Oil pan gasket leak *SOLVED*

So ive been battling an oil pan gasket leak through 3 blue 1 piece felpro gaskets and they all leak and this last one i tried to install wouldnt even mate up to the timing cover. Am i just this incompetent or do i need a different gasket. This latest install was also with a new timing cover from advance auto if that helps. Thanks guys... So frustrated

did you put a straight edge on the pan or check it against a known flat surface?

There are also two versions, one with thicker lip in the front and one with thinner. Depends on block and pan on which to use

I took an oil pan off a 1 piece rear main seal block recently. The owner had an oil leak since the rebuild. He was replacing the ebay chrome 7qt with a Milodon 7qt non-chrome unit.

I found some old gasket spacer rings from a previous gasket under the gasket at the rear main seal. So there was no way the gasket could have ever been tightened properly.

Always something....

Im leaning more towards needing the thinner front lip. I have the lip from a 4 piece gasket set. I might try to salvage my new fel pro and cut the front lip off. Then just make sure i rtv where it meets the new lip gasket.

Have you considered (and checked) the possibility that something higher up is leaking and the oil is running down and collecting along the pan rail?? Oil pressure sender/switch or valve cover gasket comes to mind..

Three attempts doesn't necessarily mean you're incompetent, but you are overlooking some detail, or using a wrong procedure or gaskets...

I had considered that and i have small leaks elsewhere but i used a uv dye kit and it was comin from the timing cover oil pan meeting place and then travelin back and sprayin everywhere. I put on the cork gaskets with the 2 front and back bits and it seemed to mateup well in the front but the rear gasket seemed an 1" or 1.5" too long
Also i checked the oil pan and it was straight. I have an 85 k10 with a 79 or older engine if that helps.
Thanks.

RustyBuckets said:

I had considered that and i have small leaks elsewhere but i used a uv dye kit and it was comin from the timing cover oil pan meeting place and then travelin back and sprayin everywhere. I put on the cork gaskets with the 2 front and back bits and it seemed to mateup well in the front but the rear gasket seemed an 1" or 1.5" too long
Also i checked the oil pan and it was straight. I have an 85 k10 with a 79 or older engine if that helps.
Thanks.

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I would suggest getting a 1 piece gasket. But I’m sure others have done the same.

Always recommend the single piece blue felrpo gasket if that wont seal something else is wrong.

Also if you cannot find a thin gasket you can always get a new pan.
The ones I've been eyeing are Summit's brand of oil pan. They specifically say they use the thick front gasket and are relatively inexpensive.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g3501

Here is a chrome one (also comes in black and gold zinc) with the passenger side dip stick which is their more expensive version for $42.00 this would be a cheaper way to rule out two things.
1. your using the correct thickness of gasket
2. your pan is a straight and clean surface (assuming it isn't defective or damaged from shipping) would be good to verify before install.

Edit: Could also be your timing cover seal but since its newer unlikely unless it isn't sealed well, or front crank seal.

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/threads/oil-pan-issues-wont-fit-seal.20239/#post-374973

There's a little info in this thread..

* SOLVED *
the cork gaskets with the 2 rubber pieces sealed and fixed my problem. I cut the rear to fit and thought it was leaking but my new filter i just put on wasnt tight enough.

Thanks for the help and ideas. Guess my set-up isnt meant for the blue 1-piece gaskets.

RustyBuckets said:

* SOLVED *
the cork gaskets with the 2 rubber pieces sealed and fixed my problem. I cut the rear to fit and thought it was leaking but my new filter i just put on wasnt tight enough.

Thanks for the help and ideas. Guess my set-up isnt meant for the blue 1-piece gaskets.

Click to expand...

That’s awsome

I thought sbc pan gaskets came with something like this: