Whisper

Pft! Filled it up. No leaks. Let is sit for an hour, no leaks. Took it for a spin and it's already leaking, more or less around the same area as before. WTF?

84stock

iTrader: (5)

how long did you let it sit and cure??

Whisper

24 hours.

Thing is, it's leaking in the same place as before. I wander if it has something to do with a slightly warped pan (even though I checked the best I could), or engine flex in that particular area.

I hate to redo it, but looks like I have no choice. I'm gonna try using a gasket this time.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Which corner is leaking?

Whisper

Not really a corner. Looks like right side, somewhere in the area under center iron and rear housing. Not seeing any oil forward of center iron. Pretty much where it was leaking from before.

No other leaks anywhere that I can see.

Couple thing that come to mind:

There was a tiny scratch on the oil pan in that area. I don't think it should matter, though. RTV would fill it.
There are two holes in the bottom of the center iron in that area. Maybe RTV is pushed into them and isn't compressed enough, so oil slips by when the engine runs and flexes. Seems like something that a gasket should fix.

Here's a pic of the FC engine from Banzai Racing site. The two holes on the edge of the center iron are probably for the FC mount. On FC the pan goes around them, but the GSL-SE pan edge goes right over them. Could that be a problem?

84stock

iTrader: (5)

I doubt if 24 hours was really enough time...

Whisper

24 hours to fully cure, says so on the package. Most likely curing is not the issue. If it hadn't fully cured, it would have leaked in other places, too. I think it has more to do with the way pan mates to the engine in that specific spot.

wanganwarrior

Use a file to make sure it is level, use "great stuff" silicone. I use it on on oil pans and they NEVER leak and take a lot to get them back off lol

84stock

iTrader: (5)

I have a GSLSE pan on my S5 TII in my fb with no issues

Whisper

Did you use a gasket or no?

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

The engine doesn't flex that much unless the tension bolts are seriously loose. Sounds like the pan is bent enough that the bolt tension isn't straightening it out. Even though the flange may look straight, the edge may be bent down enough to cause a leak. Using a gasket may help fill the space but if the pan leaked with a gasket before then you'll need to straighten the pan.

Whisper

It didn't have a gasket before, either, so I think gasket might help.

84stock

iTrader: (5)

nope

Whisper

Ok, I think I got this sorted.

Resealed. Not seeing any leaks for two days now.

I'm almost 100% sure those engine mount holes were the problem. When I pulled the pan off, sealer had two bumps where it went into the holes and didn't get compressed, and oil was seeping right past them. Maybe I just got unlucky, but I decided not to risk it again and set out to close off the holes.

This is how it was. You can see the holes, they're huge and way wider than the ridge on the oil pan, so it's hard to seal around them.



I beheaded a couple of bolts, notched them for the screwdriver and screwed them into the holes after filing them down a bit to make the surfaces flush.



Then I installed the pan using a gasket and sealant on both sides.

So far so good. I'll see how long it lasts, but it has already outlasted the last resealing job so either way it's an improvement.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Didn't realize you had an FC engine. The blind plugs in the side mount holes should solve your leaking. Nicely done.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

I thought you had a GSL-SE engine. They have horizontal studs on both sides, not downward facing like an FC, as trochoid noticed as well. Glad the fix worked!

Whisper

Word. I should've been more clear on what I have.