on starter bolts I agree, take a look at the intake or head rear area, then if that is dry the rear seal is dripping on engine shutdown and then getting a flipping action on starter crankover.

01-21-2008, 02:22 AM	#7
kenm78 Broken Down Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma Posts: 1,267	Re: Oil on starter bolts Don't overlook the dreaded valve cover gasket as well! __________________ kenm78 1982 Chevy 4X4 Project truck “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people wonder about your ignorance, than open your mouth and reveal all doubt”

01-22-2008, 02:14 AM	#8
PumiceMan Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 47	Re: Oil on starter bolts I agree - check the valve cover. My '68 camaro was dribbling a little oil from the starter area as well. I was afraid it was a pan gasket or rear main, but I eventually found that the rear corner of the pass side valve cover was leaking. Oil would run down the block and collect on the bottom of the starter, then drip on the floor. Turns out the cork gasket had pulled away from the corner of the cover just enough to let the oil by. New gasket did the trick. __________________ 69 GMC Sierra 1500 Custom 68 Camaro SS 18 GMC Sierra SLT Living the dream

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