Need help with persistent oil leak! Pls

[Mcbusiness11]

I have a 2003 Yukon XL 1500 2wd with the 5.3. I've had a bad oil leak, bad enough that I can watch it drip about every 3 seconds. I changed the oil pan gasket twice now, new oil pressure sensor (the one on the top rear of the engine) and it's still leaking brand new oil. The oil drops off the 2 rear bolts, the long skinny ones. I have looked in the bell housing inspection plate and see no oil. I'm thinking the rear cover is leaking. Does this sound like the right direction to go? I just wanted a few more opinions before I tackle this endeavor. Thank you in advance!

 

[Shaw520]

The bad news is that it could be rear main seal,..rather common in these motors,...how many miles are on her ?

 

[Mcbusiness11]

220,000 miles. Is the rear main seal harder than the rear cover?

 

[Scottydoggs]

the rear seal is in the rear cover, same job to get to both, aka your pulling the tranny.

id get a flash light under the there, inspection cover off, look between the engine and flex plate, will be wet on the block side if either cover or seal is leaking.

 

[Mcbusiness11]

I appreciate it. I'll look first thing when I get off tomorrow

 

[Erickk120]

Well, I've been avoiding the same problem with mine, mines is also around 220k miles. I've been changing most of the engine seals, such as valve covers,oil block off plate,oil pressure unit, and did my pan gasket about 2 weeks ago etc... The pan gasket replacement did the most for me, as mine was leaking. I still have a leak in the rear part of the engine which am more than sure its a rear main seal. I also have those 2 bolts wet with oil. The only thing that bothers me is pulling the tranny off which will be a pain in the butt! I bought a rear main seal and cover gasket along with the alignment tool about a year ago, but I've been avoiding it since then, since mine is just a drip here and there every few hours, enough to leak about 3/4's of a quart over 7 months.

Keep us posted with your findings

 

[SnowDrifter]

No easy way to identify it over the internet, you gotta get your hands dirty.

Clean everything up and watch where it's coming from. Alternatively, you can add some UV dye to the oil and get under there with a blacklight

 

[Wildhorse]

At least they are one piece seals....done a ton of the 2 piecers...happy when they went the way of the Dodo

 

[PNWMuseumman]

Sub'd for conclusion, fighting a persistent leak myself. I need to do the pick-up O-ring and oil pump anyway, but I'm really worried part of my problem is the real seal...