Oil Leak - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ITGuy11 · 06-14-2011, 10:19 AM

When I got my car out of winter storage (6 months) there was a puddle of oil on the garage floor about 6 inches in diameter. There was also oil residue on the oil pan and on the bellhousing. Since then, I changed the oil and filter and cleaned up the oil residue. I looked under the car again today and sure enough there are signs of oil.
I can't tell if it is comming from the pan gasket, oil cooler, or rear main.

The car only has 2600 miles on it and sits in the garage most of the time. If it is just the oil cooler gasket I would just assume fix it myself, however if it is the pan gasket or rear main, looks like I have to bring it to the dealer.

Here are some pics:
There is oil around the cooler, a drop on the bellhousing, and film on the oil pan itself.

nancygrl · 06-14-2011, 11:17 AM

Looks like mine except for that last picture. My passenger side at the back of the oil pan is dry, only wet at the left rear in/around the filter area. Appears to be coming from above the oil cooler, my guess is oil pan gasket, but won't know until the dealer tears into it. I've got an appointment to bring it in tomorrow morning. They're also changing out the AC belt for intermittent squeak.

retrorsss · 06-14-2011, 04:15 PM

Mine looks exactly the same, will be taking it in for a check please post what they find with yours when it is done.

ffrcobra_65 · 06-14-2011, 06:32 PM

the oil cooler gaskets definitely need to be replaced. the oil pan gasket may be leaking as well. I hope you rear main seal is ok and you don't have the engine rear cover porosity issue. These 4 issues are known issues.

2010victoryredss_ron · 06-14-2011, 08:55 PM

can you smell oil burning when sitting for a bit....i changed my oil and since then i can smell a bit burning. i did notice a little oil on the bell housing when doing it.. i just havent had it back on the hoist to look yet,,,but maybe mine looks like yours too...

ITGuy11 · 06-15-2011, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2010victoryredss_ron

can you smell oil burning when sitting for a bit....i changed my oil and since then i can smell a bit burning. i did notice a little oil on the bell housing when doing it.. i just havent had it back on the hoist to look yet,,,but maybe mine looks like yours too...

No burning oil smell just, oil on the garage floor..

A.J. · 06-15-2011, 01:33 PM

Had the same problem the first fall (2009). Dealer replaced the oil cooler but that didn't fix it so they replace the entire oil pan in the spring. Been dry every since.

nancygrl · 06-15-2011, 02:09 PM

Well picking up my SS after work today. Said they replaced the oil cooler gasket. Fingers and toes crossed that's all it was. I'll give it a couple of days and check it again.

ITGuy11 · 06-16-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancygrl

Well picking up my SS after work today. Said they replaced the oil cooler gasket. Fingers and toes crossed that's all it was. I'll give it a couple of days and check it again.

Do you have the part number for the oil cooler gasket that the dealer replaced?
I cancelled my appointment with my dealer. I am going to replace the oil cooler gasket myself and see if that fixes the leak. If not, I will bring it in. I hate the thought of anybody but myself wrenching on my car...

autopat · 06-16-2011, 11:13 PM

I had the same puddle under mine, but it ended up being the oil filter being a little loose. Some dumba$$ didn't tighten it down enough when I...er, he changed the oil

nancygrl · 06-17-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autopat

I had the same puddle under mine, but it ended up being the oil filter being a little loose. Some dumba$$ didn't tighten it down enough when I...er, he changed the oil

They tried to use that excuse on me last week when I first brought it in. I knew it wasn't going to be the fix as oil doesn't leak upward.

nancygrl · 06-17-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITGuy11

Do you have the part number for the oil cooler gasket that the dealer replaced?
I cancelled my appointment with my dealer. I am going to replace the oil cooler gasket myself and see if that fixes the leak. If not, I will bring it in. I hate the thought of anybody but myself wrenching on my car...

Here's the part number for the oil cooler gasket I got from a previous oil leak thread, 15203889. It lists for 6.90

IMHO, judging from your pictures, with your passenger side being wet as well, yours may be a bit more involved. ie. oil pan and or the rear cover/rear main seal (tsb 05-06-01-034L for the rear cover/seal block porosity issue). Those are not easy and may want to still bring yours into the dealer.

Bluffen · 06-18-2011, 11:17 AM

I had this same problem the dealer fixed it right away. The oil pan gasket was leaking GM is known for using shitty gaskets at the factory and since the SS uses synthetic oil it finds any tiny little hole and leaks out because its so thin.

Dealer put on a new gasket and cleaned up the mess on the undercarriage for me(which was not that bad)

nancygrl · 06-21-2011, 07:56 AM

Well, it's back to the dealer for me tomorrow. Guess I had more than just the oil cooler gasket leaking. This f*@king sucks

06-14-2011, 10:19 AM	#1
ITGuy11 Burning up tires Drives: 2023 ZL1 Vert Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Macomb Twp, MI Posts: 717	Oil Leak When I got my car out of winter storage (6 months) there was a puddle of oil on the garage floor about 6 inches in diameter. There was also oil residue on the oil pan and on the bellhousing. Since then, I changed the oil and filter and cleaned up the oil residue. I looked under the car again today and sure enough there are signs of oil. I can't tell if it is comming from the pan gasket, oil cooler, or rear main. The car only has 2600 miles on it and sits in the garage most of the time. If it is just the oil cooler gasket I would just assume fix it myself, however if it is the pan gasket or rear main, looks like I have to bring it to the dealer. Here are some pics: There is oil around the cooler, a drop on the bellhousing, and film on the oil pan itself. Attached Images Last edited by ITGuy11; 07-12-2011 at 10:51 AM.

06-14-2011, 04:15 PM	#3
retrorsss 2010 RS 2SS Drives: 2010 RS 2SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 54 View My Garage	Mine looks exactly the same, will be taking it in for a check please post what they find with yours when it is done. __________________ K&N, MBRP exh. , Hurst, PEDDERIZED with drops/bushings, Chrome bumpers, retro hood vents, ACC marker tinted marker lights, and soon to have chrome rocker trim. Working on 20" custom rally rims next, then onto the supercharger.

06-14-2011, 08:55 PM	#5
2010victoryredss_ron Born: August 27, 2009 Drives: 10CAMARO SS,12CRUZE RS,07 YAM R6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Posts: 866 View My Garage	can you smell oil burning when sitting for a bit....i changed my oil and since then i can smell a bit burning. i did notice a little oil on the bell housing when doing it.. i just havent had it back on the hoist to look yet,,,but maybe mine looks like yours too... __________________ Victory Red 2SS/RS Vin# A9130145

06-15-2011, 01:33 PM	#7
A.J. Drives: 2014 Impala Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 166	Had the same problem the first fall (2009). Dealer replaced the oil cooler but that didn't fix it so they replace the entire oil pan in the spring. Been dry every since. __________________ Ordered on 10-14-08 - Silver Ice Metallic/Black Leather 2SS/RS, 6 Spd, Sunroof, Polished Wheels. Build date: 04-17-09, VIN 3978, Delivered 04/29/09! Sold on 04-16-2012 :( ZL1 Ordered on 10-29-11 - Silver Ice Metallic, 6 Spd, Sunroof, Polished Wheels, Exposed Carbon Fiber Insert. Build date: 05/17/12, VIN 1415. Delivered 05/30/12!!!! Sold 05/28/12

06-16-2011, 11:13 PM	#10
autopat Drives: 2010 IOM 2SS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Casa Grande, AZ. Posts: 112	I had the same puddle under mine, but it ended up being the oil filter being a little loose. Some dumba$$ didn't tighten it down enough when I...er, he changed the oil __________________ So many projects... so little time. 2010 2SS, IOM, IOI, CGM stripes, L99 1999 Astro van, LS 1995 Saturn SC2 1994 Saturn SC1 1992 Saturn SL2 1991 Daihatsu HiJet 1981 C10 Beater, with a heater, er..A/C 1973 Nova SS, 385 stroker, TH400, FOR SALE! (soon) 1966 Suburban, LS bound! Still in a million pieces 1965 C-10, Short, Wide, Big window, all roller 355

06-14-2011, 11:17 AM	#2
nancygrl 雪の玉 Drives: '22 Z71 RST Silverado Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Posts: 3,415	Looks like mine except for that last picture. My passenger side at the back of the oil pan is dry, only wet at the left rear in/around the filter area. Appears to be coming from above the oil cooler, my guess is oil pan gasket, but won't know until the dealer tears into it. I've got an appointment to bring it in tomorrow morning. They're also changing out the AC belt for intermittent squeak.

06-14-2011, 06:32 PM	#4
ffrcobra_65 Account Suspended Drives: SuperCharged 2SS/RS IOM MN6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA Posts: 5,094	the oil cooler gaskets definitely need to be replaced. the oil pan gasket may be leaking as well. I hope you rear main seal is ok and you don't have the engine rear cover porosity issue. These 4 issues are known issues.

06-15-2011, 02:09 PM	#8
nancygrl 雪の玉 Drives: '22 Z71 RST Silverado Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Posts: 3,415	Well picking up my SS after work today. Said they replaced the oil cooler gasket. Fingers and toes crossed that's all it was. I'll give it a couple of days and check it again.

06-18-2011, 11:17 AM	#13
Bluffen Drives: 2013 Sea Ray 220 Sundeck Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fontana Posts: 1,138	I had this same problem the dealer fixed it right away. The oil pan gasket was leaking GM is known for using shitty gaskets at the factory and since the SS uses synthetic oil it finds any tiny little hole and leaks out because its so thin. Dealer put on a new gasket and cleaned up the mess on the undercarriage for me(which was not that bad) __________________ *It's not who you are underneath but what you DO that defines you*

06-21-2011, 07:56 AM	#14
nancygrl 雪の玉 Drives: '22 Z71 RST Silverado Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Posts: 3,415	Well, it's back to the dealer for me tomorrow. Guess I had more than just the oil cooler gasket leaking. This f*@king sucks

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