*Passenger Side Oil Leak Help*

[Venus]

So my car has developed a pretty good oil leak on the passenger side which is a bummer as I wanted to take the car to the BOC show at Norwalk this weekend. Car is all stock and only has 30k miles on it. I put the car on a lift and started it, and at idle I could see oil running along the passenger side of the oil pan ridge where the pan meets the block and I also could see oil running down the trans cooler lines on the passenger side. As you could imagine it makes a mess all over my starter and even gets back onto my crossover pipe. Tracing the leak it looked to be leaking around the passenger side motor mount, almost like the oil is running down the side of the block. It looks to me like either the oil feed line fitting, the oil pressure switch, or the brass block for those 2 things is leaking where it threads into the block. I removed the plug off of the oil pressure switch and it was dry. I tried tightening the pressure switch and it didn't make a difference. Next I checked the oil feed line and it seemed tight. So I removed the brass block and didn't see any cracks or any evidence it was broken. The threads however on the brass block did not look good, but it did seem tight when I broke it loose to remove it. Any ideas? Has anyone come across a similar thing? In the mean time I've ordered a new oil feed line from Kirban and the brass block from gbody. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
B-

 

[notacarlo]

Check the valve cover gasket. Oil likes to run along the mating surface then down the back corner of that head. Runs straight down the block onto the starter/shield and all over that mess down there. Another place to look is the oil return line off the turbo - that is a very deceiving leak.

The good news is...if it's leaking oil...it still has oil.

 

[Venus]

Valve cover gaskets were just replaced with GM ones. And it's not the back of the head as I can see the oil running down from the front of the engine. I checked the oil drain and it's not the source of the leak.

 

[fastblackracing]

Venus I have seen 1 time where the turbo oil feed line cracked at the flare down where it goes into the brass block.
Not a complete all the way around crack but maybe like half wAy around and it was leaking pretty good.
Also when you put the new brass block in sometimes you have to put a lot big wraps
Of Teflon tape on the threads to get it where it is tight enough when it's in the correct position. Just keep the tape away from the last thread so it does not end up in the oil system
Also seen the valve cover rail on the cylinder head casting have as much as1/8" bow in it when checked with a straight edge.......only way to fix that one was to have that surface milled when the heads came off.

 

[Venus]

Hey Mannie!

Thanks for the input. I've always noticed the car dripped a couple spots of oil (what turbobuick doesn't) here and there and didn't think much of it. But here recently it has gotten much worse to the point like I said it's smoking from the oil burning off the crossover pipe and I can stand there and see the oil running down the passenger side. I'm hopeful that the new brass block and oil feed line and teflon tape on all of them fixes the issue. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[GNVenom]

Check your valve cover gaskets too. Common leaks from those, run down the engine, and you blame everything else.

Also, check the two bolt flange on the turbo oil return pipe, which tend to loosen and leak. The factory used distorted-thread bolts that stay tight, but you can always use loctite stud lock after they've been off a few times.

 

[notacarlo]

if you are getting smoke on the cross over I can with almost certainty say its the drain line. I had a vertical crack at the base of the flange where it meets the center cartridge. Nothing on idle....Little boost and smoke. I went back to that flange 10 times before I just took it off to inspect it. Found it, put a little blue RTV on the inside to get me through until the new pipe showed up. Which I still have in a bag. I don't recommend the RTV fix, I just purhcased a new turbocharger and went with a braided line.

I've had leaks I thought were coming from the back of the engine only to find that oil is slicker than I am. Down the front, along the oil pan lip, right down the starter to the crossover.

These cars hate you if you don't feed'em money.

Hey, it could be a million things...this is just what I am very familiar with after 30 years of toying with these wonderful abominations.

 

[1KWIKSIX]

If you're still searching for the source of the leak(s), suggest you use an Ultra Violet Die in the engine oil and use a black light .
It's one easy way of finding the source of leaks for certain!

 

[Venus]

Iv'e had leaks I thought were coming from the back of the engine only to find that oil is slicker than I am. Down the front, along the oil pan lip, right down the starter to the crossover.

YES this is the same thing mine is doing! I looked at and felt around the oil drain and didn't feel or see any oil though?

If you're still searching for the source of the leak(s), suggest you use an Ultra Violet Die in the engine oil and use a black light .
It's one easy way of finding the source of leaks for certain!

Yea I know about the oil dye. To me I didn't use it because I felt it looked to be pretty obvious where the leak was coming from or so I think, but knowing my luck I'm probably wrong and will end up using the dye anyways

 

[RmvBfrFlght]

So my car has developed a pretty good oil leak on the passenger side which is a bummer as I wanted to take the car to the BOC show at Norwalk this weekend. Car is all stock and only has 30k miles on it. I put the car on a lift and started it, and at idle I could see oil running along the passenger side of the oil pan ridge where the pan meets the block and I also could see oil running down the trans cooler lines on the passenger side.

Thanks,
B-

I've been having the same issue and just a couple of hours ago got to look into it. It is the oil pan gasket & retaining bolts. The bolts were all loose with some needing 2 - 3 turns. The passenger side of the pan will leak more as the crankshaft rotation slings it in that direction.

I've had this issue with a 307 Y engine in an '87 Regal. The engine oil pan bolts would never stay tight. Car went away before I fixed it.

Need to find the proper bolts & washers that will stay tight.

RemoveBeforeFlight

 

[hensleyt]

Brake clean & blue loctite 242 for pan bolts
Loctite 565 for the pipe threads

 

[Venus]

oil pan is interesting however this leak looks more like something that is pressurized and oil is running down the trans cooler lines. I should have all of my stuff by Friday and I picked up some permatex thread sealed today for the new fittings, so fingers crossed.

 

[RmvBfrFlght]

Brake clean & blue loctite 242 for pan bolts.

That would do the trick, for some reason I never considered Locktite for pan bolts. Use it elsewhere but usually in an enclosed area such as under the timing cover.

RemoveBeforeFlight

 

[Venus]

Happy to report that replacing the oil feed tube, and the brass block fixed my leak. I put thread sealant on the block, oil feed line and the oil pressure switch.