Oil pan leak after gasket replacement!!

[radchad3]

Hello all! I have a 1998 SE and I replaced the oil pan gasket at 100k miles. It currently has about 102k miles. I checked the pan at about 100 miles after the gasket change and noticed some leakage on the flywheel side. I re-tightened the bolts to spec and checked again at 200 miles and again just last week. There continues to be a significant leak mainly around the flywheel side.

Now, here comes the stupid-me part! I have never changed a gasket before so as was recommended here I placed RTV on the corners. After-the-fact I realized I used clear when I should have used black RTV. My question is do you guys think this is the cause of my leak or do I have a bent oil pan. The pan does have some small dents on the bottom side but not bad. I did use the fel-pro revised gasket.

I don't mind paying for a new pan if needed I just don't want to have to do it a third time if I change the gasket, use black RTV and it still leaks!

Thank you all for the advice and putting up with a newbie!

[00Beast]

Are you positive it's the oil pan and not the rear engine cover? That can leak oil too.

[radchad3]

Well, I have to admit that I am not sure. I can I tell the difference? Thanks!

[00Beast]

You're going to have to look closely. Might pull the cover that goes under the torque converter and see if you can shine a light in there and see if there is a trail of oil or anything. Could also be the rear main seal I suppose. If it's either of those, you won't be able to access it without removing the engine or transmission.

[radchad3]

Thanks Beast! Well I am hoping these aren't the problem! If they are I can live with the leak as I don't have the resources nor want to pay to have those replaced. Do you think using clear RTV could have caused the problem, if the oil pan is indeed the cause of the leak? Thanks again! Chad

[00Beast]

I doubt it. The RTV is generally just there to hold the gasket in place.

[olblueeyesbonne]

If the rtv was not automotive grade, high temp, and contact with oil is not the clear rtv could be your problem.

Also, try retorqueing the oil pan bolts. if you didn't use high temp thread lock you may have to retorque the bolts once or twice (once every couple thousand miles) before it stops leaking.
Maybe even take them out one at a time and use some blue threadlock on the threading and put them back in. This should be a one time torque to seal permanently.

[radchad3]

Thanks guys for the thoughts! I will check again and look closely at the area in question. Thanks again!

[willwren]

Was the new gasket 1st or 2nd design?

[radchad3]

It was the second design.

[swiles]

did you use rtv gasket if so you have to change it again cause rtv eats rubber

[willwren]

swiles, can you speak a little more clearly? You're SUPPOSED to use RTV at the ends where the front and rear seal are on the oil pan gaskets. And RTV doesn't eat rubber. It can't. It's benign after curing.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

It's 4 dabs of oil-safe RTV in the corners, according to the directions.

The second design gasket is NOT supposed to have RTV smeared all over it like previous gaskets said to do. It's to be installed dry with only the 4 dabs of RTV in the corners.

[willwren]

Because the second design added height to the silicone insert to account for oil pan lip flatness.