The dreaded oil pan pull!

[rcb280z]

Well unfortunately I have put off the pan gasket. Let me explain why. I crawled under the car this morning to look at things, making sure I would grab everything I needed to reduce the amount of times having to climb out because I forgot something. Wanted to have everything ready. So while I was laying there looking at everything I noticed one of the pan bolts had a drop of coolant hanging from it! It was one of the bolts at the right rear of the pan on the drivers side "the lowest point" due to the angle of the motor. Where the hell did that come from, I said out loud.  After searching around for awhile I believe I have figured it out. I think its been about a year and a half now but I had a slight coolant leak where the head meets the block on the oil filter side between cylinders 3 and 4. I used some stop leak and at the time it seemed to slow it down if not stop it. Well now it looks as if it has come back. So it seems that it is traveling the path of between the head and block "HG" area around the back of the head and down the slopped area of the block and along the oil pan. A few weeks ago I cinched down the pan bolts and was assuming that is why there were drops of, what I thought was oil, on my garage floor. Guess I was wrong. I've posted pics. I think its time to pull the motor. Been wanting to go through it so I think its time. 

You can see the coolant on the slop of the block in this pic

Most of this was from the previous leak. But you can see where it is building up on the bottom of the block.

This is as close as I could get to where the head meets the block on the drivers side.

The next 3 pics are just extra shots of the passenger side of the block.

So like I said it might be time to pull it out and go through it.

[FreshZ]

sucks! keep us updated on the progress and any hiccups you encounter along the way

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[rcb280z]

Just edited with more info.

[rcb280z]

Some of that you see around the oil filter is from a previous leak making it look really bad. I feel the right thing would be to pull it and just do a minor overhaul. Do you agree? I mean crank and rod bearings, rings, possibly valve seals, timing chain, repaint the block. It runs good now, just has leaks. Good compression. Doesn't burn oil. 

[FreshZ]

if you have a second vehicle and funds are right, it would be best to pull and fix. "and while you're there fixes"

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[rcb280z]

Oh yeah, I have a truck. I'm afraid of those "while your at it" fixes. Might get costly 

[FreshZ]

yeah and it delays the time to finish

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[FreshZ]

if it is running good, but just with an occasional drip, then drive it until it stops. but if you do that the repair work will probably be more costly later.

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[sweatybetty]

have you ever tried florescent dye? put a bottle in the oil and a bottle in the radiator, run it for a few miles, and then shine a black light on it. leaks will stand out like a sore thumb

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/supercool-u-v-leak-detect-dye-9497/10639818-P?searchTerm=leak+detectors

[rcb280z]

haven't tried that. Good idea. I'll look into it first. thanks.

[rcb280z]

12 minutes ago, sweatybetty said:

florescent dye

Have you personally used this stuff? 

[FreshZ]

would you want to only put the dye in either oil or coolant at one time?

to see if it is getting into the other area?

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