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Rear main seal.

Eric E. Martin

By Eric E. Martin
in Engines & Drivetrain

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Eric E. Martin Enthusiast

Eric E. Martin

Posted
Posted

I own a 2015 GMC SIERRA 5.3L ecotec 3. I have an oil catch can on my truck. Winter is in now and the truck recently started pouring oil out bottom of engine by the bell housing. Dealership told me the lines for the catch can froze and caused the engine to build excess pressure and made the rear main seal to leak. They did fix it but it had to put it back to stock before they would do the repair. I really want to keep the can on the truck to keep all the crap out of the engine. Any advise or input needed.

truckguy82 Senior Enthusiast

truckguy82

Posted
Posted

Damn never thought about that happening but it makes sense as after all it's not coolant water that's going into it. Maybe the reason the manufacturer won't install a catch can.

joshc64311 Enthusiast

joshc64311

Posted
Posted

Damn never thought about that happening but it makes sense as after all it's not coolant water that's going into it. Maybe the reason the manufacturer won't install a catch can.

That's why I don't have one on mine, I live on South West Pa and it can get pretty cold here.

Nwatson99 Enthusiast

Nwatson99

Posted
Posted

I had acutally wondered about it freezing off during the winter with the condensation / water everyone had posted pics of, I will be monitoring mine and possbile relocate it somewhere close to the engine to keep everything toasty warm encase it is getting to the freezing point.

Thanks for the info Eric.

truckguy82 Senior Enthusiast

truckguy82

Posted
Posted

Well, on that note, seems like someone needs to engineer a pressure bypass valve for these things, so it can revert back to stock routing should the lines freeze up. There must be a considerable difference in pressure between positive crankcase pressure and forcing oil out of the RMS

Eric E. Martin Enthusiast

Eric E. Martin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I have heard people having no problems with their cans. I did how ever drain 8oz from the can. I want to put it back on buy have mixed feelings after the dealership said it's the cause of my rear main seal to leak. Thoughts or experiences?

15_silverado Enthusiast

15_silverado

Posted
Posted

I have heard people having no problems with their cans. I did how ever drain 8oz from the can. I want to put it back on buy have mixed feelings after the dealership said it's the cause of my rear main seal to leak. Thoughts or experiences?

8 ounces? How many miles and how long of a time period was that to collect 8 ounces?

 

Maybe just a more frequent drain interval would work for winter. But you do have me concerned, I usually drain mine every oil change 5000 miles or about 3 months, I will check mine more often now.

 

I wonder how much is OK to leave in the can before draining say in the summer, anyone know how much the elite 2 can safely hold?

TJay74 Senior Enthusiast

TJay74

Posted
Posted

If you keep the catch can empty regularly you shouldn't have an issue. GM does offer and does put a catch can on some of the vehicles, the reason they are not on all vehicles is because owners wont empty them regularly which would allow the can to become full and then liquid oil would be sucked into the intake track which could cause a hydro-lock of a cylinder in the engine.

HondaHawkGT Senior Enthusiast

HondaHawkGT

Posted
Posted

Mine is mounted next to the windshield washer fluid. I zip-tied the lines to the coolant hose so that any moisture runs back to the can. Wherever you decide to mount the can, the key is to not leave any droops in the hose that would create a low spot for water to collect. I have to dump my can once as week to keep the can from filling up. I've thought about drilling a hole in the bottom to run a hose to another larger container.

Nwatson99 Enthusiast

Nwatson99

Posted
Posted

How is your system piped

How and where was your catch can mounted and lines ran when it froze off?

 

I changed my location yesterday utilizing the master cylinder bolt, thus cutting my lines in half and keeping everything closer to the motor for heat. I was originally going to install it there anyway, however this location is going to cause inconvenience when changing oil, but oh well just take it off, then re-install it I guess.

 

sdeeter19555 Senior Enthusiast

sdeeter19555

Posted
Posted

I'm going to ask this just because...isn't there also a vent (the "clean side") opposite the PCV system? Wouldn't that have prevented the pressure from building up? I want to remember there is a clean side "intake" that air is drawn into the engine from the intake tract, that is then drawn out through the PCV side?

 

Or am I mistaken?

 

 

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

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