2019 Tahoe, 5.3L with over 130k. A couple days ago the wife told me she heard a noise from the engine, I listened to it quickly as she was about to leave for work and it sounded like the serpentine belt, told her I would look at it later. Today I hear its slightly louder, open the hood and there's oil all over the belt and on the front of the engine. Leak has to be coming from the front of the engine in order to get on the belt. Oil pressure is fine when the engine is running and the dipstick still shows the oil level is fine. No white smoke from the tailpipe, so I don't think its the head gasket. There was a small amount of oil residue around the open on the vacuum pipe on the driver's side when I pulled the airbox off the throttle body, but the box is clean inside and so is the throttle body. Its currently sitting at our business, so I plan to go back with some brake cleaner, clean what I can, and test to see if I can find the leak, but I'm looking for places I should pay attention to.
Front oil leak on a 2019 5.3L Tahoe
- Thread starter jonp365
- Start date
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Blackcar
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Check air conditioner compressor to see how wet it is it could be going bad and where noise is coming from.
jaxscuby
Full Access Member
the radiator has an oil cooler in the side tank.
transmission cooler on top of ac condenser.
both sets of hoses run along the bottom of the engine bay.
can't picture anything around the serpentine belt that has oil.
the power steering pump and like the others have side as well the ac compressor.
the serpentine belt makes noises when an idler goes or a pump or alternator starts
to fail and rotate freely.
got any pictures?
transmission cooler on top of ac condenser.
both sets of hoses run along the bottom of the engine bay.
can't picture anything around the serpentine belt that has oil.
the power steering pump and like the others have side as well the ac compressor.
the serpentine belt makes noises when an idler goes or a pump or alternator starts
to fail and rotate freely.
got any pictures?
Ended up being the water pump. Explains why I didn't see an issue with oil level or pressure. Unfortunately I couldn't smell the liquid to tell it was coolant (head cold) and what I did see on the white paint of the hood must have had dirt mixed with it and looked like oil. So I paid a stupid tax of $865 for a shop to replace something I could have fixed in 30 minutes. Currently drinking my sorrows away.
It happens. Been there, done that. I had to bring my Yukon to a shop for the first time in over 25 years last week. Didn't have time or a spare vehicle like I normally do.
FWIW, these trucks don't have a power steering pump like was mentioned earlier.
Yeah, sucks, but I let myself be mad about it that day and now I'll just cry when I pay the CC off. Its paid for, so that helps lessen the sting and we'll have a 3rd vehicle soon, so next time I'll be able to just park it and take my time.
