Magnacharger fluid leak...help - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ss/rs-matt · 01-27-2013, 04:00 PM

So I was underneath my car today and I noticed what looks like oil dripping off the starter bolts. I searched for the leak and it seems to be coming from the supercharger. Which seems crazy because I didn't think the Maggie used oil. Maybe I'm wrong? Anyone have any idea what this is?
Thanks
Matt

lexlueger · 01-27-2013, 04:17 PM

Looks like it might be coolant

az'rail · 01-27-2013, 04:24 PM

The Maggie uses SC oil to lube the gears and rotor bearings. Do you by any chance have a catch can? If you don't that could explain the oil. The top part of the SC is the head unit and its bolted on top. The mating surfaces between the head unit and the baseplate is pretty precise. But given some time, oil from either the SC or from oil ingested into the inlet will seep out of that seem. The only sure way to check it isn't the SC oil is to remove the SC and check the oil levels via the fill port on the back of the head unit.

Edit:
From seeing your pics, there isn't enough oil seeping from your SC to cause oil to start dripping from your starter bolts. I would bet its either a rear seal or a faulty valley cover. Maggie's had a known problem with early batches of valley covers that caused seeping.

ss/rs-matt · 01-27-2013, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az'rail

The Maggie uses SC oil to lube the gears and rotor bearings. Do you by any chance have a catch can? If you don't that could explain the oil. The top part of the SC is the head unit and its bolted on top. The mating surfaces between the head unit and the baseplate is pretty precise. But given some time, oil from either the SC or from oil ingested into the inlet will seep out of that seem. The only sure way to check it isn't the SC oil is to remove the SC and check the oil levels via the fill port on the back of the head unit.

I didn't have a catch can at first but have since added one. I did have a pretty bad oil injestion problem due to after market valve covers with poor baffles. That issue has been resolved. Could this just be residual oil being pushed out under boost?

az'rail · 01-27-2013, 04:46 PM

Could be. But to make sure get your car on a lift and check the back of the engine. Get a nice bright flash light and inspection mirror. Look near the top of the engine right by the oil pressure sensor. That general area is where the faulty valley covers will leak from. You can actually do it on the ground too but on the lift you can clean up the mess.

2010SSRSM6 · 01-27-2013, 07:02 PM

Keep me posted what you find Matt. I was thinking valley cover issue. You may want to check the sending unit that plugs into the back of the SC on the drivers side and make sure it isn't leaking too.

MA2010SS · 01-27-2013, 07:56 PM

I'm not familiar with the maggies, but I would brake clean every area top to bottom and wipe everything down. Check the SC oil level if you can on the maggie. Also what color is the oil that is leaking? Clear or motor oil? I know that the whipple uses a clear supercharger oil. After everything is dry run the car and check those areas again and see where the oil was weeping from. Let us know what you find

ss/rs-matt · 01-28-2013, 12:54 AM

I cleaned up the fluid and I will monitor. I reached around behind the supercharger and could feel any leak by the valley cover. I may remove Maggie just to be sure.

az'rail · 01-28-2013, 01:35 AM

I also had oil seeping from my engine after the SC install. I had the car up on a lift to do an oil change when i noticed the oil. I only realized it was a faulty valley cover after I took off the SC and found where the oil was coming from. You can call up Magnuson and explain the problem to them. I believe they will send you a good valley cover. I on the other hand used RTV since I couldn't wait for the valley cover. If you do remove the SC in order to check the oil levels you will find out the way I did, there isn't really a way to check the oil levels. There is no sight gauge and no dip stick. Magnuson requires an oil change in the ball park of 100k miles so they didn't implement an easy way to check oil levels. What I ended up doing was completely draining the oil and refilling it. IIRC it takes 7oz. of GM Supercharger oil as per Magnuson instructions. The oil I did drain out of the SC was pretty dark, the new stuff is clear as water. GM sells the SC oil in 4oz bottles, I paid 15 bucks a bottle.

AngelSpeedFreak · 01-28-2013, 10:30 AM

As already mentioned too think it is probably leaking from the valley cover. My tuner noticed the same thing on my car. Said it was a blessing as it is much easier to fix this than the main rear seal. Mine was caused from not having a catch can.

I am hoping my catch can will be in this week so I can fix the leak and move forward.

ss/rs-matt · 01-28-2013, 12:59 PM

Ok I spoke with magnason today and they were very helpful. They are sending me a new valley cover. Apparently I have one of the earlier billet ones which are known for leaking. The new valley cover is cast. Also, the fluid on top if the supercharger is just left over assembly lube that melts when it gets hot. Magnason informed me that this is normal on new superchargers and will go away.
Good job magnason...excellent customer service!

EliteCZM523 · 01-28-2013, 01:32 PM

Sounds like the same problem the earlier Edelbrock units had - Valley Cover was porous and leaked oil. Sounds like you got it resolved though!

2010SSRSM6 · 01-29-2013, 01:23 PM

Glad it's all working out Matt.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ss/rs-matt · 01-29-2013, 07:04 PM

Got the new "cast" valley cover today. Thanks Magnuson for the fast shipping!

01-27-2013, 04:00 PM	#1
ss/rs-matt Drives: 2015 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,731	Magnacharger fluid leak...help So I was underneath my car today and I noticed what looks like oil dripping off the starter bolts. I searched for the leak and it seems to be coming from the supercharger. Which seems crazy because I didn't think the Maggie used oil. Maybe I'm wrong? Anyone have any idea what this is? Thanks Matt __________________ "Want to know whats cooler than your murdered out Honda Civic? ...Any Audi." Daniel Tosh

01-27-2013, 04:17 PM	#2
lexlueger Drives: V10 BMW M5, Supercharged 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Charlotte NC /Brooklyn NY Posts: 2,305	Looks like it might be coolant __________________ MAST 416 STROKER: STAGE 3 TVS 2300 CUSTOM CAM TPIS 102 TB IW 8 RIB PULLEY W/ OD COG REARS NX EXPRESS/NANO KIT KDI HEAT EXCHANGER/ROTOFAB RESERVOIR CIRCLE D 2800 TC/FLEX PLATE/ADM TRANS COOLER DSS DRIVESHAFT/1400 HP AXLES EATON TRUETRAC -LPE 3.27 GEARS DYNATECH HEADERS/MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST SQUASH RETURN STYLE FS ID 850's E85/ FLEXFUEL BMR/EIBACH SUSPENSION KILL MODE, ON.

01-27-2013, 04:24 PM	#3
az'rail Drives: the wife crazy Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: OFO Posts: 35	The Maggie uses SC oil to lube the gears and rotor bearings. Do you by any chance have a catch can? If you don't that could explain the oil. The top part of the SC is the head unit and its bolted on top. The mating surfaces between the head unit and the baseplate is pretty precise. But given some time, oil from either the SC or from oil ingested into the inlet will seep out of that seem. The only sure way to check it isn't the SC oil is to remove the SC and check the oil levels via the fill port on the back of the head unit. Edit: From seeing your pics, there isn't enough oil seeping from your SC to cause oil to start dripping from your starter bolts. I would bet its either a rear seal or a faulty valley cover. Maggie's had a known problem with early batches of valley covers that caused seeping. Last edited by az'rail; 01-27-2013 at 04:35 PM.

01-27-2013, 07:02 PM	#6
2010SSRSM6 Drives: My wife crazy with my C5 usage. Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 6,553 View My Garage	Keep me posted what you find Matt. I was thinking valley cover issue. You may want to check the sending unit that plugs into the back of the SC on the drivers side and make sure it isn't leaking too. __________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION......again......

01-27-2013, 07:56 PM	#7
MA2010SS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Somerset MA Posts: 725 View My Garage	I'm not familiar with the maggies, but I would brake clean every area top to bottom and wipe everything down. Check the SC oil level if you can on the maggie. Also what color is the oil that is leaking? Clear or motor oil? I know that the whipple uses a clear supercharger oil. After everything is dry run the car and check those areas again and see where the oil was weeping from. Let us know what you find __________________ 2010 Camaro SS Whipple SC, CAI Inc Intake, TSP 1 7/8" LT headers no cats, 3" magnaflow exhaust, HPT, RX Catch Can, LSR Toe Rods, LSR Trailing Arms, ALKY Control Meth, McLeod RXT Twin Disc, ZL1 fuel pump, 3.73 ZL1 Differential Kit, BTR PDS Stage 2 Cam, Tuned by SLOWHAWK Performance Bridgewater MA

01-27-2013, 04:46 PM	#5
az'rail Drives: the wife crazy Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: OFO Posts: 35	Could be. But to make sure get your car on a lift and check the back of the engine. Get a nice bright flash light and inspection mirror. Look near the top of the engine right by the oil pressure sensor. That general area is where the faulty valley covers will leak from. You can actually do it on the ground too but on the lift you can clean up the mess.

01-28-2013, 12:54 AM	#8
ss/rs-matt Drives: 2015 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,731	I cleaned up the fluid and I will monitor. I reached around behind the supercharger and could feel any leak by the valley cover. I may remove Maggie just to be sure. __________________ "Want to know whats cooler than your murdered out Honda Civic? ...Any Audi." Daniel Tosh

01-28-2013, 01:35 AM	#9
az'rail Drives: the wife crazy Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: OFO Posts: 35	I also had oil seeping from my engine after the SC install. I had the car up on a lift to do an oil change when i noticed the oil. I only realized it was a faulty valley cover after I took off the SC and found where the oil was coming from. You can call up Magnuson and explain the problem to them. I believe they will send you a good valley cover. I on the other hand used RTV since I couldn't wait for the valley cover. If you do remove the SC in order to check the oil levels you will find out the way I did, there isn't really a way to check the oil levels. There is no sight gauge and no dip stick. Magnuson requires an oil change in the ball park of 100k miles so they didn't implement an easy way to check oil levels. What I ended up doing was completely draining the oil and refilling it. IIRC it takes 7oz. of GM Supercharger oil as per Magnuson instructions. The oil I did drain out of the SC was pretty dark, the new stuff is clear as water. GM sells the SC oil in 4oz bottles, I paid 15 bucks a bottle.

01-28-2013, 10:30 AM	#10
AngelSpeedFreak Most hated in NM.... Drives: Sold the 6POINT2, went to a 50THZ06 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,904	As already mentioned too think it is probably leaking from the valley cover. My tuner noticed the same thing on my car. Said it was a blessing as it is much easier to fix this than the main rear seal. Mine was caused from not having a catch can. I am hoping my catch can will be in this week so I can fix the leak and move forward. __________________

01-28-2013, 12:59 PM	#11
ss/rs-matt Drives: 2015 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,731	Ok I spoke with magnason today and they were very helpful. They are sending me a new valley cover. Apparently I have one of the earlier billet ones which are known for leaking. The new valley cover is cast. Also, the fluid on top if the supercharger is just left over assembly lube that melts when it gets hot. Magnason informed me that this is normal on new superchargers and will go away. Good job magnason...excellent customer service! __________________ "Want to know whats cooler than your murdered out Honda Civic? ...Any Audi." Daniel Tosh

01-28-2013, 01:32 PM	#12
EliteCZM523 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 99	Sounds like the same problem the earlier Edelbrock units had - Valley Cover was porous and leaked oil. Sounds like you got it resolved though! __________________ ARH 1 7/8 w/ cats, Borla ATAK Axle Back, VaraRam, ECS Cam, JDP Halo Kit, Technostalgia Tail Lights, AAC Ghosted SMD Side Markers, Reverse Lights, P13W Plasma DRL's, DRL Harness, Kenwood 9990HD, Scosche Kit, and tons more

01-29-2013, 01:23 PM	#13
2010SSRSM6 Drives: My wife crazy with my C5 usage. Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 6,553 View My Garage	Glad it's all working out Matt. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ UNDER CONSTRUCTION......again......

01-29-2013, 07:04 PM	#14
ss/rs-matt Drives: 2015 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: California Posts: 1,731	Got the new "cast" valley cover today. Thanks Magnuson for the fast shipping! __________________ "Want to know whats cooler than your murdered out Honda Civic? ...Any Audi." Daniel Tosh