Hot Rod Forum banner

Chevy 350 oil leak. Can't find it.

41K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  S10 Racer 
#1 ·
I have a freshly redone 350 in my truck. I drove it to work today, and noticed that it is leaking oil all over the ground. About the size of a sauscer dish. I got under and looked, and I have oil coming out of the trans inspection cover, and on top of the driver's side header collector. I checked the valve cover gaskets, dist., intake, and oil pressure switch. they are all dry. I'm hoping its not the rear main leaking that bad already. It has a two piece rear main in it. What else could be leaking that bad?
 
#4 ·
it looks like that's what it is. if its inside the inspection cover and above it looks dry the rear main may have shifted or one side popped out. make sure all the oil pan bolts are tight
if they were not tightened properly you wont have a good seal on the rear main. i will cross my fingers and hope its a loose pan
 
#5 ·
I think its coming from above and leaking down. My oil filter and housing is full of oil as well. I found out my power steering pump was leaking quite badly from the highpressure fitting being loose. I also found that the bolt on the front of the block by the fuel pump was missing as well. I can't see how how oil could be getting from there all the way back behind the engine.

On the oil pan, I used the felpro one piece gasket, and bolts that came with it. I torqued all the pan bolts to what the spec sheet said in the pan gasket kit. I will check the pan bolts again though, and the fitting for the oil pressure gauge again. I did put a mechanical oil pressure gauge on it.
 
#6 ·
I think I found it, finally. I went back and checked everything again. The back corner of the driver's side valve cover was wet with oil. Found out that the bolts for the valve cover were loose! I tightened them down, and we will see if it continues to leak. IF it does, I guess I will have to put a new valve cover gasket.
 
#7 ·
seawolf18 said:
I think I found it, finally. I went back and checked everything again. The back corner of the driver's side valve cover was wet with oil. Found out that the bolts for the valve cover were loose! I tightened them down, and we will see if it continues to leak. IF it does, I guess I will have to put a new valve cover gasket.
What type of gasket did you use for the valve covers, cork or rubber? I like the rubber ones myself but I only use them with aftermarket aluminum valve covers. I personally hate the sheet metal type valve covers and change them out to aluminum every chance I get.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top