V6 engine leaking oil out of the sump gasket

[Mr Plow]

Hi All

My engine has been dropping small amounts of oil on the floor for some time (approx 6 months), I am only talking one or two drops everytime it is left. Not enough to even make an impact on the amount showing on the dip stick.

However, in the search for perfection !!, I am thinking of curing the leak. The only way to do this is to take the engine out. I presume it is either the sump gasket or even the rear oil seal?

How easy is it to remove and replace the oil seal, I can't remember, obviously will need to take the flywheel etc off.

Now, before I go to all this hassle, have I read somewhere that these engines always leak oil? and I will probably be wasting my time, as it will begin to leak again pretty quickly afterwards.
Or, should I just use thicker oil?

[Boosted LS1]

You could check the sump bolts are tight. If that fail's can't you drop the sump and replace the gaskets? Rear seal will mean removing the flywheel.

I'd be tempted to clean off the flange area in an attempt to establish where the leak is coming from. Then, I'd drain the oil for a few days and see if silicon or a hard sealant could be used to effect a repair.

[Mr Plow]

I have checked the bolts are tight, also cleaned the flange. The oil is definately coming from the rear end of the sump, but I really can't tell whether it is from the gasket or the seal.
You can't lower the sump enough to get at the effected area with the engine in the car, I was hoping to drop the sump and replace the gasket, or at least put some sealant between the gasket and the sump, but there really isn't enought room at the rear of the engine, the gearbox gets in the way!!

Edited by Mr Plow on Monday 3rd December 22:13

[Boosted LS1]

At the rear you have the crank 'O' ring seal and also a half moon seal underneath. If the car's got some mileage under it's belt then the seal that will wear is the 'O' ring seal. Flywheel off job I'm afraid.

[Rower]

Are you sure it is from the sump? I have a similar leak but it comes from one of the rocker boxes and tracks down the block and drips from the sump . It is just that you say only a couple of drips, if it was coming from the sump it would be more than just a couple , from the rocker box it is just residuel oil and therefore likley to be just a couple of drips..............if you see wot i mean !!


Guy

[ketvrin]

Dare I suggest an oil treatment for minor leaks ? They claim to rejuvinate certain types of seal and cure small leaks like yours. It seems like a lot of work you are into for such a small leak and there is always a risk that after all of your efforts you will still have a leak

anyway, if you cure it, what is going to stop the chassis from rusting

K

[jimed]

Kevin is correct re the oil treatment. I've posted elsewhere that I put some Forte Oil treatment in my engine last year and it is now much better in terms of little leaks so its well worth a try when you change the oil. I think the Forte stuff is generally trade only - ie sold to garages for them to use but I contacted them via email and they told me which used it locally to me and I bought a tube from one. There is also Wynns Engine Stop Leak which is said to do the same job - ie the oil seals shrink with time and the stuff in the treatment is supposed to rejuvenate the seals and swell them up again without affecting the oil; clearly a damaged seal won't be fixed but for a few pounds its worth a go. (I got some of the Wynns stuff the other day for under £5 from my local factor and I think H'fords probably do it as well). The stuff does need to be run in the engine over a period of time so don't expect it to fix it after an hour.
Jim