Oil leak

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bc21
SSE Member
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Posts: 129
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:13 pm
Year and Trim: Black 2000 SSEI and Red 2000 SSEI
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Oil leak

Post by bc21 »

Hey guys i have a 2000 ssei with an oil leak. i am adding about a quart of oil every 2-3 weeks. I am hoping maybe someone has been through this. When I get underneath the car I can see it must be coming from somewhere behind or above the power steering pump. i have replaced the oil pressure bracket gasket thinking maybe that was it but that did not resolve the problem. Everywhere else is dry under the car it is just that back corner (passenger side) where the power steering pump is everything is soaked from the underside of the steering pump, oil pressure sensor, axle, and the oil filter. (it is not power steering fluid either because that is full and has not changed) I recently changed the 2 plastic coolant elbow and while i was in there i removed the power steering pump looking for the leak. I checked the rear valve cover and it looked fine.

I can't seem to pinpoint where this oil could be coming out of or where there is even a seal back there.
This is definitely a tricky one.

Any help from anyone would be appreciated.
redzmonte
Posts like an L67
Posts like an L67
Posts: 1358
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 4:21 am
Year and Trim: 2000 SSEI

Re: Oil leak

Post by redzmonte »

I would try degreasing the engine and giving it a good wash (while engine is cool or cool) and check again, if its splattered everywhere its hard to tell where its coming from. Next if you cant find it then try some UV DYE and getting a UV Light and some glasses to see where the dye is coming out of..

My guess is it could be front cover gasket or Front Seal. My old TGP had a bad front crank seal that splattered over the back of the engine and made a mess. need a pully remover and some beer to replace it. you can see the seal in this pic, in front of the oil adaptor and in front of where the PS pump would be... if you have a good light and a clear view try looking behind the crank pulley and see if its wet. I dont recall hearing the oil adaptor gasket (between adaptor and block) going bad on the 3800's but another place to check.
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Last edited by redzmonte on Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Shane "RedZMonte"
2004 Z16 Z06: Virgin
2000 SSEi: Kenwood DDX512, 3.25" MPS, ZZP DP, PLog, Puck Mount, NGK TR7's, DHP Tuned
1995 Monte Z34: T04e "60" turbo, 42.5# injectors, Borla Catback, OBDII swap, DHP Tuned, Much more...
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