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2010 5.3L Chevy Silverado Oil Leak
July 21st, 2010, 2:16 PM
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2010 5.3L Chevy Silverado Oil Leak
I've got a slow oil leak on my new 2010 Chevy Silverado with the 5.3L. Took it to the dealer and they put some dye in the oil and will use a UV light to track it down after I drive it around a bit more.
I know it will get fixed, but just bummed that this is happening. When I bought my bride a 2003 Tahoe, it had an oil leak at about 7,000 miles, which turned out to be a bad oil pan gasket. Has been dry underneath ever since it was replaced.
Here's a link to the leak, note the arrows pointing to the leak:
Also, I found the following TSB. This might be the issue. Anyone else having problems with oil leaks on their new 5.3s? Truck only has 3,600 miles on it.
----------------------------------
05-06-01-034J:Engine Oil Leak at Rear Cover Assembly Area
(Engine Block Porosity RTV Repair Procedure) - (Nov 12, 2009)
Models: 2004-2007 Buick Rainier
2008-2009 Buick LaCrosse Super, Allure Super (Canada Only)
2005-2010 Cadillac CTS-V
2007-2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
2003-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
2003-2010 Chevrolet Corvette
2004-2006 Chevrolet SSR
2005-2010 Chevrolet Silverado, Silverado SS
2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
2006-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS, Impala SS
2007-2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe
2009-2010 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2003-2009 GMC Envoy
2003-2010 GMC Sierra
2004-2005 GMC Envoy XUV
2007-2010 GMC Yukon XL, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL Denali
2009-2010 GMC Canyon
2004-2006 Pontiac GTO
2005-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
2008-2009 Pontiac G8 GT
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
2005-2009 Saab 9-7X 5.3i
2008-2009 Saab 9-7X Aero
2003-2010 HUMMER H2
2006-2010 HUMMER H3
with 5.3L, 5.7L, 6.0L, 6.2L, 7.0L VORTEC™ GEN III or GEN IV V8 Engine (All Aluminum Block) (RPOs L33, LC9, LH6, LH8, LH9, LM4, LS4, LS1, LS6, L76, L77, LFA, LZ1, LS2, L92, L94, L99, L9H, LS3, LS9, LSA, LS7)
This bulletin is being revised to add RPOs and model years. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 05-06-01-034I (Section 06 -- Engine/Propulsion System).
Condition
Some customers may comment on an engine oil leak.
Cause
Upon initial diagnosis, it may be determined that the leak is coming from the rear cover gasket. This condition may be caused by engine block porosity on the sealing surface. This issue pertains to aluminum block applications only.
Correction
Follow the steps for Oil Leak Diagnosis in SI to determine the source of the leak. If the leak has been diagnosed as coming from the engine rear cover assembly, refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and remove the engine rear cover assembly. Inspect the engine block and engine rear cover for porosity on the mating surfaces.
• If porosity is found on the engine rear cover (see illustration below), replace the engine rear cover assembly, GM P/N 12633579.
• If porosity is found on the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity.
The porosity issue is in the gasket sealing surface at the top of the cover, near the high pressure oil crossover port. Refer to the picture below. The oil leaks by the gasket and runs down the side of the cover, and may appear to be a leak at the t-joint area of the cover. The fix is to replace the cover with GM P/N 12633579. Also, if porosity is found anywhere on the sealing surface of the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity. Refer to the illustration below.
Important: Clean any residual oil from the block and cover before applying the sealant in the next step.
1. Wipe a small amount of RTV, P/N 12378521 (in Canada, use P/N 88901148), onto the surface using a plastic scraper to fill the porosity.
2. Remove any excess RTV material, especially from inside the high pressure oil passage. Refer to #1 in the above illustration.
3. The joint may be closed immediately after applying the RTV. Total joint time after the RTV has been applied must be under 20 minutes.
Important: Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and follow the tightening specifications and sequence.
4. Reinstall the engine rear cover using a new gasket and a new crankshaft rear main seal. Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI.
I know it will get fixed, but just bummed that this is happening. When I bought my bride a 2003 Tahoe, it had an oil leak at about 7,000 miles, which turned out to be a bad oil pan gasket. Has been dry underneath ever since it was replaced.
Here's a link to the leak, note the arrows pointing to the leak:
Also, I found the following TSB. This might be the issue. Anyone else having problems with oil leaks on their new 5.3s? Truck only has 3,600 miles on it.
----------------------------------
05-06-01-034J:Engine Oil Leak at Rear Cover Assembly Area
(Engine Block Porosity RTV Repair Procedure) - (Nov 12, 2009)
Models: 2004-2007 Buick Rainier
2008-2009 Buick LaCrosse Super, Allure Super (Canada Only)
2005-2010 Cadillac CTS-V
2007-2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
2003-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
2003-2010 Chevrolet Corvette
2004-2006 Chevrolet SSR
2005-2010 Chevrolet Silverado, Silverado SS
2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
2006-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS, Impala SS
2007-2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe
2009-2010 Chevrolet Colorado Pickup
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2003-2009 GMC Envoy
2003-2010 GMC Sierra
2004-2005 GMC Envoy XUV
2007-2010 GMC Yukon XL, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL Denali
2009-2010 GMC Canyon
2004-2006 Pontiac GTO
2005-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
2008-2009 Pontiac G8 GT
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
2005-2009 Saab 9-7X 5.3i
2008-2009 Saab 9-7X Aero
2003-2010 HUMMER H2
2006-2010 HUMMER H3
with 5.3L, 5.7L, 6.0L, 6.2L, 7.0L VORTEC™ GEN III or GEN IV V8 Engine (All Aluminum Block) (RPOs L33, LC9, LH6, LH8, LH9, LM4, LS4, LS1, LS6, L76, L77, LFA, LZ1, LS2, L92, L94, L99, L9H, LS3, LS9, LSA, LS7)
This bulletin is being revised to add RPOs and model years. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 05-06-01-034I (Section 06 -- Engine/Propulsion System).
Condition
Some customers may comment on an engine oil leak.
Cause
Upon initial diagnosis, it may be determined that the leak is coming from the rear cover gasket. This condition may be caused by engine block porosity on the sealing surface. This issue pertains to aluminum block applications only.
Correction
Follow the steps for Oil Leak Diagnosis in SI to determine the source of the leak. If the leak has been diagnosed as coming from the engine rear cover assembly, refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and remove the engine rear cover assembly. Inspect the engine block and engine rear cover for porosity on the mating surfaces.
• If porosity is found on the engine rear cover (see illustration below), replace the engine rear cover assembly, GM P/N 12633579.
• If porosity is found on the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity.
The porosity issue is in the gasket sealing surface at the top of the cover, near the high pressure oil crossover port. Refer to the picture below. The oil leaks by the gasket and runs down the side of the cover, and may appear to be a leak at the t-joint area of the cover. The fix is to replace the cover with GM P/N 12633579. Also, if porosity is found anywhere on the sealing surface of the engine block, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity. Refer to the illustration below.
Important: Clean any residual oil from the block and cover before applying the sealant in the next step.
1. Wipe a small amount of RTV, P/N 12378521 (in Canada, use P/N 88901148), onto the surface using a plastic scraper to fill the porosity.
2. Remove any excess RTV material, especially from inside the high pressure oil passage. Refer to #1 in the above illustration.
3. The joint may be closed immediately after applying the RTV. Total joint time after the RTV has been applied must be under 20 minutes.
Important: Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and follow the tightening specifications and sequence.
4. Reinstall the engine rear cover using a new gasket and a new crankshaft rear main seal. Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI.
July 27th, 2010, 6:11 PM
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Update on Oil Leak
I've been driving this truck around and will be getting it back into the dealer soon, maybe even tomorrow morning. I did crawl back under this evening and found what appears to be a leaking rack/pinion. This could be blowing back onto the bellhousing or I could have two leaks... thoughts? Note how wet the bottom of the assembly is.
July 29th, 2010, 10:56 AM
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oil leak
I have a 2010 silverado they just ordered parts this morning I have the exact same leak maybe there is a issue with the 10s doing this he said mine will be third one with/the/exact same problem
August 3rd, 2010, 12:21 PM
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As follow-up, they did replace the power steering gear assembly. They also rechecked for the oil leak around the oil pan and did not locate any of the dye that had been placed inside the engine/oil a week earlier using the UV light. I'll keep an eye on the seeping oil between the trans and oil pan area, but am back on the road!
September 27th, 2010, 11:01 AM
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Mines got the leak in the same general area. They put dye in a few weeks ago but didn't detect any while they had it in the shop, told me to bring it back in a few hundred miles. I looked under the truck yesterday and saw some oil so I went and grabbed a blacklight and the bottom of the oil pan and the area immediatly behind it was glowing greenish yellow. Take it back in tonight. I'll post some pics when I get home...
Kinda disappointed in Chevy. I go back to domestics after 9 years in imports and I get a new truck with an oil leak in less than 3k miles.
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Click here for all the photos.
So if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say oil pan gasket. Perhaps the more mechanically inclined can glean more from the photos, couldn't be the rear main could it?
Dealer has the truck now, and they gave me a Uplander for a loaner.
Oh also forgot to mention, I saw some slight seepage from the rear seal on the transfer case and the dealers going to take a look at that too.
Kinda disappointed in Chevy. I go back to domestics after 9 years in imports and I get a new truck with an oil leak in less than 3k miles.
Click here for all the photos.
So if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say oil pan gasket. Perhaps the more mechanically inclined can glean more from the photos, couldn't be the rear main could it?
Dealer has the truck now, and they gave me a Uplander for a loaner.
Oh also forgot to mention, I saw some slight seepage from the rear seal on the transfer case and the dealers going to take a look at that too.
Last edited by Jowie; September 28th, 2010 at 12:07 AM. Reason: Adding photos...
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September 29th, 2010, 11:06 AM
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Got the truck back last night, man that dealer is fast. 
They re-gasketed/sealed the oil pan and replaced the rear transfer case seal. Will report back in a while to confirm its fixed...
They re-gasketed/sealed the oil pan and replaced the rear transfer case seal. Will report back in a while to confirm its fixed...
September 29th, 2010, 4:14 PM
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Keep me posted if this is the fix for your leak. Mine's still got the dye in it and I may well buy a UV-light before the next oil change to see what I can see on my own. They didn't see it, like your situation, after a number of miles either. Mine is still weeping and will be going back in once I have some free time.