wild oil leak

[blaisdell]

i have the strangest oil leak I've seen in awhile. i got out my vehicle one morning and noticed a very strange oil (our what i think is oil) pattern down the side of my truck. oddly enough i checked the level and it was slightly over full. i will say i took to the stealership for oil change hoping they just instantly see it... but they didn't and said i had to pay 238 for diagnostic work. next morning they call to tell me over 1k for oil pan gasket replacement because my vehicle over 10 years old. I know I have a little rear main leak has barely made a puddle under my truck last 8mts I've had it. but just because my vehicle is over 10 years isn't God enough reason to do it in my opinion. if it's the problem ya let's do it but they stated let's start here then reevaluate like I'm getting ready to get kicked in the wallet over and over till they magically get it right. with that said I've got another mechanic who quoted me about 40% there price too do it if that's the problem. I'm going to enclose some pictures of the side of my truck and under it. I think it's very dry except under my running board on drivers side and it's got kinda wet in my rear drivers side wheel well. as you can see in the photo the front drivers wheel well is only getting wet on outer half the farther back towards the shock it gets dry. please give me any ideas to check for i might be able to look at myself and maybe fix or give my mechanic little extra help (if he needs it lol). 2013 suburban 5.3 4x4 no oil cooler lines. I notice my oil filter looks wet and it's real clean under it on the frame like maybe I need to look at the plate that goes where the oil cooler lines go on the bigger motor dunno

 

[blaisdell]

here are the quotes

 

[Doubeleive]

here are the quotes
View attachment 450065View attachment 450066

that looks like something you ran over and it splashed up on the door, which is typical for this generation without putting mud flaps on it.
if you are going to have the oil pan done may as well just bite the bullet and have the rear main and oil pan done at the same time.

 

[89Suburban]

I don't think that oil is from your truck you must have drove through something. Is it on the back wheel well too? My engine leaked a quart a week and yours looks bone dry underneath compared to the mess I had, and I never had oil on the outer fender like that. Just the rear tailgate from the windswept oil spray.

 

[89Suburban]

I would just run it.

 

[blaisdell]

that looks like something you ran over and it splashed up on the door, which is typical for this generation without putting mud flaps on it.
if you are going to have the oil pan done may as well just bite the bullet and have the rear main and oil pan done at the same time.

ya I agree as well. I'm going to send to the guy I trust and have used for years see what he says. but I don't recall hitting anything that day. I have appointment on Monday. I'll get it washed and keep a eye on oil pressure and oil level. I noticed my oil pressure was at 20lb at a red light after driving on interstate and it was 40. now after oil change it's over 40 at red light... but the vehicle also didn't just get done driving 70 for 45 minutes. Just to the store and back about a mile. but like I said oil level looked little over when I looked at it that day. also if I ran over something wouldn't the entire front wheel well be wet as well as oil on the rim and tire. there seems to be dripping oil down my running board and the rear wheel well is fully wet.i sure hope I hit a gallon of oil that would be nice lol

 

[blaisdell]

I don't think that oil is from your truck you must have drove through something. Is it on the back wheel well too? My engine leaked a quart a week and yours looks bone dry underneath compared to the mess I had, and I never had oil on the outer fender like that. Just the rear tailgate from the windswept oil spray.

ya more wet on back than front

 

[Doubeleive]

ya I agree as well. I'm going to send to the guy I trust and have used for years see what he says. but I don't recall hitting anything that day. I have appointment on Monday. I'll get it washed and keep a eye on oil pressure and oil level. I noticed my oil pressure was at 20lb at a red light after driving on interstate and it was 40. now after oil change it's over 40 at red light... but the vehicle also didn't just get done driving 70 for 45 minutes. Just to the store and back about a mile. but like I said oil level looked little over when I looked at it that day. also if I ran over something wouldn't the entire front wheel well be wet as well as oil on the rim and tire. there seems to be dripping oil down my running board and the rear wheel well is fully wet.i sure hope I hit a gallon of oil that would be nice lol

if the rear wheel well is oil soaked that could be a leaking axle seal or brake caliper, but still doesn't explain the front splash, a puddle of oil on the road somewhere wouldn't have made any noise or anything and if it was dark out you wouldn't have seen it period even if you were looking for it.

 

[petethepug]

Boy, hall of shame on the quotes. If you’re going to replace an oil pan seal, you have a leak. If they can’t find a leak, then, what? Just make one up?

Get some Dawn soap, wash it off and see if it comes back. I can tell you that a lot of dealerships and Indi shops that don’t have repeat & referral customers are desperate for business right now. Be weary like you are.

 

[PPV_2018]

well my truck literally has the same grime and clean spot on the subframe. I’m willing to bet the oil residue/grime is oil drip from previous oil and filter changes, and the clean spot is where it was wiped off. The first oil changed i did on my tahoe i used a rag to scrub where oil drip from changing the filter was and the result is a few inches of clean looking metal.

Not saying you don’t have a leak anywhere, but this would be a non-issue for me once i confirmed that the oil fill is completely full still, which you already mentioned in OP. I mean hell if you had a leak that had that much oil coming out the level would damn sure not be full or “slightly over” full.
And i can’t say how i really Feel ‘bout those dealerships since this is a family forum ..