Major oil leakage?

[TheCuban]

I noticed earlier today my low oil pressure light when off, which is strange, since I changed my oil two weeks ago myself. I then look under my car and there's a puddle of oil! My dumbass self thought maybe I didn't tighten the filter all the way, so I tightened it real tight and poured in almost four quarts of oil. Low and behold, after two hours, I go back outside to check if that fixed the leak and there's now an even larger puddle! I took pictures, what do you guys think it is?

*Removed pics since they don't help*

If these images don't help, let me know, and I'll take more!

[LimaCharlie]

Yeah........those images don't help.
Based on your description, I'm guessing it's coming from the oil filter. You scared me when you said you tightened the filter "real tight". A properly installed oil filter is snug and not torqued down. Any muscle used to tighten it is too much muscle.
My guess is you damaged the filter when installing. Where is most of the oil at? Near the oil filter?

[TheCuban]

No, most of the oil is on that metal thing right in front of the oil pan, which is what those images are. It has holes in the structure, I dunno what it is, but it's right in front of the oil pan (it's more towards the front of the car than the oil pan).

I honestly can't tell since I've replaced the oil filter (and that's when I tightened it with a oil filter remover). I now have two major oil spills on my driveway. What do you mean by, torque and snug?

Thanks for the help, it's real late where I am at and I've got work at 10AM so I am trying to solve this before I go to sleep, hopefully.

EDIT: I reached under the oil filter and I got fingers full of oil so obviously it's an oil filter leak. Two questions. How do I know when it's tight enough? Second, is it safe to drive my car to walmart to get another filter? It's less than a ten minute drive. My car's oil gauge reads zero, but the dipstick shows oil barely under the first notch.

I know I sound like an idiot but this is my first car and I live by myself, so I am learning lol. My dad tries to help me as much as he can over phone, but there's only so much he can do.

[LimaCharlie]

I edited my original post. I meant to say snug and NOT torqued down. It is not necessary to tighten down the oil filter hard with an oil filter wrench or alot of muscle. Simply snug it with a little hand muscle. If the filter leaks with just a snug, you have other issues going on. The item you are talking about is the subframe crossmember. It essentially provides bracing for the engine mounts and protects your oil pan from damage if you run over something.
My suggestion is don't start your car until you have it towed to your dealer. You have a significant oil leak going on that needs to be looked at ASAP.

EDIT: just saw your new edit. Sounds like you damaged your oil filter, like I originally said. Do not start your car until this is fixed. No offense but I would have someone else install the filter for you. Make sure you watch what's going on so you do it correctly next time.

[TheCuban]

Originally Posted by LimaCharlie

I edited my original post. I meant to say snug and NOT torqued down. It is not necessary to tighten down the oil filter hard with an oil filter wrench or alot of muscle. Simply snug it with a little hand muscle. If the filter leaks with just a snug, you have other issues going on. The item you are talking about is the subframe crossmember. It essentially provides bracing for the engine mounts and protects your oil pan from damage if you run over something.
My suggestion is don't start your car until you have it towed to your dealer. You have a significant oil leak going on that needs to be looked at ASAP.

In your opinion, what would be the range of cost associated with a fix like that? I can live with a small oil leak, if it comes to that. As a student, money is always an issue. :( Do you have any idea, or are oil leaks so varied that putting an estimate on it wouldn't be ideal?

Saw your edit, I take no offense you're probably right lol. I just looked at online videos on how to replace oil and stuff and learned from that. I hope the problem is my ignorance as opposed to an actual problem with the vehicle lol. You've been very helpful, thank you very much!

[ffrcobra_65]

replace the oil filter. Perhaps there is a kink on the rubber seal/ring on the filter. Be sure to lightly coat the seal first before you install it and do not over-torque it. Seal, any seal with not do its job properly and will leak when over-torqued. You don't have to do a complete oil change, just unscrew the leaky filter, coat the seal on the new one and make sure it is seated properly in the groove, wipe down the part on the engine where the filter makes contact to make sure nothing will get between the seal and engine block, install and hand tight snug and turn another 1/4 turn.

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by LimaCharlie

I edited my original post. I meant to say snug and NOT torqued down. It is not necessary to tighten down the oil filter hard with an oil filter wrench or alot of muscle. Simply snug it with a little hand muscle. If the filter leaks with just a snug, you have other issues going on. The item you are talking about is the subframe crossmember. It essentially provides bracing for the engine mounts and protects your oil pan from damage if you run over something.
My suggestion is don't start your car until you have it towed to your dealer. You have a significant oil leak going on that needs to be looked at ASAP.

EDIT: just saw your new edit. Sounds like you damaged your oil filter, like I originally said. Do not start your car until this is fixed. No offense but I would have someone else install the filter for you. Make sure you watch what's going on so you do it correctly next time.

Disregard, did not see this was an older Camaro.

[Parag]

bad valve cover seal? the oil you were pouring in just ran back out, other wise while engine not running almost all oil is in pan and cannot leak out.

[TheCuban]

Thanks for the reply guys, I know the filter is installed correctly, I did, however, notice that the oil pressure switch is leaking. :( So, time to tighten that and see if that fixes it!

[sacohan]

make sure the old gasket did not stick, you may have double gaskets which will definatly cause a leak

[TheCuban]

Originally Posted by sacohan

make sure the old gasket did not stick, you may have double gaskets which will definatly cause a leak

I triple checked lol, made sure it wasn't in there. I actually never had the gasket stick, even when I took of the old one when I purchased the car (it was so hard, I had to stab it with a screwdriver, and it finally came off, but bent the screwdriver).