Oil leak

[03GMCYukonXL]

So, I replaced my oil pan gasket when I did my lifters. I developed an oil leak and I have no clue where it's coming from but it's in places it should not me. Like the bottom of my thermostat housing and coolant crossover. Is it maybe leaking from where the timing chain cover and oil pan meet and getting slung all over from wind or the pulley? OR maybe from the crank shaft pulley seal....which is also new. (attached a pic of this area cleaned up) It's even on my starter. I've never had an oil leak like this and I really didn't want to replace this gasket again because it's a 4WD lol

 

[mattbta]

Did you put dabs of RTV on the 4 spots where the timing cover and rear cover meet the block when you did the oil pan gasket?

 

[03GMCYukonXL]

Did you put dabs of RTV on the 4 spots where the timing cover and rear cover meet the block when you did the oil pan gasket?

I did not. Didn't know that was a thing

 

[strutaeng]

Put some UV dye in your oil and drive it a few days, then check with a black light. It's probably leaking from more than one location?

 

[j91z28d1]

I did not. Didn't know that was a thing

oh man..

sorry to say, but its 95% it's your oil pan leaking again. gm put rtv in all 4 corners and you have to too.

now gm somehow used stuff that didn't hold up to oil very well. but good black rtv silicone will do nicely. that or go big and pick up a tube of Honda bond. that still will out live the next ice age.


edit, quick search on YouTube will show where and why.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Here's my 2 cents..

If it was the oil pan gasket why are there drops of oil well above the oil pan, near the water pump?

Also here is a picture from my own Tahoe with a suspected oil pan gasket leak, OPs picture looks much different than mine.

I challenge the theory of the oil pan gasket being the culprit, I wonder if it's the valley cover?

 

[Geotrash]

So, I replaced my oil pan gasket when I did my lifters. I developed an oil leak and I have no clue where it's coming from but it's in places it should not me. Like the bottom of my thermostat housing and coolant crossover. Is it maybe leaking from where the timing chain cover and oil pan meet and getting slung all over from wind or the pulley? OR maybe from the crank shaft pulley seal....which is also new. (attached a pic of this area cleaned up) It's even on my starter. I've never had an oil leak like this and I really didn't want to replace this gasket again because it's a 4WD lol

Check your oil and transmission cooler lines and fittings at the radiator.

 

[89Suburban]

Here's my 2 cents..

If it was the oil pan gasket why are there drops of oil well above the oil pan, near the water pump?

Also here is a picture from my own Tahoe with a suspected oil pan gasket leak, OPs picture looks much different than mine.

I challenge the theory of the oil pan gasket being the culprit, I wonder if it's the valley cover?

View attachment 424670

I never saw a valley pan gasket leak at the front of the motor. Not saying that it can't, but the rear of the motor would certainly be bathed in oil as well. Between the tilt of the engine and airflow it would all blow rearwards.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@89Suburban I hear you. The drops of oil on the water pump is very bizarre there’s nothing really up there

 

[89Suburban]

@89Suburban I hear you. The drops of oil on the water pump is very bizarre there’s nothing really up there

Could it be slinging off the front seal behind the crank pulley? Could it possibly be the weep hole on the water pump weeping?

OP did you do a fell/taste/smell test to confirm if it is oil or coolant?