Rear main seal, oil pan gasket, Valve cover gasket leak

[shoop]

I recently picked up a 2013 Tahoe with 170k miles approximately. Unfortunately during inspection there is a leak coming from rear main seal, oil pan gasket, and valve cover gasket.

My question pls if I top off my oil and keep an eye on it regularly could that be a alternative solution? Any insight appreciated.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum.

Keep it topped off. I am now assuming you did not have inspected before the purchase. The rear main seal leaking is an eventual thing. So are the others. Where is the oil pan leaking at? At the rear where the rear main seal leak can drain down and make the pan LOOK like it is leaking, when in fact it is not. The valve cover gaskets are not that hard to do. Do you have mechanical abilities or friends that do? That repair can save you money. But, even though there are advertised magical fluids that you just pour in and the leak stops, well I don't buy that in the least. The rear main seal is the more expensive repair.

 

[donjetman]

I feel your pain I wrote the following in April of 2020, 18 mths after purchasing our 07 Yukon Denali. Since then, it hasn't needed much unscheduled mx. Today it has 185k miles.

Bought our 2007 in Oct of 2018 w/130k miles, used car lot, no mx records for $10,500 including TTL. I did all of the following because we LOVE the way it drives/rides, and we need it to be reliable transportation when making the 1k mile drive ea way between our homes. I've done 100% of the labor.

Stuff that was broke, or has broke, and was fixed:
Rear main seal & cover – Dorman 635-518 - $43
Brake pedal stop light switch - SL1000 - $19
Gas cap – ACDelco GT330 - $19
Vapor cannister purge valve on intake – ACDelco# 214-1680 - $18
Trans cooler line 1 – ACDelco 15779543 - $16
Trans cooler lines 2 – ACDelco 25999420 - $56
Trans cooler clips- ACDelco# 24205103 - $10
Trans cooler gasket - $7
Front lower plastic cowl - $31
Valve cover driverside – GM# 12570427 - $117
Oil pan gasket – GM# 12612350 - $36
Oil pickup o-ring – Felpro 72401 or GM 12584922 - $9
Exhaust Manifold clamp, back driver side – APDTY# 028218 - $30
Exhaust manifold clamps, frt driver side, back pass – APDTY#028253- $67
Front pass side door handle – 735-6526 - $49
Performed TSB 10-06-01-008M, solvent Gunk Motor Medic - $5
Fixed rear driver side door handle/lock adjustment - $0
Replaced rear power liftgate latch/lock mechanism-$210
Total = $742

Normal MX:
air filter, NAPA 22487 - $9
cleaned MAP sensor and throttle body - $1
brake fluid - $6
PS fluid, Amsoil ATF - $6
Frt diff gear oil w/3 pts Amsoil 75-90w - $21
Rear diff gear oil w/4.2 pts Amsoil 75-90w & gasket - $40
Transfer Case ATF w/3 pts Amsoil (ATL) ATF - $16
Transmission fluid, 10 qts, w/Dexron VI, $75
Tranny filter – PTC# F247 - $34
Cleaned old spark plugs and reinstalled - $1
3 oil changes, 7 qts, 7 qts, 11 qts - $125
3 oil filter changes - $27
1 bypass filter change - $35
3 lube jobs - $5
4 new tpms sensors, AC Delco #13598771 - $66
Install sensors - $20
Changed transfer case fluid w/3 pts Amsoil (ATL) ATF - $16
Installed new upper & lower rad hoses $70
Installed new heater hoses - $50
New 5 yr/150,000 mile coolant - $50
Rear brake job, calipers, rotors, pads, hoses - $372
Total = $1042

Preventative MX:
Torque Converter – Precision P4646 - $218
Tranny front pump seal – GM# 24237531 - $30
Tranny Input shaft seal – GM# 24219390 - $10
AFM Deflector – gm#12639759 - $8
Main serpentine belt – 6K935 - $19
tensioner - $32
idler pulley - $22
idler pulley - $16
AC belt – 4K378 - $16
tensioner - $28
Starter – 6757N - $60
Alternator (160 amp) – 8301N - $101
Frt sway bar end link poly bushings - $15
Frt sway bar bushings – Moog# K200222 - $7
Rear sway bar bushings – Moog K6408 - $8
Cleaned pass side valve cover inside and out - $2
3 UOA - $84
New water pump - $85
New 180* thermostat – Motorad# 523-180 - $29
New heater hose w/metal y fitting, Dorman# 626-553/NAPA# 827-5730-1 $37
Total = $827

Mod(s):
Catch can, line, fittings - $40
Installed an engine oil bypass filtration system - $150
New front Husky floor mats - #53101 - $86
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Express Sleeve, #14030, on both engine oil bypass filtration system hoses. - $22
New front center floor console – 22860866 - $91
6.2L emblems(4) - $25
GruvenParts metal T-connectors $80ea+ shipping and tax - $175
Dorman# 259-200 Cabin Air Filter kit - $25
Viair 1 gal oil tank, Viair# 91014(11 qt oil sump capacity now) - $55
Oil cooler, Hayden# 696 – $57
Various AN fittings, hose, and clamps - $100
Total = $826

So we have about $14k in it now (April of 2020). The only deferred mx problems that are the rear auto leveling shocks and compressor - $550. They've been bad since we purchased the vehicle, but since we don't tow or carry a bunch of people in it, still rides like a dream.