Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

oil all over the undercarriage and out the exhaust!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-07-2011, 08:43 PM
  #1  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
LT1TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default oil all over the undercarriage and out the exhaust!

I have oil all under my car from the headers near the starter, the starter, the tranny (top and bottom), the drivershaft, and my back bumper has slick black residue all over it as well as my license plate. it almost seems as if it's bursting out of every clamp on the exhaust. but there is no signs of oil on the top of my motor at all. car is driving fine except for every time i push the gas smoke comes into the car like crazy.
Old 06-07-2011, 08:58 PM
  #2  
9 Second Club
iTrader: (46)
 
subhumanzz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

rear main seal?
Old 06-07-2011, 11:21 PM
  #3  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (26)
 
a-low's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Whittier, Kalifornia
Posts: 578
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Same problem on mine, ac compressor is black along with the starter all the way to
the back. I really think its the front main seal though since theres crud around it.
Old 06-08-2011, 04:11 PM
  #4  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (39)
 
LilJayV10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Evansville,IN
Posts: 9,326
Received 862 Likes on 613 Posts

Default

I would think valve cover or rear main seal. Are you sure it's oil and not ATF?

Also is this an LT or LS engine? That will make a difference.
Old 06-08-2011, 06:48 PM
  #5  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (9)
 
firemech21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Langley AFB (Hampton VA)
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

I know before I started the rebuild I had this same issue, Turned out to be a crappy oil pan gasket.
Old 06-08-2011, 09:23 PM
  #6  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
LT1TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

for starters, it's a 99 ta. i just replaced the rear main less than 1k miles ago. but i thought that was the cause of the bad oil leak i had. But the leak was still there. So it's got to be the front main or the oil pan gasket. I really dont think it's ATF, it's clearly blackened oil as you can tell in certain light. and the smell of tranny fluid is distinctive (i hate it).

Well, I decided to do an oil change to see what might arise..... URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/9/img2011060800203.jpg/][/URL
Old 06-08-2011, 09:40 PM
  #7  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (19)
 
ryle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by LT1TA
for starters, it's a 99 ta. i just replaced the rear main less than 1k miles ago. but i thought that was the cause of the bad oil leak i had. But the leak was still there. So it's got to be the front main or the oil pan gasket. I really dont think it's ATF, it's clearly blackened oil as you can tell in certain light. and the smell of tranny fluid is distinctive (i hate it).

Well, I decided to do an oil change to see what might arise..... URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/9/img2011060800203.jpg/][/URL
Ouch! That doesn't look too good. What is that? Looks too small for a piston ring, but can't really think of what it could be... I just assembled a LS1 too and can't place it.

EDIT*** Just looked a little closer at your pic. Is that metal or rubber? It looks like an Oil Pump Pickup o-ring that got sliced in half... but then you wouldn't have any oil pressure.
Old 06-08-2011, 09:50 PM
  #8  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (19)
 
ryle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Just thought of something. Right behind the starter is a sensor that is held in by 1 10mm headed bolt. It uses an oring to seal into the side of the block. If it has ever been removed it could have been put in wrong and sliced the oring. I would pull the starter and check that.

Also, I have had a nasty oil leak lately and it turned out to be a bad valve cover gasket. If the gasket has blown out toward the back on the bottom side you will never see it. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my entire underside of my car was covered in oil. After I checked everything else under the sun, I finally took the valve cover off and sure enough, the gasket had blown out and was spewing oil out the side under higher RPMs.
Old 06-08-2011, 10:14 PM
  #9  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (39)
 
LilJayV10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Evansville,IN
Posts: 9,326
Received 862 Likes on 613 Posts

Default

That's the crankshaft sensor near the starter.
Old 06-09-2011, 12:44 AM
  #10  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
LT1TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

it's definitely metal. I did remove the starter a few months ago. Also, the car cranked fine and i drove it about 100 miles to pick a friend up and noticed the smoking but i (stupidly) drove the car home anyway. My oil pressure is normal now on cold starts. i havent cranked it since finding this piece. I did notice it drop to 20 psi the last time i drove it, but it returned to normal a while later in the trip. Interesting point about the valve covers, but the back of the block is clean as hell too. as well as the collector of my headers. I'm sure they would be painted black if the valves were leaking am i right? I'm so happy i just bought me an lq4 block a few weeks ago...
Old 06-09-2011, 01:00 AM
  #11  
TECH Senior Member
 
garygnu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,446
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

mite be a broken valve spring.
Old 06-09-2011, 10:19 AM
  #12  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (2)
 
Chevy Guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 201
Received 13 Likes on 7 Posts

Default

Check your PCV system.
Old 06-09-2011, 10:51 AM
  #13  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (19)
 
ryle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Yes if it were your valve covers you would more than likely have a spot on your headers where the oil had been dripping/burning. That was the big reason why I noticed my oil leak.

I would have to agree about the valvespring. Only thing is that it would be difficult for it to make it all the way down to the oil pan. Not impossible but difficult.
Old 06-10-2011, 05:24 PM
  #14  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (35)
 
99Bluz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: C. V., Kalifornia
Posts: 9,705
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Sounds like it might be leaking around where the rear cover and oil pan meet up. Did you put some RTV sealant on the left and right side where the pan and cover meet up?
Old 06-11-2011, 07:28 PM
  #15  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (17)
 
LT1TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

i did not, but the only problem is the oil is blowing out of the exhaust as well. so it is definitely in the mixture. I am thinking a lot towards it being the valvespring. It looks so much like one. it just cranks up fine but i think i was hearing a little valvetrain noise that i thought was my exhaust leak.
Old 06-11-2011, 09:44 PM
  #16  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (35)
 
99Bluz28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: C. V., Kalifornia
Posts: 9,705
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Yeah, if you broke a valve spring it's very possible it damaged the seal also.
Old 06-11-2011, 10:21 PM
  #17  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (127)
 
NemeSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Houston,TX
Posts: 6,886
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts

Default

Nother mystery oil leak ive found is bad dipstick oring. That lil beesh gone bad will oil down all of the undercarriage and exhaust
Old 06-11-2011, 11:14 PM
  #18  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (7)
 
1dirtybird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Scottsdale Az
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

c-clip for a rocker arm.



Quick Reply: oil all over the undercarriage and out the exhaust!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:45 AM.