Just a few comments about the oil leaking situation with my 2001 4.3 Blazer which has about 90,000 miles on it. It all started about a year ago when I noticed a little dampness of oil on the lower front of the motor. I kept a check on it every once in a while and it really didn't seem to be getting any worse. Since I was not loosing any oil between 3000 mile oil changes, I figured I would just keep watching it.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago; that's when I changed the oil and noticed the dampness of oil had turned to a wetness of oil and I also discovered that within about 700 miles of my last oil changed I was already about 1/2 quart low. It wasn't dripping when the vehicle was parked, it had to be pushing it out at highway speed.

Since then I did a search here at Blazer Forums for 'motor oil leaks' and found a few things to check. They are; a leaking timing cover, front mail seal and leaking oil pan just to name a few. Of course, many of the posts mentioned that the best thing to do was to get everything all cleaned up by either power washing the front of the motor or degreasing it and wiping it dry.

After reading all the good advice, I proceeded to basically just use a couple of old cloths to wipe everything until all of the oily residue was gone and everything was good and dry. At that point I began to check the tightness of the first couple of oil pan bolts. I was surprised to find the first mounting bolts on both sides of the front of the oil pan were loose by about a full turn. The other oil pan bolts were good and tight. So I snugged up those first two bolts and took the Blazer for a ride and didn't see even a hint of a leak.

The other thing I did was to change the oil a second time (in just 700 miles), only this time using Pennzoil High Mileage 5w-30 motor oil. I did some reading up on these types of oil and it looks like they help re-condition the seals in higher mileage motors.

In summary, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone here at Blazer Forum for taking the time to contribute and share their own experience and knowledge. You people are the Best!!!

Thanks again,

Frank Canna

 

Frank,
You were so right.....
My '02 had an oil leak somewhere in the front of the engine....had oil all over the oil pan and front suspension....more on the driver's side than passenger's, but what a mess.

I thought it was the crankshaft positon sensor, but after reading your posting I check the oil pan bolts....YEP.....front two were loose on both sides....in fact the front one on the driver's side was gone.

Just wanted to say a big Thank You.....

Hope other's have read your post and followed it....sure saved me a lot of time.

Lannyl81

 

One place that gets missed is the oil drain plug is supposed to have a teflon washer replaced at every oil change. I found that out only when I picked up the manual looking for something else. They are cheap.

 

That depends on the type pan you have. The aluminum one on mine has a plug with an o-ring in it that you don't replace.