So, for those of you in the know, I'm on engine #3 in the cobalt. (The factory engine blew a rod bearing at 118,000 and then I tossed a $100 junkyard This one is a fully built 8.9:1 compression engine. I have about 2,000 miles on the car since I put this engine in back in June. I changed oil two weeks ago, and there was a small piece of black metal stuck to the drain plug in the oil pan. Looked like it was part of a metallic ring between 1-2" in diameter, and about 1/16" thick. Talked to the guy who built this engine for me, and he has no idea where its from, and no one else seems to know. The car was running fine, so it seemed kinda random.

So, last Monday, I'm driving home from work doing like 65mph and I heard a loud bang while I was driving. Still not sure if it was my car or something that was around me. No continual noise, and no loss in oil pressure (Still running 50-80psi) When I got home and parked the car, I looked under her to see if maybe I hit some road debris, and thats when I saw some oil dripping out the front side (crank pulley area) of the oil pan.

Pulled the oil pan off, it was clean inside. No debris, no residue, nothing burned. Cleaned the pan, cleaned the block, and layed down a new layer of RTV ultra grey, and put the pan back on, following the GM torque pattern and everything. (i've gotten good at changing oil pans.....) Ran the car in a driveway for a bit, no problem, so I took it down to the beach and back last night. Oil pressure was fine, then got low (25psi) and when I got home, its leaking worse from the front side. There is oil all over the suspension and my passengers front wheel.

I'm at a loss. Its leaking way worse now than it was and oil pressure is down. (It had been fluctuating tho when driving. Like it wasn't a steady 50 or 5psi, it would go back and forth in that range. I know it sealed well, and I let it sit for 24 hours to cure before I put the oil back in the car. I'm wondering, cracked pan/block, timing cover, crank seal? I dont really want to pull the engine again to rip it apart, unless I have to, since I dont have a second car, and I feel bad relying on my roommate to take me everywhere.

It's been a frustrating year. 2 blown engines, broken AC condenser, broken radiator, and 3 major electrical problems. I just want to be able to drive my car again . :-\


I'm looking for advice and suggestions.......

 

Check the front case. The guy who built the engine might have reused the rubber gasket there. Or maybe he didn't torque it down very good. My brothers cobalt is on it's 3rd engine. The first one blew from the meth line getting kinked, the second one blew because it was a junk yard pos, now we just rebuilt the engine in it over the winter so hopefully it lasts. Lol

 

Yea... Im trying to just not pull the engine, as I dont have a hoist down here yet. Heh Im gonna try and make sure all the timing cover bolts are tight when I get under there today. Its definitely only coming out at the bottom on that side tho.

 

Gotta be something in the front cover/oil pump area.

 

Other guys are saying oil pan crack. I have 2 more oil pans. I may swap that out first. Guy said it would only leak once it was up to operating temps and then was real bad, was a crack in the side of his oil pan.

 

Found it. It broke the fitting for the oil pressure sending unit.

 

check your front main seal. Ive had that go a few times and the same symptoms...easy to check and replace too.


errr....nvm

glad you found it