Rear main leak worse after fixing? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SSbrian · 02-21-2016, 11:22 AM

2010 Camaro LS3 had all the common leaks, oil pan/oil cooler/rear main. Fixed it all and installed new clutch and did a cam so I'd only have to take everything apart once. Have the car sitting in the garage for 5 days and notice a wet spot the size of my hand. jack the front up, leak is oil running out of the little opening between bottom of engine and trans. I'd say the leak is probably 3x worse than before. New rear cover gasket and rear main. Ever happened to anybody else? I'm guessing the trans is going to have to come back out to reseal the rear main?

Dimitrim · 02-21-2016, 11:55 AM

Did you use factory OEM parts, i.e., gaskets and seals?

SSbrian · 02-21-2016, 12:21 PM

Yes the gaskets came from the dealer in genuine gm packing.

cajun1le · 02-21-2016, 12:24 PM

Are you sure if coming from the rear main? Did you change just the rear main seal or did you replace the rear oil housing gasket as well? Did you apply a light film of grease to the seal face? One more thing, you might want to inspect the o-ring on the rear oil gallery. It may be leaking as well.

SSbrian · 02-21-2016, 12:32 PM

Not sure yet where exactly the leak is, I haven't pulled the trans back out yet. But yes the rear main seal and rear cover seal was replaced. Lubed, installed, and torqued to spec.

cajun1le · 02-21-2016, 02:39 PM

Sometimes these seals can be touchy if they are misaligned, scarred or bent during installation. How did you install the seal? Did you use the blind crank bolt holes and a spacer plate to evenly press in the seal or did you use a big socket and rubber hammer?

SSbrian · 02-21-2016, 02:47 PM

installed the seal in the rear cover then put the cover on the block.

cajun1le · 02-22-2016, 05:14 PM

I don't know why i didn't think of this earlier, but did you check around the block valley cover and the oil pressure sender?

Russell James · 02-23-2016, 06:14 AM

Put flourecent dye in the oil, run for a minute, check with light. Try again. If still can't see, put the trans and check with the light. Don't want to run it too much or the dye will be everywhere.

If not using dye, leak checks are just a guess.

02-21-2016, 11:22 AM	#1
SSbrian Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Delmar, MD Posts: 65	Rear main leak worse after fixing? 2010 Camaro LS3 had all the common leaks, oil pan/oil cooler/rear main. Fixed it all and installed new clutch and did a cam so I'd only have to take everything apart once. Have the car sitting in the garage for 5 days and notice a wet spot the size of my hand. jack the front up, leak is oil running out of the little opening between bottom of engine and trans. I'd say the leak is probably 3x worse than before. New rear cover gasket and rear main. Ever happened to anybody else? I'm guessing the trans is going to have to come back out to reseal the rear main?

02-21-2016, 11:55 AM	#2
Dimitrim Dimitri Drives: 68 GTO 455 Ram Air; 2014 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Novato, California Posts: 602 View My Garage	Did you use factory OEM parts, i.e., gaskets and seals?

02-21-2016, 12:21 PM	#3
SSbrian Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Delmar, MD Posts: 65	Yes the gaskets came from the dealer in genuine gm packing.

02-21-2016, 12:24 PM	#4
cajun1le The Mechanic Drives: a sports car Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 316	Are you sure if coming from the rear main? Did you change just the rear main seal or did you replace the rear oil housing gasket as well? Did you apply a light film of grease to the seal face? One more thing, you might want to inspect the o-ring on the rear oil gallery. It may be leaking as well.

02-21-2016, 12:32 PM	#5
SSbrian Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Delmar, MD Posts: 65	Not sure yet where exactly the leak is, I haven't pulled the trans back out yet. But yes the rear main seal and rear cover seal was replaced. Lubed, installed, and torqued to spec.

02-21-2016, 02:39 PM	#6
cajun1le The Mechanic Drives: a sports car Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 316	Sometimes these seals can be touchy if they are misaligned, scarred or bent during installation. How did you install the seal? Did you use the blind crank bolt holes and a spacer plate to evenly press in the seal or did you use a big socket and rubber hammer?

02-21-2016, 02:47 PM	#7
SSbrian Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Delmar, MD Posts: 65	installed the seal in the rear cover then put the cover on the block.

02-22-2016, 05:14 PM	#8
cajun1le The Mechanic Drives: a sports car Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 316	I don't know why i didn't think of this earlier, but did you check around the block valley cover and the oil pressure sender?

02-23-2016, 06:14 AM	#9
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Put flourecent dye in the oil, run for a minute, check with light. Try again. If still can't see, put the trans and check with the light. Don't want to run it too much or the dye will be everywhere. If not using dye, leak checks are just a guess.