And it still leaks!!!

[71GMCer]

So i did the intake manifold gasket, and the distributor gasket, Rear main seal, Valve cover gaskets and the oil pan gasket and my truck is still leaking!!! I cleaned the engine with degreaser the best i could (couldnt get ontop of the bell housing but go most of the rest) and come back from getting gas and it still leaks! The words that spewed out of my mouth when i looked underneath are too fowl for this site so ill keep them to myself but what else can i do?

Im honestly starting to think i may have bit off more then i can chew with this truck because im tired of the leaking.....Not only is it annoying to continue on buying oil but it also leaves a mess.

HELP!!


Matt

[Hottrucks]

is it leaking from the oil sending unit..a broken oil feed line acts the same way

[leddzepp]

First step is to determine where the leak is coming from. Get the engine cleaned up so you can see where fresh oil seeps.

[crapy67]

Is it a fresh rebuild? Did you look at the oil plug that sits under the drivers side head just below the intake?

[71GMCer]

I plugged the oil sending unit and no its not a rebuilt...but i will look for that plug

[crapy67]

Hope that helps, Its real hard to tell if its coming from that plug, It got me on my 406 in my Nova... Mark

[geezer#99]

What did you use for gaskets. Cork will leak if tightened too much. Intake gaskets? You used a bead of silicone for the end rails I hope.

[umwtnt]

Don't forget the Distributor gasket. Been had by that before.

[vectorit]

Take that truck for a run, get it to operating temps. Park it, then if it's marked it's spot on the pavement take a picture of it for us. Plus photo's of the bottom of the engine area. I have found that if you take a picture from a camera with a flash during low light, it really show's up the leak trails from components.

There are only so many places oil can leak/seep out of on these trucks, so either something was missed or a new gasket/seal is not working for one reason or another.

I don't remember, but did you say that you replaced the harmonic balancer seal? If not, then those can leak and stream the oil down the pan plus leak from the front of the truck.
If you did - did you replace the balancer? or install a sleeve on the old one,
since a groove will form over time and a new seal won't seal up well at all.

Have you made sure your PCV valve is working and correct? If it's plugged it can cause issues similar to yours.
Curious, when your engine is idling. Pull off the oil fill cap, or the PCV grommet from the valve cover. Is there a blueish fog mist coming from the hole? (Do this at low light, and use a flash light. It will show up better).

Lastly, when you look at the oil on the ground. Have you touched it, smelled it? Are you certain it's motor oil? Could also be transmission or transfer case oil, which has a distinct aroma about it (hypoid).

[71GMCer]

We used the Fel-pro gaskets for everything and we never had silicone so we used some of this sealer putty stuff.

Mark:I ran out to look for that plug and i couldnt find anything.

I did find a plug between spark plugs 6 and 8 it looks quite moist but im not sure what it is and its grimy above it so im not sure where it could be coming from

[BHyatt]

Rear Main

[71GMCer]

We did the rear main and oil pan

[crapy67]

The plug is there, its real hard to see you can only see a little bit of it and if it is leaking from there get ready to pull the head its the only way to get at it. Its an allen key plug that is recess in the block, If your motor is grime it might be covered...Mark

[71GMCer]

pics are on the way guys...i didnt do the harmonic balancer because theres nothing coming from that seal...its mostly coming from the back half of the engine

[71GMCer]

See how it wicks to the oil pan from the inspec. cover?


And up

[71GMCer]

And it definately isnt gear oil or tranny oil...its definately motor oil...nice and black to leave a good stain like so

[crapy67]

I think it might have been said already but check to see if the pcv valve is good a piss poor vented motor will leak from all sort of areas.

[71GMCer]

alright...well we also have all new hoses and a new PCV valve and a oil breather so i dunno why that should be a problem? i should look for the blue smoke?

[Hottrucks]

LMAO I bet its the seal under the filter ....not the filter seal but the unit that is bolted to the block that the oil filter screws onto...I chased the same leak and it acted the same way....I chased my tail for a long time trying to find it to....

[71GMCer]

Yep there is definately a haze coming from the PCV..saw it with the naked eye

[71GMCer]

yea it could be that! because there is oil coming down the oil filter too! So im not sure it its just leaking from somewhere else and coming down the filter or if it is actually what you are mentioning. How hard is it to fix? What is it called so when i go to the parts store i can ask


Matt

[Hottrucks]

I dont remeber what they call it but I found that the only place I could find the square O ring was at the catapillar shop so keep that in mind.....

your going to have to pull the fillter and under it there are 2 bolts to drop the unit off ( thats where the O ring is) I was able to put some forma gasket on it as a band aid but it only lasted a month....at least I knew where my leak was though put in the new o ring and the leak was gone...

I got a nickle thats what it is

[Sinister]

I had one of those oil filter adapters and was able to change over to a later model adapter where the oil filter seals to the block and not the adapter.

[geezer#99]

So you got oil on your starter. Hard to get oil on it from the filter. I'd bet its not the filter or adaptor. Coming from above. Likely back of intake or valve cover gasket. What's this sealer putty stuff you used on the end rails. If it stayed soft like putty does it could blow out.

[trusty72]

dude that much oil it should be obvious. let that thing run get a flash light and crawl around it til u find it.