02 5.7 oil leak

[02Ws6Carter]

I have an oil leak from the rear of engine. Already replaced the cam sensor, oil pressure sender, valley cover gasket and valve cover gaskets. Car has 39k original miles. Just trying to decide what I should do?
Remove the whole engine to replace the pan gasket and rear main? Drop the k member enough to do just the pan, as engine mount bolts will be out also to lift the engine some- then I can't do the rear main with it just hanging. Pull trans back and replace the rear main, THEN tackle the oil pan? This should be fun! Cranks sensor doesn't appear to be leaking and the starter is dry🤷

[Whamhammer]

I have an oil leak from the rear of engine. Already replaced the cam sensor, oil pressure sender, valley cover gasket and valve cover gaskets. Car has 39k original miles. Just trying to decide what I should do?
Remove the whole engine to replace the pan gasket and rear main? Drop the k member enough to do just the pan, as engine mount bolts will be out also to lift the engine some- then I can't do the rear main with it just hanging. Pull trans back and replace the rear main, THEN tackle the oil pan? This should be fun! Cranks sensor doesn't appear to be leaking and the starter is dry🤷

First thing that I would do is to find a way to clean the rear of the engine and then use some leak detector dye to diagnose the source of the leak. If the pan is leaking, you know what procedure to undertake, and if it's the rear main, you know what to do. Have you also checked the PCV hose assembly? I doubt it would be venting that much oil but I don't know how much oil you are seeing.


Here is the big question.... how much oil are you leaking, and how is the engines oil pressure?

If you are only leaking a little bit of oil, and it's not impacting oil pressure, and there are no secondary tell-tales, then its up to you to decide how critical it is to do the work.

[02Ws6Carter]

First thing that I would do is to find a way to clean the rear of the engine and then use some leak detector dye to diagnose the source of the leak. If the pan is leaking, you know what procedure to undertake, and if it's the rear main, you know what to do. Have you also checked the PCV hose assembly? I doubt it would be venting that much oil but I don't know how much oil you are seeing.


Here is the big question.... how much oil are you leaking, and how is the engines oil pressure?

If you are only leaking a little bit of oil, and it's not impacting oil pressure, and there are no secondary tell-tales, then its up to you to decide how critical it is to do the work.

Thanks, yea obviously you get what I meant. I'm just trying to pinpoint the exact leak to save ALOT of work, apparently the oil pan gasket is a pita on these cars. I have just resealed all of the top, valve covers, valley cover, cam sensor, and ops. The pcv is the original I'm assuming, the car has sat ALOT to only have 39k miles. The oil pressure is great, it's about 3/4 up on the gauge, what is that pressure I have no idea. I may just pull the whole engine, van swap it while I'm there! I'm on the fence about it as I don't want to hurt the value any. Personally I think cam, headers and exhaust will add to the value, as long as I keep all of the original stuff.

[Whamhammer]

Thanks, yea obviously you get what I meant. I'm just trying to pinpoint the exact leak to save ALOT of work, apparently the oil pan gasket is a pita on these cars. I have just resealed all of the top, valve covers, valley cover, cam sensor, and ops. The pcv is the original I'm assuming, the car has sat ALOT to only have 39k miles. The oil pressure is great, it's about 3/4 up on the gauge, what is that pressure I have no idea. I may just pull the whole engine, van swap it while I'm there! I'm on the fence about it as I don't want to hurt the value any. Personally I think cam, headers and exhaust will add to the value, as long as I keep all of the original stuff.

I hear you, if you are planning on dropping the K member, maybe just going a step further and disconnecting the engine from the transmission while you are at it isn't such a bad idea and do both. If its a manual, you can always replace the transmission slave cylinder while you are at it.