2004 Ecotec engine leak - Maintenance and Repair Forum

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2004 Ecotec engine leak
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 5:47 AM
Hey everybody! Just some food for thought here... I have a 2004 ecotec and for some time now, it appears that I have some sort of oil-like substance leaking from my engine. I took the car into a car wash bay and cleaned out the engine bay real nice. a few weeks later, I noticed the same oily leak where the engine meets the transmission housing. If I remove the air intake pipe, there is this black plastic-looking plug thing. Could that be where the oil is coming from? I heard rumour that it could be a "Front Crankcase leak" or something to that effect...
Is this something that I could fix with some time and a few beers or do I have to make the repair shop richer?

:-)

Thanks poeples!

Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 2:56 PM
The black plastic thing is an oil pressure sending unit, and it is pretty common for them to leak.

But...... I am in the same boat as you, I have an '03 with a massive oil leak. I narrowed it down to either the oil sending unit or the rear main seal.

After replacing the oil sending unit (only cost me 20 bucks) I still have a huge leak.

You are mistaken about the Front crankcase leak, the front seal is on the end with the belts, the rear main seal is where the engine meets the transmission.



Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 3:40 PM
Well, the oil pressure sensor will leak on top of the bell housing of the trans, the rear main leak will be at the bottom of the motor, where the trans and motor meet. Sometimes it looks as if the oil pan is leaking bc the oil will be all over the side of the pan, and over some parts of the bottom of the trans. I would say this is a sensor leak. If so just pull it out, put some tape on it and seal it up or change the sensor. If the leak gets lower its the rear main.




Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Friday, February 06, 2009 7:48 PM
Alright! Thanks a lot everyone! (Sorry for the delayed response... I'm still living under rock without internet...) I'll definitely give the sensor a try. I'll just head on down to the dealership and order up a part. From what was said earlier, sounds like an easy job to fix :-)
Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Monday, March 16, 2009 6:05 PM
BUMP!! i got teh same problem!! just noticed it today, and it looks pretty bad. At first i thought it was teh oil pan gasket , but after readin this im hoping its that sensor. Is that the real name of teh sensor? i was looking it up and couldnt find it... Anyone give me a lil more advice?? I need my car to get to werk...this sucks!!
Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 8:12 AM
ok i was just outside looking at my car...wheres this damn sensor?? is it teh one below teh intake manifold right above teh starter?? I think i saw a single tan wire going to it..... funny thing is my oil light never came on....some one plz help meh!
Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 9:18 PM
Hey everyone! I originally posted this thing and i've figured out what the real problem is! (Well, for me anyway...) it turns out that the leak was coming from the oil filter cap. apparently, ecotecs have some sort of canister type oil filter that goes into the engine. it's that black cap thing that has a big hex nut on it. i noticed it because like most of you, I pressure washed my engine bay, drove it 20 km then had another look in the engine bay. Low and behold, there was a little trickle coming out of the oil filter cap! It turns out that the gasket and/or the plastic cracks causing the leak. I went to the dealership and it costed $26.99 canadian. I think it can only be changed when you do an oil change so stupid me, I had the oil changed BEFORE changing the cap so I have 3000 kilometers to go before I change it :-) I hope this works and solves the mysterious oil leak. No for the driveway I have to clean up... Hmmm. :-)
Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 6:37 AM
interesting...i was thinking teh same thing cuz it looked like it was leaking from there but i thought nah......i gotta go check that!!! ill let ya know what happens
Re: 2004 Ecotec engine leak
Friday, March 20, 2009 4:28 PM
idiot who changed my oil never even put teh gasket on...wtf ....luckly every thing "seems" ok, hopes this helps some one in teh future...
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