Oil Leak Question

[prototypepacifi]

I checked my oil the other day, and noticed it was a bit lower than normal. I started peeking around at my engine, around the LIM gaskets to see if they were still good, and noticed a bit of oil under the TB. It wasn't much at all, just a very small bit of it. The LIM gasket looks like its still good, though. It was changed about 4k miles ago, I guess, or somewhere right around there.

Here's a pic of where the oil is at..its a pic from when I changed the LIM gaskets, but you get the picture..

http://www.prototypepacifist.com/thingy.jpg

There's a bit of oil right in the little 'bowl' thing there, and even less around it. What is this thing, and could it have anything to do with my leak?

God I hope its not the LIM gasket again.

[Coondog]

The bowl thing holds the oil pump.

The leak is probably coming from the LIM/block connection right next to the "bowl thing" in your pic.

When I did my LIM it started leaking a little oil from the same place. Just keep a close eye on coolant levels and the dipstick for any signs of coolant/oil mixing.

[prototypepacifi]

Man..so I have to friggin change it again?

Man this couldn't have happened at a worse time. I just went for a drive, and checked the engine when I got back. The seal on the LIM gasket has oil on it, so I think thats where its coming from.

[echoicse]

Scott, when you did the lower intake mani. repair did you use a gasket(s) supplied on the block between the cyl. heads or did you use r.t.v. (out of a tube)?

[prototypepacifi]

Do you mean the "S" curve part? I believe it came with rubber pieces (they felt/looked VERY VERY VERY VERY cheap) on the "S" curve part (just to the left of the part I circled above)

We used some RTV, but only on the corners of the valve covers, I believe.

*edit* I think we used some RTV on the ends of the "S" curve piece I'm talking about, as well.

[echoicse]

Yea, that's what I was asking about-that's a very tough area to seal w/rubber gasket! Usually a RTV base is best as long as the intake and block are perfectly clean and dry. At the end of the "s" gasket where it meets the intake gasket did you put some rtv where both gaskets meet?

[prototypepacifi]

Yes, I did put the RTV where every gasket met up with another.

I knew I shouldn't have used those rubber pieces, they were horrible! Eh..it shouldn't be hard to do this time around..probably take a couple hours.

[KC Kirk]

If all you are getting is oil and no antifreeze at that point, then the seal between the block and the LIM is leaking.

I have seen new LIM gasket jobs have to be re-done because there wasn't enough sealant used to compensate for the improved, and thicker, LIM gaskets. This space requires two parallel, 1/4" thick beads of RTV sealant on each end. More is better than less.

If you can, let the sealant cure for 24 hours before you fill it with oil and run it.