After returning from my trip, with it leaking everyday I brought it in again. The intake has been off twice since then with him focusing on my cam sensor. He replaced the cam sensor yet again and I brought it home. He also claims to have checked the rear main twice and it's not leaking from there. He said he wanted to make absolutely sure that the leak isn't the result of any work he did. I'm sure this is so the hourly diagnostic fee can start from zero again.As soon as I parked it there is oil on the ground. I reluctantly crawled under there in 12 degree weather laying in the snow and there is oil all over the bell housing and dripping from the starter bolts. I couldn't stay under there any longer due to the cold. If I run the truck and stare at it I can actually see it drip on the ground every minute or so. I'm in for $1600 and now he wants to keep looking at an hourly rate. I can't understand how such a large leak can't be identified.

 

I have also noticed that I only get a few drops overnight with the engine off, when the engine is running I can watch it drip.

 

I would bring it to someone else.....almost sounds like this person is taking you on a wild goose chase to me. Have you worked with this person in the past? Good luck!

 

Yeah I have used him before. It seems like pick your poison with most of these guys. I'd like to go somewhere else but I'm in for big bucks here and don't want someone going over what he's already done by the hour. It's been so damn cold here I just can't get on the ground in the snow for hours trying to find it myself.

 

Looking from the top of the engine do you see any oil collecting near the valve covers? Does it drip more to the driver side or passenger side or both?

Do you know if they checked the valve cover gasket(s) on the side(s) they may have removed to install new intake gasket? A bent valve cover may cause a leak like that too.

Not sure if the oil fill spout is mounted on the valve cover gasket on a 5.3li like it is on a 5.7li, but it may have been knocked around a little causing a leaky connection at the valve cover.

Oil filter might be loose. Especially in the deep freeze winter like in the upper Midwest -17 F ;( .

 

It's just been too cold to give it a proper look myself. I asked him if he put any dye in and he said no, but he would. The latest is, with the dye, says the top of the engine is clean. He's telling me it must be the oil pan gasket....we'll see. It's getting old.

 

I totally understand...good luck friend!

 

What a problem! Well, is it possible for you to take a photo of the place where is leaking? Maybe we can have a new suggestion (I hope!).

 

Any resolution to this problem yet?

 

No resolution. Dye was put in and I was told there's nothing coming from the top and it's got to be the oil pan. Said there was no sign of a bad rear main seal. The oil pan gasket was changed. It leaked the next day. Brought it back again, changed the oil pan gasket yet again, leaked the next day. After the second oil pan gasket was changed said there is a little oil that could be coming from rear main area. I reached the end of my patience and got my paperwork and took it somewhere else. This shop thinks it's the rear main but can't be sure, says it's a can of worms. I'm moving this month, 700 miles away and still have no answer, but am a lot poorer and aggravated. At this point I would just leave it, but it's not a small leak and I have a new driveway. Not a good situation.