Oil Pump Gasket leak?

nerdifiedgeek · #1 (**permalink**) 01-25-07, 02:14 PM

A while back I was smelling a lot of oil on my car after it had been running for a while, and one time I had the car jacked up and i noticed a drop of oil underneath it. I looked into it and found there was oil on top of the oil pan. Well we had the car winterized and while it was in we asked them to take a look at the leak and find where it was coming from. Well, they said it was coming from the oil pan gasket, and said it was easy to fix. Well, I'm thinking if it's an oil pan gasket leak then why is there oil on top of the pan? So, looking into it I cleaned off all the oil and let it run, and found it was leaking around the oil pump gasket. I looked up common problems with the Catera and that was one of them. Does anyone know if just getting a new gasket fixes this? Or if it's even worth it because it would cost $600 to repair it at the dealer

Marks DTM Calib · #2 (**permalink**) 01-26-07, 03:48 AM

Never known one leak......

I have seen them look like they leak when oil runs down behind the rear cambelt cover if the cam cover gaskets leak at the front or when the oil pressure switch leaks and sprays oil out of the terminal/body section (its a fine mist and goes everywhere!).

The trouble is that the oil pump is pretty obscured by the cambelt rear cover and hence it can often look like this is the cause.

nerdifiedgeek · #3 (**permalink**) 01-26-07, 09:13 AM

Well this is where I found that it was a common problem...
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...c-catera-2.htm

Here is a picture of where I thought it was leaking, coming from underneath of the car looking up.

Marks DTM Calib · #4 (**permalink**) 01-26-07, 10:17 AM

Its wet on a large patch I would say....any sign of oil higher up or around the plug leads as mentioned...

Note:

Quote:

Oil leaks from timing cover due to leak at oil pump gasket and/or oil galley plug behind cover. (1997)

Never seen this happen!

These consumer guides are rarely very accurate !

nerdifiedgeek · #5 (**permalink**) 01-27-07, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marks DTM Calib

Its wet on a large patch I would say....any sign of oil higher up or around the plug leads as mentioned...

Note:

Never seen this happen!

These consumer guides are rarely very accurate !

So, what is it you would recommend me doing?