Oil pan studs or bolts?

[mikeinatlanta]

Studs or bolts will make no difference with leaks. Guys make multiple changes when addressing a leak and just make the assumption that the fastener change helped. If the fasteners are backing off, that is a different issue to be corrected.

Same for the idea of synthetics causing leaks. Guys make the switch and then start checking carefully for leaks and find the leak that was already there. Boom, synthetics cause leaks. Where it get funny is when someone tries to gain credibility with their argument by stating how long they have been living with their own ignorance. Not saying it's happening here (yet), but that's normally where these discussions go.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mikeinatlanta

Studs or bolts will make no difference with leaks. Guys make multiple changes when addressing a leak and just make the assumption that the fastener change helped. If the fasteners are backing off, that is a different issue to be corrected.

I think that's right. If you look at my pic you can kind of see it. It's nothing fancy, just the block, black RTV, gasket, black RTV, windage tray, black RTV, gasket, black RTV, Canton pan, a few studs and a few bolts all torqued to about 15 ft/lbs -- and it hasn't leaked a drop in a decade. I think either your block is warped, your pan is warped, or you're doing something goofy that I can't think of.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think that's right. If you look at my pic you can kind of see it. It's nothing fancy, just the block, black RTV, gasket, black RTV, windage tray, black RTV, gasket, black RTV, Canton pan, a few studs and a few bolts all torqued to about 15 ft/lbs -- and it hasn't leaked a drop in a decade. I think either your block is warped, your pan is warped, or you're doing something goofy that I can't think of.

I think it is the rear main seal to be honest. It sounds like he has been careful and it still has leaks. The rear main seal is antiquated. It can be changed with the engine in the car by the way.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I think it is the rear main seal to be honest. It sounds like he has been careful and he still has leaks. The rear main seal is antiquated. It can be changed with the engine in the car by the way.

I know the pan gasket is leaking because it's not only at the rear. It could be the main seal too, though I think the inside of the bell is dry and I understand that to mean the main isn't leaking.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by lippy

I know the pan gasket is leaking because it's not only at the rear. It could be the main seal too, though I think the inside of the bell is dry and I understand that to mean the main isn't leaking.

I can't see oil in the bell housing but I am pretty sure my rear main is leaking.