Oil Leak Help

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wsteele

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I re-read this from the start and a few things pop out. If you have a few small spots on the driveway and you are consuming 1-2 qts between changes, most of the oil is going into your intake (likely through the PCV). GM did a TSB that covers oil consumption for your model year (same as mine). One of the elements is an updated driver's side valve cover. There is more to this TSB than just a valve cover (on my car it needed new pistons and rings, along with a oil deflector on the AFM pressure relief valve, valve cover, etc. etc., but I think my case was kind of an extreme example. My truck saw its first 60K or so hauling a big old trailer in tow mode with higher than normal RPMs standard).

One thing you could do (other than checking the rev of your driver's side valve cover) is install a catch can between your PCV and the intake manifold (about a 20 minute job). This would tell you a lot about how much oil your engine is sucking into the intake (and stop most of it).

As far as the leak. Wind blows oil leaks back, so the farthest forward you see oil is a good place to start. I had to replace my oil pan gasket at 80K due to small leaks. It hadn't been touched since new. Frankly looking at yours, it could be the pan gasket. If it is, and you find the source of most of your oil consumption is your valve cover, etc., I would probably wipe it as best I could a few times a month and put a pan under it to keep my driveway clean. The pan gasket replacement is a fairly involved DYI project unless you are handy. Might not be worth it for a few spots of oil.
 

Fless

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I would start with the valve covers since I'm seeing leakage up top. Another place to look is the oil pressure sender at the top rear of the engine.
 
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Shane

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I am going to start with the valve cover gaskets and oil sending unit. I will then change the oil pan gasket along with the oil pickup tube ring. Any thoughts on this plan of action?
 

Jason in DLH

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I am going to start with the valve cover gaskets and oil sending unit. I will then change the oil pan gasket along with the oil pickup tube ring. Any thoughts on this plan of action?

Remember to clean the Oil Sending Unit Filter when you’re back there.

I have a similar leak that I’m quite certain is the Valley Pan gasket as @wjburken suggested.
 

dnt1010

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Valve cover looks oil soaked in this pic and it almost looks like an oil drip on the exhaust manifold heat shield? My guess would be that you have a valve cover leak?

20210228_114208-jpg.272138
 

donjetman

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That's what my valve covers looked like until I installed the new improved valve cover. Now there is a good vacuum on the crankcase to keep the oil INSIDE the crankcase.
 
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Shane

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Is there an improved valve cover I should be looking at, instead of just changing the gasket? If so, what's the item #? Thank you
 

wsteele

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Is there an improved valve cover I should be looking at, instead of just changing the gasket? If so, what's the item #? Thank you

If your drivers side valve cover has never been updated, you definitely need an updated cover. Your "leaks" could be oil dripping down from the line that runs between your PCV (on the driver's side valve cover) to your intake manifold (center top of the manifold). That line has a few push fit junctions and with the amount of oil you are likely pumping out of that down rev valve cover, it could be your leak.

So far I have found Rock Auto to have best pricing for most things OE (short of a wrecking yard, but if it do go to a wrecker for a used part, make sure it is off of a newer model Tahoe/Yukon (2013-2014, to be sure).
 

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