Hi all,

I am leaking oil. I haven't taken it in to see where the leak is coming from yet. But generally - do you have any opinions on the oil leak stopping products you can buy like "fix a leak" type things that say they are supposed to condition dried out seals and so stop leaks.

Thanks. :)

my deville was leaking oil from the pressure switch and i used lucas oil stabalize and it slowed it down pretty good.

I personally wouldn't use a typical "stop leak" product in a Northstar (If that's what you have...) - Without knowing what Model/Year/Mileage on your auto, it's hard to say exactly what the problem may be (You are in the Deville thread, but your car could be anywhere from a '85 to a '06...)

Check underneath and see if you can determine where the leak is originating - sometimes the pan bolts can be tightened up a bit, etc.

On the Northstar, the pressure sensor is near the oil filter. It sometimes develops a slight leak, especially if it was knocked around by a grease monkey somewhere. Oil pan bolts are also sometimes a tad looser than spec.

Our late, lamented GM Engine Guru recommended against ever putting something like STP or other gunk in a Northstar. It'd be like playing rap through a Bang & Olefsun stereo...

I'M SAYING THE SAME THING. RAISE IT UP & LOOK FOR THE LEAK. THEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO REPLACE. WHAT GOES UP MUST DRIP DOWN:histeric: . GOOD LUCK

HOW COULD YOU BE DRIVING & FIXING OIL LEAKS AT 15 YRS OLD 96 DEVILLE MAN? I DIDN'T GET MY LICENSE UNTIL I WAS 16 & THEN HAD TO SCROUNGE & SAVE FOR ABOUT 2 YRS BEFORE I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR.:banghead: :helpless:

I am 15 too, my dad got me my 87 for christmas in 2003, and i build it all on my own. Theres WAY too many things to list. Every slight mod done to my car is only done by me, including bodywork and engine work. He figured this was a good way to test me. I also learned to drive when i was 10 yrs old. I can't wait to see the looks on the persons face when i do the test!!! My 87 leaks oil only when sits for a while without starting it up, and when it is time to change oil also. Still has the original cork crap. By the way, my front main seal is leaking, is it difficult to replace?

I would recommend against any stop leak particularly for the oil system.
I'd advise one of two things.
1. Fix it as soon as possible. Find the leak and get it repaired or DIY
2. Buy a few cases of oil and keep them in the trunk. Buying oil and dumping it on the ground after it runs through your engine is not very ecologically sound, but it's cheaper than destroying your engine with some sort of stop leak band aid.

BTW, don't think you are going to impress a driving instructor just because you are young and can drive. What a lot of people don't realize is that a driving test isn't about whether or not you can drive, it's about whether or not you drive the way they want you to. ;)
Good luck on your oil leak and your driving test.

I actually did a few driving "tests" on the road with my dad at night around a few blocks (not exactly legal). He couldn't believe it, and i had tons of fun. Too bad it was his POS caddy though, mine sounds way nicer. I've been around cars since i was 3yrs old. I'll show those ricer boys a REAL car at school.

Just go get the oil pan gasket done, but first look for the spot. Befor next oil change, tighten all pan bolts and see if the leak stops/slows down before moving on.

ah..

the last time i was in the shop the mechanic said i was eventually going to be in for a reseal of the engine. and that it would cost about 2-3000 bucks. does that sound right? how much should it cost to change the pan gasket?

actually - before the thread got further down.. i poured in half a bottle of this stuff:
http://www.barsproducts.com/product.cfm?id=30
yeah.. maybe that was 1 part desperation to 6 parts stupidity. i should have waited for more responses or at least tried the lucas oil first. that one seems more viscous and seems like it would slow things down more. this bar's leaks one is very thin and not viscous at all. is that how it works? viscousity will cling to engine parts better and keep things lubed up better? i guess i was hoping to get the seals to swell up as it says on the label.. argh.

anyway it seemed to either have no effect - or it made things more runny. hard to tell because it was very leaky some days and not as leaky on others before i poured it in.

so i'm thinking of going to get an oil change tomorrow to drain everything out and start with fresh oil, hopefully that will dilute any of this stuff remaining? that will be a good opportunity to search for the leak too.

"Repairs in a bottle" never work....... for long. A swelling gasket, is a deteriorating gasket, that will eventually fail, rather than leak.

update..

so when i got the oil changed, the jiffy lube guy found that the drain plug gasket/seal was a shredded mess. the trans pan was loose and the oil filter was also loose. it was very messy and wet under there. this particular jiffy lube was great.

but i guess that means the ez lube guys last time, and the other jiffy lube i was going to hadn't spotted that? does stuff just come loose like that? i'd been getting oil changes at either 3000 miles or at least when the computer oil life reading hits 15%. was it sabotagee? or did those things just slip by?

where can someone go to work on their car if they don't have a garage? wish i could learn to do more of it myself and not get ripped off..

anyway, you guys were right about looking for leaks and tightening stuff. thanks :)