Oil leak...pan gasket???

[stickybones]

I know oil leaks are a common problem, but how common is it for the oil pan gasket to be the culprit?

I've already replaced mine twice and the damn thing still leaks. I've looked closely and I'm fairly confident that the leak isn't coming from other common sources such as the front cover, turbo oil return line, rear main, valve covers, intake seals, oil cooler adapter or hoses, etc. The symptoms are a wet torque converter cover, wet oil pan bolt heads, wet frame cradle (where it runs east-west under the motor) and oil dripping off the trans cooler lines right where they parallel the oil pan before they turn up by the crossover pipe.

I'll replace the pan gasket again if that's what the problem is, but damn, how hard is it to get this thing right and not have it leak? I've read about making sure the block surface is crystal clean and bone dry before reinstalling. I've used the thick cork gasket both times. Used 3M adhesive to put the gasket to the pan and then intalled dry against the block. Maybe next time I'll try some silicone or something on the gasket top between the block and gasket. I don't know.

Damn it. I hate oil leaks.

By the way, I use dino oil...Kendall GT-1 10W-30.

Mike

 

[y-hate]

Check your valve cover gasket, could be leaking from the back...

 

[buickpower]

i like that gasket shellac stuff for sealing gaskets

 

[Lee Thompson]

oil leak

I would bet it is not your oil pan gasket from what you have said. It could be the plug that goes in the back of the block (cam hole) I had one leak on me.

 

[markboss]

Check the intake gasket seal on the psgr side, where the head and intake meet at the rear corner, it drips on the starter, and onto the crossover pipe...I cleaned the area with Brakekleen, and forced "THE RIGHT STUFF" into the corner, and solved my leak...beats changing the gasket....

 

[van460]

I USED THE RUBBER OR NEOPREME GASKET FROM NAPA A LOT BETTER THAN CORK I THINK, DO NOT USE ANY GASKET SEALER THIS IS WHY YOU BY THE GASKET YOU DO NOT NEED IT. IT CAN HANDLE THE TORK A LITTLE BETTER SOME GUYS GET CARRIED AWAY ON CRANKING STUFF DOWN.

 

[Nick Micale]

Originally posted by stickybones
I know oil leaks are a common problem, but how common is it for the oil pan gasket to be the culprit?.......
..... I've used the thick cork gasket both times. Used 3M adhesive to put the gasket to the pan and then intalled dry against the block. Maybe next time I'll try some silicone or something on the gasket top between the block and gasket. Mike

After many years of grief with pan gaskets leaking, I put them on like you said. It is important to tighten them in stages as the cork seems to "set" a little bit at a time. Maybe 2 retightens at 15-20 minute intervals, and then again after a couple heat cycles.

Even in cars with boost in excess if 25 psi, this seems to work fine for me.

 

[JDSfastGN]

Make sure its not the brass fitting that the turbo feed line goes into. Mine cracked and now has broken off into the engine block Then the EZ out broke off so now my engine is out dammit. It could also be the oil pressure sending unit on that same block, they like to crack around the prongs and leak. Good luck