Oil leak :smh:

[Mathematic]

Drove the car to work today(45miles)..parked it and came back outside and found a small puddle of oil. I can see oil on the bottom of the trans pan, trans cross member, oil pan and starter... from the looks of it. The oil is leaking and blowing back. because how could it reach the trans cross member? Talked to the mech and he said it could be a leak around the dip stick. which is the after market chrome one and when i think about it. it didnt come with a rubber gasket or sealer...so that could be the problem.

 

[Mathematic]

...........

 

[Evan11]

do you have an olds engine? mine does the same thing, although it doesn't hardly leak @ all when just sitting(but i run fairly thick oil, 15w40). mine slings the oil back just as yours does,but only does it if i run it fairly hard or get on it...almost every olds i've seen does the same thing...i'm not sure if its the rope rear main seal on these olds engines or what, that's what i believed it to be.

 

[Mathematic]

yeah it is an olds 350...actually, its a fresh rebuilt 350...

but rear main seal, you say? Hmmmmm

 

[Evan11]

yeah it is an olds 350...actually, its a fresh rebuilt 350...

but rear main seal, you say? Hmmmmm

i got a 350 olds also, it's done it since day one after rebuilding..yes, i believe its the rear main...like i was sayin i've seen many many olds engines do this, i believe its a pretty common problem with the olds engines.

put in a little thicker oil, it will slow it dwn quite a bit, unless ur going to pull the motor out and really fix it...

 

[Mathematic]

yeah it is an olds 350...actually, its a fresh rebuilt 350...

but rear main seal, you say? Hmmmmm

i got a 350 olds also, it's done it since day one after rebuilding..yes, i believe its the rear main...like i was sayin i've seen many many olds engines do this, i believe its a pretty common problem with the olds engines.

put in a little thicker oil, it will slow it dwn quite a bit, unless ur going to pull the motor out and really fix it...

man if this is true..that really sucks...If i would have known this, i would have went with chevy. I really appreciate the info. By thicker oil, what would you suggest? do you use this type all year around or just in the winter months?

 

[CHRIS.O]

You should be able to kind of tell where the leak starts. Where is the first place you notice oil at? If it is at the front of the engine you could think timing cover seal but to go that far back would be unlikely. Wipe your hand across the back of your intake and see if you get any oil. Same with the valve covers. If no oil shows up there then your pretty much looking at the rear main seal or oil pan gasket.

 

[Mathematic]

You should be able to kind of tell where the leak starts. Where is the first place you notice oil at? If it is at the front of the engine you could think timing cover seal but to go that far back would be unlikely. Wipe your hand across the back of your intake and see if you get any oil. Same with the valve covers. If no oil shows up there then your pretty much looking at the rear main seal or oil pan gasket.

now that you mentioned it. I do see leakage coming from the passenger side valve cover...not much but its noticeable. Nothing like whats on the bottom of the car....

 

[trocutlass63]

My 307 has been leaking like that since it was rebuilt. I'm pretty sure it's the rear main seal but like it was already mentioned it only seems to really do it if you drive for a while or beat on it. For now I would just keep a close eye on it until you can fix it.

 

[Evan11]

Yep, Chevy's may do the same...I really dnt know, I only know that the olds engines tend to do this alot..but olds are great engines, just keep the oil topped off.

What weight of oil are u using now, probably 10w30 or something?

when i change the oil, i put 15w40 chevron in mine..it's pretty thick and is pretty good stuff...i can tell a big difference of leakage just from 1ow40 to 15w40.

depending on your climate, you may even be able to get away with 20w50, i could if i wanted to in the summer