I am noticing a slight leak. I jacked the car up today and noticed the oil sump around where the bolts that attach it are covered with oil. The leak is underneath the pan. So... it looks like the leak is from the pan. Hey, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck!!

Could the leak be anything else other than a sump leak? Could slightly tightening the attaching bolts stop the leak? Do I need to skip that step and remove the sump to install a new sump gasket??

Thanks,

Jack

 

If there is no oil running down from above the sump gasket then it will be the gasket. You could check the bolts with a torque wrench but I'd be surprised if that is the problem and it is most likely that the gasket will need replacing. There might also be some crankcase joints which need to be sealed with RTV before the gasket in positioned and it could be those that are weeping.

Richard

 

Tightening the bolts will do no good. The o-ring has hardened and no amount of cranking is going to help that. Replacement is the only option.

 

I had the same about a month ago. Tightened all the sump bolts about 1/2 turn and it is still holding, no leaks. Probably replace the gasket but will wait for the leak to return before I do.