woody Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 All, I just had the ride in for a dexcool change and got "The phone call" Oh by the way your cold leak was not a hose but the water pump. So $325 later we are good. Not sure if that was a good price but it was fixed in 2 hours. Then when I picked up the car the service owner says, You know you have a slight oil leak you should keep an eye on. Looks like the pan gasket. Which he tells me is a split pan gasket and you have to drop the motor. I ask how much and he stated around $2400. Does this sound right. I have 97000 miles. Must be the breaking point for the old bird. Any help or advise would be great Woody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dkwebb2727 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 My '94 SLS has a slight leak too. Many people on here with the 4.6 Northstar have that problem. Mine drips about 1-3 drops per night in the garage. I just live with it. I may have it fixed if I ever have to pull the engine, but I would not spend the money now just for a small leak. Just my opinion though. It's your money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Since you never noticed it before and you don't seem to be losing or adding any oil I would ignore it. Its probably very slight and a big money maker for them. I got good results from gently and I mean gently snugging up the pan bolts I could reach and from using a good HIGH MILEAGE oil, my leak slowed down greatly. Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 All, I just had the ride in for a dexcool change and got "The phone call" Oh by the way your cold leak was not a hose but the water pump. So $325 later we are good. Not sure if that was a good price but it was fixed in 2 hours. Then when I picked up the car the service owner says, You know you have a slight oil leak you should keep an eye on. Looks like the pan gasket. Which he tells me is a split pan gasket and you have to drop the motor. I ask how much and he stated around $2400. Does this sound right. I have 97000 miles. Must be the breaking point for the old bird. Any help or advise would be great Woody "....slight oil leak.... Looks like pan gasket...." Not exactly a precise diagnosis. The source of the leaking oil can be several things other than the pan gasket. Any oil that reaches the bottom of the engine will be blown around by road draft; locating the source of the oil can be 90% of the repair effort. Of course, the oil source could be the pan gasket. It could also be the O rings on the crankshaft position sensors. It could also be the O rings at the oil filter adapter, or a cam cover gasket, or the oil dipstick tube, or [fill-in the blank]. Many of us just live with oil drips rather than throw unknown numbers of dollars at a "slight oil leak". If you decide to pursue the issue, a good first step would be to completely clean all the oil off the lower part of the crankcase and determine where the oil is coming from. Good luck with it. An oil leak would not be the breaking point for me. Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAUL T Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 I would check the oil pan gasket for leakage. I recently checked my oil pan bolts and found that all of them were loose. I would think that an oil pan leaking would be more probable than the case halves. After tightening my oil pan bolts I got about 300 more miles to a quart. When I get time I am going to reseal the oil pan. My car has leaked for about 5 years now, just put another 1 to 1 1/2 quarts in when the check oil message appears and drive. About 4 years ago I was quoted $1200 for an engine pull for case half leak at the dealer. The prices that the dealer quoted sound high but it all depends on the hourly rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 All, Thanks again from the great feedback. The old girl is getting older and the minor oil spots I can live with. Woody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgnoon Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Mike, You suggested using a good high-mileage oil...anyone have any specific suggestions. The '92 is definately looking at high mileage. -Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Mike, You suggested using a good high-mileage oil...anyone have any specific suggestions. The '92 is definately looking at high mileage. -Ryan Ryan, I stay with the big names Valvoline, Quaker State, etc. I have found that the high mileage oils have slowed down my leaks... A better oil for your 4.9 might be the Rotella 15W40 and that came from the guru.. You are in New Jersey I think, and it gets cold, so I don't know if I would use that (15W40) oil in the winter. The 4.9 can tend to have a #1 main bearing knock and the heavier weight oils disguise it. Good Luck, Mike Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 All, Thanks again from the great feedback. The old girl is getting older and the minor oil spots I can live with. Woody If you are willing and able to pursue the issue as a DIY project, you do not have to live with it. There is just not enough return on investment to pay someone else to chase a minor (nuisance) oil leak. I could post a picture of the pavement where my 145,000 mile '98 usually sits. No oil spots! Jim Drive your car. Use your cell phone. CHOOSE ONE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Woody, with under 100,000 miles, your engine has a long life ahead of it. My '97 has a slight drip also. Maybe one drop overnight. No big deal to me. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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