John03Z71
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- Joined
- Mar 27, 2014
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- 43
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I've got some oil leaks on my 2003 Tahoe Z71 5.3L that I am having a heck of a time finding out where they are coming from. There is a lot of oil towards the front of the engine/oil pan which drips down and subsequently drips off the bottom of the skid plate on the driver's side. There's oil on the front diff and on the transmission cooler lines and basically all over everything in the front, but the starter looks to be dry for the most part. I had one shop tell me my valve cover gaskets are leaking and I can see a slight leak from the rear drivers side corner down which drips down the oil filter, but it doesn't seem terribly bad. Another shop told me my rear main is leaking, but I'm not sure since most of the oil seems to be near the front and up near the oil pan gasket and on all the components near it... plus I popped the cover off the bellhousing and looked in with a flashlight and the flywheel is bone dry.
Here's where it gets a bit strange. I've always had a drop or two here and there on the driveway so last oil change (3 weeks ago) I used high mileage Valvoline Max Life synthetic blend, I heard it can do wonders and slow and possibly even stop some leaks as it conditions the seals. The leaks have gotten worse since I added this oil (5w30). A few days ago I parked on the street curb (which has a slight downhill slope towards the drivers side) around 1:30pm and came out at 5:00pm and there was a puddle about 5-6" in diameter under the truck, check oil level message was on. I checked the level and there is still a tiny bit of oil on the dipstick but its clearly down a quart or two. I get home for the day and park in my driveway (which is level) and place a sheet of cardboard down underneath it. Wait a few hours, not a single drip. Crank up the engine around 9pm and let it run for about 15mins, no drips. Let it sit overnight and come out the next morning about 8am and checked the cardboard, not a single drip! The next day I park back in the same spot on the street with the slight slope, and a few hours later another oil spot about 5" diameter. Does the fact that it leaks when its parked only on this type of slope hint towards anything in particular? It's the weirdest thing.
I'm considering the dye kit, anyone used this or had any luck?
Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated. I hate to just start throwing money at it and wasting time replacing unnecessary gaskets. I will try to take some pictures later this week or weekend but I'm not sure how benefical they will be. Just like to see if anyone has had a similar problem and what the outcome was, or if anyone has any suggestions.
Here's where it gets a bit strange. I've always had a drop or two here and there on the driveway so last oil change (3 weeks ago) I used high mileage Valvoline Max Life synthetic blend, I heard it can do wonders and slow and possibly even stop some leaks as it conditions the seals. The leaks have gotten worse since I added this oil (5w30). A few days ago I parked on the street curb (which has a slight downhill slope towards the drivers side) around 1:30pm and came out at 5:00pm and there was a puddle about 5-6" in diameter under the truck, check oil level message was on. I checked the level and there is still a tiny bit of oil on the dipstick but its clearly down a quart or two. I get home for the day and park in my driveway (which is level) and place a sheet of cardboard down underneath it. Wait a few hours, not a single drip. Crank up the engine around 9pm and let it run for about 15mins, no drips. Let it sit overnight and come out the next morning about 8am and checked the cardboard, not a single drip! The next day I park back in the same spot on the street with the slight slope, and a few hours later another oil spot about 5" diameter. Does the fact that it leaks when its parked only on this type of slope hint towards anything in particular? It's the weirdest thing.
I'm considering the dye kit, anyone used this or had any luck?
Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated. I hate to just start throwing money at it and wasting time replacing unnecessary gaskets. I will try to take some pictures later this week or weekend but I'm not sure how benefical they will be. Just like to see if anyone has had a similar problem and what the outcome was, or if anyone has any suggestions.
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