Oil leak 95 Cutlass Supreme 3100

[david3100]

I bought this car for my son about 5 months ago. It needed LIM gaskets. After this and some minor things like getting the AC working, refurbing the turn signal sw and the neutral switch it's been doing fine getting over 28 mpg on a recent trip. I noticed the car has developed a tappet making some noise. The internals were worn pretty good while the previous owner churned chocolate milkshake through the bearings. So, 2000 miles after the LIM work, I decided to change the oil and filter today. I added a quart of Lucas Heavy-Duty oil stabilizer and 4 quarts of Valvoline MaxLife today. I drove it around the neighborhood since I also added a trans cooler and wanted to make sure all was ok. When I pulled back into my garage after less than 5 miles, I see I have a considrable oil leak. The oil has been leaking, but not this badly. I lost about half a quart. I tightened the pan bolts I could reach easily, but, they were reasonably tight. The trans pan bolts were looser. Oil is on the starter big time. Any ideas? I'm hoping it's the sensor. Never dropped a cradle and don't want to. What's invloved tightening the oil pan bolts on the radiator side?
Thanks for your time.
David

[3100 MPFI]

sounds like the oil pump drive, which is a common leak. It is located on the block. If you look from the top of the engine, look down under the THROTTLE BODY and the EXHAUST CROSSOVER.

It is not too bad to fix. You can get 2 new gaskets for it that will fix it pretty good. Takes about 1.5 hours to do.

[3100 MPFI]

i found a pic of the OIL PUMP DRIVE It is the round thing I circled.

Check to see if you have oil coming from there.

[david3100]

I replaced that when I did the LIM gaskets.
Thanks anyway.
It seems to be in the starter area.

[3100 MPFI]

easiest way to find the exact point where the leak is, is to get some BABY POWERDER, and sprinkle it onto the engine in the places you think it is leaking. Run the car, and then see where the oil leaks out from.

If the new seal you put on your oil pump drive was BLACK, then it might have failed again already. The black ones do not last long. The Brown ones last a LOT longer, and there is a SECOND gasket you can get to put on it that double seals it.

The baby power thing, I did that to my 1990 Grand Prix STE to find the oil leak that was coming out of the front valve cover.

[david3100]

I suspected my valve cover because I had it off today and the felpro gasket was difficult to seat back. After cleaning everything with brake cleaner it all stayed in place. That's the first place I looked. It seems dry there. I've not heard of the baby powder idea. Might try that but I'm not sure it would be conclusive without taking the starter off and powdering there. The valve cover gasket would really make sense since I diddled with it today. I had better double-check that.

[david3100]

I forgot to tell you- the oring for the pump drive was brown.

[3100 MPFI]

I like doing the baby powerder that way you can be sure that the leak is not coming from higher up and just following one of the grooves, or seams further down. I just consider it one of those BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY ways of checking. I would have never found the oil leak on my STE if I had not done that.

If the valve cover gaskets don't want to go back in, and they seem like they are STRETCHED, try putting the gaskets in the FREEZER for an hour. The cold will cause the silicone (or whatever other material they are made out of) to shink some, and they are usually easier to get in.

Also, near the top corner parts of the valve covers, there is a small triangle tab that might be sticking out too far. If that sticks out too far, oil can leak from behind them.

[3100 MPFI]

brown O-ring is good. The only other thing you could have done would have been the distributor gasket from a Camaro, but with the brown gasket, you should hopefully never have to do it again.

The distributor gasket thing is just one of those added precaution things that is not really necessary, but nice to do. If you ever have a reason to get into that area, and you want to add it, it can't hurt, but since you have the brown gasket in there already, then I would not recommend it for just something extra to do.

[david3100]

I smeared some wheel bearing grease to the underside in case there were any imperfections. I was surprised there was no gasket in the kit.

[david3100]

Oil Leak fixed - twas the Oil Pressure sender

I would have never guessed the sender would have gushed oil like it did. I'm wondering if the Lucas being pumped through for the first time caused it do pop. Anyway, thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

[3100 MPFI]

glad you got it fixed.