On my 5.3L engine, the Oil Cooler Gasket was leaking slightly (located above the oil filer where the oil cooler line bolts on)

So, I changed it using the gasket I found at Rock Auto.com Mahle B31872... and it was fine for a few months but now it's seeping again



Is there a better brand I should be considering?

I've heard this is a common issue on 5.3L engines with oil cooler lines so I thought I'd check in to see if there is better option for the gasket

If not, I guess I'll install a new one and this time use some which is like Elephant snot aand it resists oil and fuel (probably should have done this the first time... a little on each side)

 

Those gaskets always end up leaking.

What I've done in the past is using NO gasket, and instead assembling the plate with anerobic sealant.

 

Interesting... both machined surfaces seem to be pretty much perfectly flat

Did you use something like this that I found on Amazon?

 

I had an oil line set (OEM) replaced at my local Chevy dealer a couple years ago, in my 2012 Silverado daily. Got it back and it weeped oil at the mating flange. This truck never weeped oil anywhere, so I was frustrated. I only had them change the line set because there was oily dirt residue on the oil lines out at the radiator, since I’ve owned the tuck…bought it in ‘15 used.
Anyhoo, I thought it must be the gasket, so I changed it out with a new GM gasket. The next day, there’s the same weep on the oil line manifold with a drip forming. So I crawl under it and snug the two bolts a tad, hoping for the best. Brake cleaner and it’s all fresh and new again. The next day, it’s back, and there’s an oil drip on the driveway. NO SIR.
Back up on my lift and I grabbed my 12k lumen flashlight. I found that the union where the oil line goes in the manifold was leaking…it’s a swivel seal…it’s amazing what good lighting will show. I called the dealer and told them what’s up. Basically told me since I threw a new gasket at it, it was my problem. I’m too honest not to disclose all the facts, so that’s my bad I suppose.
I ordered a new GM lineset online and changed it myself. No weeps two years later. Said all of that to say that sometimes we need to check around the trouble area and not stay focused on what we assume is the issue. The smoking gun was right in front of me the whole time, I just couldn’t see it.

 

Yeah, I had someone else tell me they had the same issue and it was the line and not the gasket

So Yeah I'll need to get some bright lights up under there and see if that's the issue.

 

If you drain the oil it won't leak..

 

That's true... maybe I can run without oil altogether if I use some Slick 50!

I remember back in the day they would claim some customers hit a rock or whatever and poked a hole in their oil pan and they drove with however many miles with no oil and the engine ran jus fine

 

That is only an officially recommended procedure for Harley motors, lol. Only way they could keep the showroom floors clean during the AMF years.

 

I use that High Tack....in spray can.....works like a charm

 

Helps to Heli-Coil the bolt holes, and if you're not running a cooler, replace the little bypass piece every time you take it off since it can bend so easily. For that matter it's not impossible that the block part on a line set can be bent to where it's not applying pressure in the middle. If you're using the bypass then the gasket should be the one with one large rect/oval hole.