Help Diagnosing Oil leak

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

rdezs

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2023
Posts
34
Reaction score
33
.... Also, you'll know that your crank bolt has a rubber coating under the flange to prevent oil seeping out between the harmonic balancer and the crankshaft. If you reused your crankshaft bolt, that could be the culprit as well. It's also worth inspecting your oil cooler lines. They usually start seeping at the factory crimp about the area underneath your power steering pump. Other than that, you have the valley cover gasket and the timing cover gasket itself as well as valve cover gaskets. Don't be surprised if you find your valley cover bolts loose. Pretty common for them to loosen up. New gasket, and I use the blue loctite on the bolts.
 
OP
OP
L

lspann3525

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2023
Posts
119
Reaction score
146
No I didnt use the tool couldnt find one locally and needed to get the truck back on the road. The rear of the pan is dry. I am only seeing the oil build up near the front. sht fck it I went ahead and bought the aftermarket 12570427 seems to be identical to the GM version. Hopefully this will slow my oil consumption down some. Last time I opened the throttle door it was pretty oily so I think my engine had been sucking in oil.

Next time I drop the pan Im going to install the AFM oil deflector. I was hoping I didnt have to change the oil pan gasket again its a challenge changing it on the 4WD trucks but even more extensive dropping the transfer case then the transmission to get at the rear seal.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
L

lspann3525

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2023
Posts
119
Reaction score
146
.... Also, you'll know that your crank bolt has a rubber coating under the flange to prevent oil seeping out between the harmonic balancer and the crankshaft. If you reused your crankshaft bolt, that could be the culprit as well. It's also worth inspecting your oil cooler lines. They usually start seeping at the factory crimp about the area underneath your power steering pump. Other than that, you have the valley cover gasket and the timing cover gasket itself as well as valve cover gaskets. Don't be surprised if you find your valley cover bolts loose. Pretty common for them to loosen up. New gasket, and I use the blue loctite on the bolts.
The crankshaft bolt has never been removed that I know of but ill give it a look inside the harmonic balancer to see if I can see something. There is no oil cooler there is a block plate on the side of oil pan.

The valve covers have been replaced. They are not leaking at all. Im unable to see the valley gasket. Im leaning towards a timing cover gasket. seeing that around the timing cover crankshaft area its sort of clean but all the outer area is covered.

Is the crank bolt re-usable and if I use a puller to remove the harmonic balancer more than likely its going to seperate so harmonic balancer cant be reused?

Just in case I have a crankcase issue due to the pcv system im going to try that aftermarket cover before I change the gaskets again.
 
Last edited:

rdezs

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2023
Posts
34
Reaction score
33
It shouldn't separate. Make sure you're using the correct puller for an LS engine. You want to pull on the center part of the balancer, never on the outer.

I use one of these:
download.jpeg

Crankshaft bolt is a torque to yield, and yes you're supposed to use a new one each time.
 

rdezs

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2023
Posts
34
Reaction score
33
Most auto parts stores like Amazon have them in there loaner tool collection. They're not that expensive on Amazon.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,705
Posts
1,872,871
Members
97,519
Latest member
Noel74329
Top