Common Front Oil Leaks, 160 vs 180 Thermos & Tuning & Oil Leveling Sensors Leaking...

[Cross]

I noticed two things though that have me concerned and watching.

1) There is oil around the bottom of the motor in front by the CPS and Crank Seal... I can not tell where it almost seems like it might be the crank seal and its able to sling very small amounts up to the bottom of the opti and around very faintly. It pools at the CPS and on the front sway bar.
I am not sure what to make of it yet or what I should be expecting I mean there is the front crank seal, the timing cover seal, the CPS seal... I am going to look into whats more common and go from there.

2) I ordered my new 160 Thermo and for now put back in the new 180 I had. The car got really hot today and I am not sure if its because of the 180 thermo or what but it got almost to the red just driving it about 4 miles home in traffic.... kinda bothered me. I remember hearing the fans on but I want to see if anyone else has had this issue with going back to the 180 with the changes made for the 160.

3) (I forgot one) My Low Oil Level Sensor is still leaking out the back of the sensor itself... damit. So I need to purchase one off someone since no one seems to have one I can buy....

[Fastbird]

1) Probably one or more seals leaking. The major culprits are the Crank, Opti, and Water pump seals. Don't count out the oil pan gasket either. My recommendation would be to just tear it down and do ALL the front seals. You'll already be in there, so call it preventitive maintenance.

2) Might have an air pocket in the coolant system since you replaced the thermostat.

3) $20 from a local parts store.

[Cross]

They all claimed not to have #3... do we have a part number?

The odd thing is the motor has less then 3000 miles on it... I guess doing the timing cover, and both crank and opti seals can not hurt... its just annoying. But then when a motor sits for a long time I guess it can happen.

However I still get gray smoke out the back sometimes... And its not oil according to everyone behind me, its smells like gas just not as bad as it used to.

[Fixxer99TA]

If your getting smoke and it smells like fuel, your running rich for some reason (unless of course you have no cats, then that would do it too). I assume your talking about regular driving/WOT with people behind you and they can see/smell it?

If your front cover seals are leaking within 3k miles, I would say they were installed wrong. Know who did them? And yes its possible to install them wrong... Like Fastbird said, Front cover seals = Water pump drive/Opti Seal/Crank Seal. It will more than likely be those, but others are possible (Front of intake if its bad enough, but you would see that.... Oil pan....)

Not sure on a part number for #3, but I am sure a dealership could help you out with that if worse comes to worse.

[Tyler Wheat]

When you go to bleed the coolant system, put the car at a slight incline. Helps alot.

[Biggin'89]

the BWD (borg warner) p/n is S8112. thats the number for my '95 but it should be the same for yours. and any decent partsman can cross reference it over to the brand they carry. O'reilly's carry's them (probably not in stock but should be same day or next day) and i think advance is carrying bwd. just make sure they don't get one with a Z in the part number b/c that is the el cheapo economy line that they started carrying to try and confuse people thinking its the same as the oreilly part but only way less expensive

[Green96Z]

My engine was leaking oil everywhere before my H/C swap. The main parts that leak out the front are the oil pan (tears when you take off the front cover) and the water pump seal. The WP seal is very easy to tear when you install it (I tore my first one). After replacing my oil pan gasket and all front cover gaskets, my engine is bone dry.

[Cross]

Not really just putting around but when I gave it gas yes. (I have no cats though) I am not sure why its running rich esp with the MadZ28 tune.

However on the IM Gaskets I replaced them with the GM LT4 Race gaskets a lot of the FI guys were using I was told. I have the part number. I redid both seals thinking that might be a problem but they were good... it seemed like when I looked the seals there were good but oh well.

As for the build it was the prior owner of the Camaro. Seems like a good guy we have talked quite often and he has offered to help me before. Everything appears right and its not a heavy leak... but its def something someone OCD like me can see.

Thanks for that Part Number I will try again tomorrow.

Well I def had the water pump off and on a few times replacing Opti's etc. Def a possibility there.

I will look into the gaskets and get ready for another weekend of fun pulling it all back apart so I can drain the motor and replace the timing cover gasket, front seals etc. I do not think the oil pan gasket is leaking I can see that pretty well and its clear its def up higher.