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Oil leak - common problem?

K

kenobe

New member
Hi guys, 2000 GT 3.8, no supercharger, 147k miles.

I've got an oil leak that seems mostly to land on the ground by the driver wheel. Looks like the valve cover gaskets are easy to replace. I checked into how to replace the oil pan gasket and do not want to get into that nightmare.

Do these engines have common areas that start leaking oil after so many miles?

Thanks, Ken
 


Replace the valve cover gaskets AND the bolt grommets. If you only do gaskets they will leak again. The oil pan gasket is known to leak as well. Also, the rear seal is known to leak but the only way you're getting to that is to remove the trans. and flywheel.

VC gaskets are common. Also have to ask- have you ever had the lower intake manifold gaskets replaced? If not, then the valley seal on the LIM could be leaking oil as well, along with the LIM gaskets leaking coolant into the motor (not good).

Would also replace the PCV valve. There are 2 o-rings that go in there. One goes directly onto the metal portion of the PCV valve, then a larger one where the cap seals up the PCV. And don't loose the spring under the cap. It is needed.
 
Another common leak on these motors is the rear engine cover. It might appear as the oil pan, but if you clean it down and keep an eye on it. The leak will develop at the driverside before anywhere else. I haven't seen a rear main leaking yet (although it's a gasket..so it could) but typically it's the rear cover gasket. The bolts aren't overly tight or locktited from the factory.

When you have that leak, you smile and do nothing about it.
 
Doh, yea meant the rear cover not rear seal. V8 knowledge creeping in, lol... Either way, I would follow what Bill said and do nothing about it.
 
Ken..I rip these engines in about 2 hours and wouldn't think twice about pulling one for the hell of it. Reality.. my car leaked until I did the trans swap. At that time I did the gasket. Key here is ...you aren't going to do it reasonably costwise.

Saw your other post about selling it off.

Smile and leave it be would be my suggestion.
 
Sounds good. I might do the PCV since it's cheap and easy. Air filter was pretty nasty as well. The p/s leak was huge so I'm hoping anything else leaking after I get that fixed will be minor as you mentioned.
 


Ive been told I have a pan gasket leak, but i never see a spot on the ground. I use a quart about every 4,000 miles and get changes every 5 or so. I can deal with that so I just let it be, and keep a quart in the trunk just in case.
 
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