Whats that smell? I know now!!!

Zane · April 21, 2001

Well i finally got the chance to get under my truck today. First nice day without snow on the driveway.

The ZR2's have skidplates all under them in the front, so i had to open up the oilfilter change "door". The limited view i saw was enough to confirm my thoughts. I am leaking oil.

Its all over the feed and return lines going to the oil filter. Not on the filter its self though. Its so bad that its dripping from the lines to the underside of the skiplate and pooling there. The plate is keeping it from dripping out on the to ground.

I cannot trace exactly where its comming from, but i can see oil all on the lower half of the engine block around the lowest pully. Oil is present below the headers (from what i can see).

My worst fear is the block is cracked. I just hope that its a loose line somewhere.

Well off to the dealer. Darn.

April 21, 2001

It is most likely a fitting going to or from your oil cooler. If you try to fix it yourself, remember to always loosen hydraulic fittings and retighten.

Frank S · April 21, 2001

Dammit Zane!

I told you two months ago to check the bypass lines.

The ZR2's have a relocation system,similar to a dual bypass but it only has one filter,that moves the filter under the skid plate to where it is accessible by a trap door in the skid plate.

The leaking oil lines is a very common problem on the ZR2 models.

Zane · April 22, 2001

Quote: from yZR2k on 6:33 pm on April 21, 2001
Dammit Zane!

I told you two months ago to check the bypass lines.

The ZR2's have a relocation system,similar to a dual bypass but it only has one filter,that moves the filter under the skid plate to where it is accessible by a trap door in the skid plate.

The leaking oil lines is a very common problem on the ZR2 models.

Yea, you told me before!!! I Admit it!

I do think that is the problem, BUT why would there be oil on the block??

MountaineerTom · April 22, 2001

Quote: from Friz on 5:01 pm on April 21, 2001
If you try to fix it yourself, remember to always loosen hydraulic fittings and retighten.

Why is that Friz? Just curious, I've never heard that before.

April 22, 2001

Quote: from MountaineerTom 99Z71 on 7:56 pm on April 21, 2001
Quote: from Friz on 5:01 pm on April 21, 2001
If you try to fix it yourself, remember to always loosen hydraulic fittings and retighten.

Why is that Friz? Just curious, I've never heard that before.

Mechanical things break. Fluid bearing parts leak. In Navy aircraft we found that hydraulic fittings will leak after sustaining a lot of vibration. If you just continue to tighten the fitting, it will strip and leak like a bastard. Loosen the fitting about two turns, clean the threads and retorque. You will reseat the fitting and all the components will be happy. Do this carefully and you will not expose the system to air (especially where brakes are concerned).

General Lee 01 · April 24, 2001

Did you make your trip to the dealer today? (Monday)

Kansas Kid · April 24, 2001

I don't think he goes to the dealer until Friday. Just some advice for ya Zane. Since you are too lazy to get under there, tighten the fittings on those lines that Frank mentioned and see if that works (not to mention possibly saving a trip to the dealer), check your oil daily!

If she is leaking that much, you could save yourself some possible major headaches that way.

Zane · April 24, 2001

Quote: from Kansas Kid on 5:26 pm on April 24, 2001
I don't think he goes to the dealer until Friday. Just some advice for ya Zane. Since you are too lazy to get under there, tighten the fittings on those lines that Frank mentioned and see if that works (not to mention possibly saving a trip to the dealer), check your oil daily!

If she is leaking that much, you could save yourself some possible major headaches that way.

Sorry but with tha mount of oil that is under there, i'm not touching anything. I am checking the oil level daily though. if something happens between now and friday, thats the dealers fault.

LOL, i actually did go to the dealers today (tuesday), but had the vette, and not the truck. :biggrin:

Frank S · April 24, 2001

It isn't how tight the fittings are or aren't,the problem actually stems from where the fitting goes into the hose.

This has been a problem with them since they first started producing them in 1994 so if anyone knows somebody with a ZR2,tell them to watch for oil seapage on the bypass lines leading from behind the filter because it's not a matter of if they'll leak,it's a matter of when they'll leak.