Check your oil pan bolts!!

[All Blue ACR]

Went for a "spirited" drive last weekend and noticed on my return that the back of my car was misted with oil. By morning, there were drops all over the floor from numerous spots under the car.
This is what I found:

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Thinking, oh boy rear main seal, tranny's coming out another winter project, where's the ***. But oil doesn't mist forward at 100 mph

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So I surf the VCA and find this:
http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/610424-nagging-oil-leak.html

Again, Chuck solves the issue. Seven bolts with oil walking down the threads out of the blue... I cleaned everything, re-torqued the bolts and drove it again prior to doing the fix just to sure and couldn't believe how much it leaked so I suggest checking them. I went from dry to soaked underneath in 1 afternoon.
Did the "fix" yesterday and drove it today. Perfecto!
Gotta love this site

 

[darkostoj]

awesome! I got my car on the jackstands now and even though i dont have any leaks i'm still gonna check it out!

 

[dave6666]

I got my car on the jackstands...

But you have a lift. Why would you use jackstands?

 

[TAXIMAN1]

I would drop and re-gasket.

 

[Dom426h]

taxi, This is not a gasket issue. The leak is coming from the bolts.
Apparently some of them go through into the crankcase.

So, If your gonna pull the srews all the way out to seal them i guess you've got to drain the oil first. Remember to thoroughly clean the bolts so the RTV will stick to em

 

[TAXIMAN1]

taxi, This is not a gasket issue. The leak is coming from the bolts.
Apparently some of them go through into the crankcase.

So, If your gonna pull the srews all the way out to seal them i guess you've got to drain the oil first. Remember to thoroughly clean the bolts so the RTV will stick to em

I did read.... Once oil passes through (to the bolts) like that. The gasket AND RTV seal on BOLTS might be wasted.. Its probably been loose for years, not days. And all those hot/cold engine cycles,weather cycles,etc might have warped the gasket.

It's just a suggestion, and what I would do.. The O.P. can make the decision.

I always get nervous cranking down on engine bolts... If those threads strip, or you break a bolt. You now have a huge headache on your hands.. It seems like dropping it, with a fresh gasket, and re-torque to factory specs. Would be good insurance, and worth while.

 

[Tusc]

I did read.... Once oil passes through (to the bolts) like that. The gasket AND RTV seal on BOLTS might be wasted.. Its probably been loose for years, not days. And all those hot/cold engine cycles,weather cycles,etc might have warped the gasket.

It's just a suggestion, and what I would do.. The O.P. can make the decision.

I always get nervous cranking down on engine bolts... If those threads strip, or you break a bolt. You now have a huge headache on your hands.. It seems like dropping it, with a fresh gasket, and re-torque to factory specs. Would be good insurance, and worth while.

I'm glad if Chuck's RTV suggestion works. But as said above, I'd go and do the whole gasket at the same time. Call it OCD. Call it paranoia. Call it convenient since you're already down there anyway, but it makes sense to me.

 

[Viper Wizard]

The aluminum "back-bone" oil pan [sump for my UK friends] gasket is re-usable or you could buy a new one at MSRP $197.00!
RTV the bolts and go drive.

 

[bluesrt]

warp a gasket?

 

[RACR77]

Hey Jim,
Thanks for the heads up and thanks Chuck for the fix.

 

[darkostoj]

i'd use hylomar over rtv for sealing bolts. It is the best by far.

 

[DeLViper]

During my oil change this past weekend, I had one bolt that was leaking, notice it wasn't tight enough and just re-torqued it. So far no leak, but will keep an eye on the rest. If continues, then I'll add the RTV to the bolt.

 

[SkyBob]

warp a gasket?

That's confusing me too.

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

The gasket is alloy with a rubber insert ........

Spoke to Chuck last night about this and to get the Sump SORRY!! oil pan gasket...

 

[plumcrazy]

DLM had a hard time getting mine to stop leaking after a new gasket and rtv....took 2 or 3 tries. very weird.

 

[sirhc76]

Funny you list this post, Nagging Oil Leak!!

One of the people in that thread was the last owner of my car and it appears he sold the car because he was tired of the leak. I was able to correct it when I replaced the timing chain cover gasket that his shop didn't install correctly and was leaking coolant into the oil. Chucks method has held for almost 2 years now.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I check the bolts every time I change the oil. No problems.

 

[MTGTS]

Mine are leaking, i'll get under and fix it today maybe

 

[darkostoj]

i got under mine and saw even though i'm not leaking there is minor seepage. What should the bolts be torqued to? I'm gonna pull them all out one at a time, throw on some hylomar and torque em down.

 

[MTGTS]

90 INCH pounds

 

[Fatboy 18]

Took my pan off last week cleaned it out, found 4 loose screws on the oil pan baffle, cleaned threads and screws and used a small amount of loctite. I think this was the first time my oil pan had ever been off the car, the oil pan screw threads were bone dry, no sign of any oil leakage! The pan has been back on the car now almost a week and although I did not use any form of sealant on the screws all looks well.

I will keep an eye on it just in case any oil appears

Mark