Cam phaser oil leak VVT oil weep 5.3 L83 6.2 L86

[2018GMC]

Hi all,

 Anyone else have a small oil weep on front of engine above crank pulley? I think it’s the VVT cam phaser. I removed my air box and tube. Noticed a small oil weep. It just surrounds the sensor but not running down timing chain cover. Cleaned it off with carb cleaner. 
 

My 2018 6.2L just turned 20k miles. I’m out of bumper to bumper but still have a few months of power train left. My dealer sucks so if it continues to weep may try replacing gasket myself? Has anyone done this? 
 

Any other known leak areas on this generation of engines?

Edited August 16, 2022 by 2018GMC

[2018GMC]

Guessing most don't have a leak or haven't noticed it since you can't see unless you remove the "batwing" air intake. I found this old thread and will prob just replace o-ring myself if it continues to leak in the next few weeks / months.
 

 

[CamGTP]

I've seen them leak there on a few trucks. Lucky for me mine isn't leaking anything yet. I just have a minor oil pan seep at the rear that comes and goes, can go months without a drip and then I get a drip lol.

 

Probably safe to say that it may take another 20,000 miles to look like that again.

[Spurshot]

8 hours ago, 2018GMC said:

Guessing most don't have a leak or haven't noticed it since you can't see unless you remove the "batwing" air intake. I found this old thread and will prob just replace o-ring myself if it continues to leak in the next few weeks / months.
 

 

 

That's my truck.  I didn't notice it for quite a while.  Just a year before the pandemic started, I saw it because the leak was bad enough to have wet the bottom of the engine where I could see it during oil changes. It was getting onto the crossmember and on the AC compressor, and other things as well.  There were no/few drips on the driveway.  But it was getting pretty well distributed under there.  Oil leaks tend to get progressively worse. 

 

I had taken it in to the dealer before the pandemic for the recalls.  While there, I asked if they could let me know what it would cost to fix the leak (which was of unknown source, at the time).  The service writer quipped "$5000".  I'm sure to drive me off.    It did.  

 

So, a couple months ago, I get up the steam to try to address this leak, leading to that thread you linked to.  

 

I think you'll find this is a very simple job, even if you don't do much of your own maintenance. Took me twice as long to type this as fixing it. You'll need a Torx bit set and a 1/4" drive ratchet and short extension.  I'd recommend you clean the area before doing anything else. You don't want any dirt getting into the engine.   I had oil everywhere and coated with many miles of dirt from off-road. So, I bought a few cans of Autozone store brand Engine Degreaser and went to a quarter car wash.  I had to clean underneath as well.  Your engine doesn't look bad at all.  Still dropping that front splash shield and cleaning up a bit under the crankshaft area can't hurt.  That seal/O'ring is about $9 at the dealership.  

 

Fixing oil leaks is particularly satisfying to me.  I hate a leaky engine. 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Spurshot

[2018GMC]

@Spurshot Thanks for the reply and your detailed post. I do all of the maintenance on  my older trucks. Done oil changes and bilstein 5100 2” lift on the 2018. Your post made this look super easy. I’ll keep an eye on the leak and prob just do it myself. I checked bolts. They are tight and T30 torx. Must be shrinking oring. 

Edited August 17, 2022 by 2018GMC