vortec oil leak madness
February 18th, 2016, 6:11 PM
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vortec oil leak madness
I have posted this on another auto forum , but always get general answers.
How do you properly seal the front timing cover and oil pan on the vortec?
I got a new short block for my 01 express. Its a 4.3.
I installed the front cover while it was still on the crate.
Then , before the engine was installed, the tech installed the pan.(weeks later)
It has always leaked. I have added a new pan gasket, and tried various configurations of beads of silicon at the pan, cover , block, junction.
Nothing has worked.
Whats the trick. Does everything have to go on at once?
Front cover, then oil pan, at the same time ?
Its an after market front cover, is that the problem?
Alright vortec guys, whats the trick?
Brian
How do you properly seal the front timing cover and oil pan on the vortec?
I got a new short block for my 01 express. Its a 4.3.
I installed the front cover while it was still on the crate.
Then , before the engine was installed, the tech installed the pan.(weeks later)
It has always leaked. I have added a new pan gasket, and tried various configurations of beads of silicon at the pan, cover , block, junction.
Nothing has worked.
Whats the trick. Does everything have to go on at once?
Front cover, then oil pan, at the same time ?
Its an after market front cover, is that the problem?
Alright vortec guys, whats the trick?
Brian
Last edited by brian sansone; February 18th, 2016 at 6:13 PM.
February 18th, 2016, 9:40 PM
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where does it leak? Once upon a time I had to pull one of those apart 3 times (only got paid once), the issue I found was that the built in gasket on the napa cover was thicker than the OEM one so I wasn't getting it sealed with the rtv at the front junctions. I ended up using the OEM cover but am assuming the napa cover would've worked with a LOT more rtv.
February 18th, 2016, 10:14 PM
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Its a napa cover I installed. It leaks right at the union of the pan/cover/block.
I have read that is a problem area. Its ridiculous how much its leaking.
Its parked right now because of the leak.
Im going with an OEM cover next. Probably $485 dollars , compared to $30 from NAPA.
I had to get an OEM distributor to get the new engine running right .
The after market one couldnt keep the timing correct.
I have read that is a problem area. Its ridiculous how much its leaking.
Its parked right now because of the leak.
Im going with an OEM cover next. Probably $485 dollars , compared to $30 from NAPA.
I had to get an OEM distributor to get the new engine running right .
The after market one couldnt keep the timing correct.
February 19th, 2016, 6:44 PM
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where does it leak? Once upon a time I had to pull one of those apart 3 times (only got paid once), the issue I found was that the built in gasket on the napa cover was thicker than the OEM one so I wasn't getting it sealed with the rtv at the front junctions. I ended up using the OEM cover but am assuming the napa cover would've worked with a LOT more rtv.
So did you run rtv around the whole pan? It seems like rtv could cause a leak, the way the pan and gasket sit. I am thinking about running a bead on the
inside of the pan gasket all the way around. Is that ridiculous?
Im also going to do it at the same time I replace the front cover.
Ive got a new engine, new trans, new fuel injection system, new distributor, etc,,, This oil leak is driving me insane .