Oil leak advice

[ko67]

I have a small oil leak. The leak is at front corner of the oil pan where the PO mounted a billet dipstick housing/tube. The gasket between the oil pan and the base of the block sticks out at the leaking corner and appears to be a cork-like material. Should I drop the oil pan and replace that gasket with something else? Any advice for stopping this small leak?

 

[blue65coupe]

Looks like he made his own gasket. I'd change it. Remember to take a small hammer and tap all the oil pan bolt holes back flat. I used a piece of 1/2" (IIRC) plywood as a backing to do this.

 

[daveSanborn]

I have a small oil leak. The leak is at front corner of the oil pan where the PO mounted a billet dipstick housing/tube. The gasket between the oil pan and the base of the block sticks out at the leaking corner and appears to be a cork-like material. Should I drop the oil pan and replace that gasket with something else? Any advice for stopping this small leak?

Are you 100% positive it's leaking form the oil pan gasket? Notice in both of your photos there appears to be a puddle of oil in a casting valley directly below your oil pressure sending unit extension tube. It could be leaking there and flowing down onto the gasket. Or.... it could be leaking where the PO mounted the oil dipstick tube and flowing rearward and then down.

If your oil pan gasket is leaking, rarely will the leaking oil flow "upwards" onto the block.

 

[blue65coupe]

Is that oil or just grime? Check that first for sure.

 

[ko67]

Are you 100% positive it's leaking form the oil pan gasket? Notice in both of your photos there appears to be a puddle of oil in a casting valley directly below your oil pressure sending unit extension tube. It could be leaking there and flowing down onto the gasket. Or.... it could be leaking where the PO mounted the oil dipstick tube and flowing rearward and then down.

If your oil pan gasket is leaking, rarely will the leaking oil flow "upwards" onto the block.

Thanks, Dave. I will check that. THere does not seem to be any kind of sealant on the threads to either attachment. Should I seal these with teflon tape? Teflon thread sealer? The oil pressure standoff needs to maintain a metal to metal grounded connection for the sender to work, right? will thread sealer interfere with this?

 

[daveSanborn]

You will find varying trains of thought on this subject, but I ALWAYS use teflon tape in these areas. The teeth of the threads cut through the tape to provide the ground and the teflon tape does a good job of sealing.

 

[66gt350]

You will find varying trains of thought on this subject, but I ALWAYS use teflon tape in these areas. The teeth of the threads cut through the tape to provide the ground and the teflon tape does a good job of sealing.

+1 I've always used teflon tape on the threads, and never had any problems with the sender not grounding.

 

[Sluggo]

Are you 100% positive it's leaking form the oil pan gasket? Notice in both of your photos there appears to be a puddle of oil in a casting valley directly below your oil pressure sending unit extension tube. It could be leaking there and flowing down onto the gasket. Or.... it could be leaking where the PO mounted the oil dipstick tube and flowing rearward and then down.

If your oil pan gasket is leaking, rarely will the leaking oil flow "upwards" onto the block.

I agree with Dave. I think the leak is coming from a higher point than the pan.

Clean it good with brake cleaner and spray the area with Arrid extra dry deodorant and drive it a few miles. Look at the area and see where the powder has become wet looking.

Or if you want to use the real stuff get some Kent leak trace powder.
Not sure you can buy direct from them. Try a glass shop or call me and see if I have a spare at work. If I have one maybe we can pass it around until it's used up.

http://www.kent-automotive.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/EasyAskSearchAdvisorCmd?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&RequestAction=CA_CategoryExpand&CatPath=All+Products////Chemicals+and+Aerosols////Wind/Water+Leak/Glass////LEAK+CHECK&OrigCatPath=All+Products////Chemicals+and+Aerosols////Wind/Water+Leak/Glass&dct=kent&indexed=1&oneshot=1&startNavPage=1&ByPartNumber=false&currentpage=1&Searchtype=All+Products////Chemicals+and+Aerosols////Wind/Water+Leak/Glass&question=&partnumber=

 

[ko67]

I followed the excellent advice given here and determined that the leak was in fact coming from the base fitting of the dipstick tube. There was no sealant and the fitting was loose. The oil pressure sender tube was not leaking. As a plus, the antiperspirant left my engine smelling shower fresh. Thanks all for the advice.