Oil pan gasket replaced, still leaking... Might be rear main seal?

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Wonderbread24

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I picked up a 2011 Yukon XL SLT with 176k a few weeks ago to haul the family around in. First GM vehicle and coming from a Honda Odyssey. I didn't see the leak when looking at it but after I discovered it I thought no big deal. Took me 9 hours and it had the original riveted gasket still but I was successful or so I thought.

A day later there was fresh oil on the driveway. After inspecting around the pan the oil was only at the rear of the motor where the bell housing met the block. I made sure all the bolts to the pan were snug still cleaned the area and hoped for the best.

Days later it's still leaking. I've done some more research and found out that this leak could be from the valley pan gasket or rear main seal. I took my inspection camera and looked the best I could back behind the intake and it appears to be clean. I didn't see any oil on top of the bell housing or in that area in general.

I moved to rear main seal and was able to get a view inside from that view port at the bottom of the bell housing and also from the dust cover on the oil cooler port side. It looks like that may be where the oil is coming from but I couldn't get a very good look. I have attached the photos here to get some additional help.

If it truly is the rear main what would a shop charge to do this? If I did it myself with limited tools would I be in under my head? Is it worth it to try myself?
 

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Wonderbread24

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I did read your thread already. It was very good.

I don't have a lift so I assume the difficulty would be much higher. If you didn't have a lift would you attempt to do the repair?
I changed my rear main seal 3+ yrs ago. Here is the thread I did on the subject. https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/rear-main-seal-job-pan-etc-07-yukon-denali-6-2.108334/
I did read your thread already. It was very good.

I don't have a lift so I assume the difficulty would be much higher. If you didn't have a lift would you attempt to do the repair?

Any idea what a shop would charge?
 

donjetman

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I don't have a lift so I assume the difficulty would be much higher. If you didn't have a lift would you attempt to do the repair?

Any idea what a shop would charge?
In my youth? yes, because necessity is the mother of invention. That's how I became a DIYer, and despite my lack of youth now I stay a DIYer.

I admit, the lift is a game changer for this ole man. I have no excuse now.

I haven't a clue what a shop would charge?
 
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Wonderbread24

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I got quoted $500 for rear main and 250 for oil pan gasket. The guy at the shop raised the price on me. Ended up paying $1200
Ouch, that's not cool. I'll probably end up doing it in my driveway. It doesn't seem too difficult, just time consuming. Gives me an excuse to get a new impact :) What makes it difficult is we're a 1 car family right now so downtime is hard to acquire.
 

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