Leaking Oil Even After TSB Fix??

[BetterMost]

I had a fairly bad oil leak fixed under Warranty/TSB last year and I didn't notice any more oil on my floor BUT. Now I took my truck in for an oil change and the kid said its leaking again in the rear. Anyone else have this fix done and still leaking? Im getting really tired of this already the last time it took them almost 1 week to fix. This stupid truck only has 7,300 miles on it too! If you already had this work done I would suggest you re check it to see if its not leaking again before the Warranty expires.

[Pasta Mike]

is it eng oil? or coming out of the rear end cover?

[BetterMost]

Originally Posted by hdfatboy31996

is it eng oil? or coming out of the rear end cover?

Yea Motor Oil coming from the rear of the motor GM has a TSB on this for the 6.0L motors. Its hard to tell he said where its exactly coming from. I know the last time it was in for this leak the trans had to be pulled and everything. It looks like its still not fixed just leaking "less" now. This is just unacceptable to me.

[Marc NY]

Originally Posted by BetterMost

... I know the last time it was in for this leak the trans had to be pulled and everything. It looks like its still not fixed just leaking "less" now. This is just unacceptable to me.

I must agree with you that any oil leaks are absolutely not acceptable period in today's age of high tech sealants and gaskets! I wasn't aware that there was a TSB on 6.0 L engine oil leaks until now. I having worked in a Engine Plant for over 35 years I would have to say that today's engines have virtually no oil leaks.

I will have to ask someone who should be able to give me more info on that issue. I do hope that your Chevrolet Dealer will get it fixed right this next time.

[wingrider]

here is the bulletin for the rear oil seal plate leaking

Document ID# 1903316
2004 Chevrolet SSR


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Subject: 5.3L LC9, LS4, L33, LH6, LM4, 5.7L LS1, LS6, 6.0L LS2, L76, 6.2L L92, 7.0L LS7 - Engine Oil Leak at Rear Cover Assembly Area (Engine Block Porosity RTV Repair Procedure) #05-06-01-034E - (02/12/2007)



Models: 2004-2007 Buick Rainier

2005-2007 Cadillac CTS-V

2007 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT

2003-2007 Chevrolet Corvette, TrailBlazer

2004-2006 Chevrolet SSR

2005-2007 Chevrolet Silverado, Silverado SS

2006-2007 Chevrolet Impala SS, Monte Carlo SS, TrailBlazer SS

2007 Chevrolet Avalanche, Suburban, Tahoe

2003-2007 GMC Envoy, Sierra

2004-2005 GMC Envoy XUV

2007 GMC Yukon XL, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL Denali

2004-2006 Pontiac GTO

2005-2007 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP

2005-2007 Saab 9-7X

with 5.3L, 5.7L, 6.0L, 6.2L, 7.0L VORTEC™ GEN III or GEN IV V8 Engine (RPOs LC9, LS4, L33, LH6, LM4, LS1, LS6, LS2, L76, L92, LS7)




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This bulletin is being revised to update warranty information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 05-06-01-034D (Section 06 -- Engine/Propulsion System).


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Condition
Some customers may comment on an engine oil leak.

Cause
Upon initial diagnosis, it may be determined that the leak is coming from the rear cover gasket. This condition may be caused by engine block porosity on the sealing surface. This issue pertains to aluminum block applications only.

Correction
Follow the steps for Oil Leak Diagnosis in SI to determine the source of the leak. If the leak has been diagnosed as coming from the engine rear cover assembly, refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and remove the engine rear cover assembly. Inspect for engine block porosity where the engine rear cover mates to the engine block. If porosity is found anywhere on the sealing surface, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity. Refer to the illustration below.





Important: Clean any residual oil from the block and cover before applying the sealant in the next step.

Wipe a small amount of RTV, P/N 12378521 (in Canada, use P/N 88901148), onto the surface using a plastic scraper to fill the porosity.
Remove any excess RTV material, especially from inside the high pressure oil passage. Refer to #1 in the above illustration.
The joint may be closed immediately after applying the RTV. Total joint time after the RTV has been applied must be under 20 minutes.
Important: Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and follow the tightening specifications and sequence.

Reinstall the engine rear cover using a new gasket and a new crankshaft rear main seal. Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI.
Parts Information
Important: For Saab (U.S.) only, use P/N 12345795, Engine Oil Dye (U.S.), or equivalent.

Part Number
Description
Qty

12574293
Gasket - Crankshaft Rear Oil Seal Housing
1

89060436
Seal, Crankshaft Rear Main
1

12378521 (U.S.)

88901148 (Canada)
Sealant
1

12345795 (U.S.)
Dye, Engine Oil
1

10953470 (Canada)
Dye, Engine Oil
1


Warranty Information
Excluding Saab U.S. Models
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time

J7510*
Oil Leak -- Rear Cover Area -- Porosity Repair

CTS-V
5.5 hrs

Corvette

- M/T

- A/T


5.9 hrs

5.4 hrs

SSR
5.4 hrs

TrailBlazer/Envoy/Rainier/Saab 9-7X (Canada)

- 2WD

- 4WD


5.7 hrs

6.5 hrs

GTO

- M/T

- A/T


10.2 hrs

10.5 hrs

Grand Prix/Impala/Monte Carlo
5.7 hrs

Silverado//Sierra Models

- M/T

- A/T


4.5 hrs

5.5 hrs

Avalanche, Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon Models
4.5 hrs

Add
With skid plate
0.2 hr

With HP2**
0.5 hr

To clean parts over 48,000 km (30,000 mi)
0.1-0.3 hr

* This labor operation is for bulletin use only. It will not be published in the Labor Time Guide.

** HP2 Hybrid Propulsion Electric, AHS2


Saab U.S. Models
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Failed Object
Fault/Reason Code
Location Code
Warranty Type
Repair/Action Code
Labor Time

2161901
Replace part, Seal, End Plate V8 T-Truck
21619
57
0
01
01
6.5 hrs

Add

9821001
R&R Anti-Submarine (Skid) Plate
--
--
--
--
--
0.2 hr

Add
To clean parts over 48,000 km (30,000 mi)
--
--
--
--
--
0.1 to 0.3 hr in 99 time




GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION


© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


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Document ID# 1903316
2004 Chevrolet SSR

[BetterMost]

Originally Posted by Marc NY

I must agree with you that any oil leaks are absolutely not acceptable period in today's age of high tech sealants and gaskets! I wasn't aware that there was a TSB on 6.0 L engine oil leaks until now. I having worked in a Engine Plant for over 35 years I would have to say that today's engines have virtually no oil leaks.

I will have to ask someone who should be able to give me more info on that issue. I do hope that your Chevrolet Dealer will get it fixed right this next time.

Thanks, Let me know what you find out, maybe I can pass the information on to the Dealer. I think all the TSB required was cleaning and applying another sealant OVER the leaky gasket seam. It appears to just be a temporary fix.

[BetterMost]

WOW that covers an awful lot of different GM engines doesn't it. Well that was the TSB I found the old paperwork maybe I'll take it to another dealer next time around. 2003 to 2007??? You would think they would have fixed it already by at least model year 2005, Oh Well....

[Marc NY]

Originally Posted by BetterMost

... I think all the TSB required was cleaning and applying another sealant OVER the leaky gasket seam. It appears to just be a temporary fix.

The repair procedure when done properly is a suitable and a proper fix.

Originally Posted by BetterMost

WOW that covers an awful lot of different GM engines doesn't it. Well that was the TSB I found the old paperwork maybe I'll take it to another dealer next time around. 2003 to 2007??? You would think they would have fixed it already by at least model year 2005, Oh Well....

It is referring to porosity which can happen over any given casting process. Porosity is something that happens on an on going basis and is not limited to any given year. BTW: GM will typically post all their applications where the engine(s) go, and put them into a comprehensive list.

Below is what I found.

Document ID# 1903316
2005 Chevrolet SSR

Engine Block Porosity RTV Repair Procedure

Condition
Some customers may comment on an engine oil leak.

Cause
Upon initial diagnosis, it may be determined that the leak is coming from the rear cover gasket. This condition may be caused by engine block porosity on the sealing surface. This issue pertains to aluminum block applications only.

Correction
Follow the steps for Oil Leak Diagnosis in SI to determine the source of the leak. If the leak has been diagnosed as coming from the engine rear cover assembly, refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and remove the engine rear cover assembly. Inspect for engine block porosity where the engine rear cover mates to the engine block. If porosity is found anywhere on the sealing surface, use the following procedure to apply RTV to repair the engine block porosity. Refer to the illustration below.

[One example pictured below]

Important: Clean any residual oil from the block and cover before applying the sealant in the next step.

Wipe a small amount of RTV, P/N 12378521 (in Canada, use P/N 88901148), onto the surface using a plastic scraper to fill the porosity.
Remove any excess RTV material, especially from inside the high pressure oil passage. Refer to #1 in the above illustration.
The joint may be closed immediately after applying the RTV. Total joint time after the RTV has been applied must be under 20 minutes.
Important: Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI and follow the tightening specifications and sequence.

Reinstall the engine rear cover using a new gasket and a new crankshaft rear main seal. Refer to Engine Rear Cover Replacement in SI.

[shiftz33]

My 05 SSR had two oil leaks. Oil would drip from the mounting bolt for the starter (passenger side of engine). That took two attempts to fix properly.

The other one was with oil coming out of the bell housing drain hole. The first trip in for it they "could not duplicate" yet on the drive home it was dripping on the garage floor again. The second time in they finally pulled the tranny thinking they might have to perform the repair noted in the TSB posted by Marc NY.

What they found was that the oil pan was not fully seating against the bottom of the block in the rear of the engine. They pulled off the oil pan and found a ridge (casting) on the bottom side of the block which caused the pan and pan gasket to not seal properly. They ended up removing this extra metal and that fixed that leak. They did not want to pull the tranny because they claimed the oil dye installed was not visible in the leaking oil. I had to push them hard to get it done but this second repair attempt did fix it.

[Marc NY]

Originally Posted by shiftz33

... What they found was that the oil pan was not fully seating against the bottom of the block in the rear of the engine. They pulled off the oil pan and found a ridge (casting) on the bottom side of the block which caused the pan and pan gasket to not seal properly. They ended up removing this extra metal and that fixed that leak.

As with any castings or even some loss foam processes you can encounter excess material or porous areas that will in some very rare situations could get through our quality processes and testing. Unfortunately one may end up into the hands of our customers. I do hope that BetterMost will get his repaired quickly and correctly this time.

Below is the photo that I tried to post in my earlier reply. Let see if it uploads this time.

[BetterMost]

Oh My it just gives me the Willy's thinking about the Dealer pulling the Trans out again and taking it all apart again. In this day and age a motor that doesn't spew oil all over should not be that hard to make.

[Marc NY]

Originally Posted by BetterMost

... In this day and age a motor that doesn't spew oil all over should not be that hard to make.

You are absolutely correct... with today's high tech seals and gaskets that fit super snug, usually in recesses that are either molded or casted into the parts (i.e. oil pans, timing covers, rocker covers etc). They offer a virtually leak-proof seal compared to the old corks gaskets, RTV and seals of yesteryear. Again it is so very unfortunate that you had to experienced such a leak.

[BetterMost]

Originally Posted by Marc NY

As with any castings or even some loss foam processes you can encounter excess material or porous areas that will in some very rare situations could get through our quality processes and testing. Unfortunately one may end up into the hands of our customers. I do hope that BetterMost will get his repaired quickly and correctly this time.

Below is the photo that I tried to post in my earlier reply. Let see if it uploads this time.

After hearing that Hal has this same issue. Im not fooling around with another repair again. I just called the Dealer and GM and im making an appointment with the zone rep at the Dealer. Im going for the whole banana now. If they are going to have to take the truck all apart again its going to be for a whole new motor not some RTV thats going to leak again in 6 months. I will keep you all posted once I meet with the factory service rep.