[Solved] 5.3 Common Oil Leaks Quick Fixes- GM Chevrolet

5.3 common oil leaks are addressed for multiple issues. Degraded engine gasket, oil filter adapter or simple oil cap can cause Chevrolet 5.3 liter engines leak oil. Today you’ll know the reasons, how to diagnose and DIY fix the common oil leak issues.

Why does General Motors 5.3 Lite Engine’s suffer from an oil leak? You’ve probably seen the many reports of General Motors’ 5.3-liter engine oil leak lawsuits. And you may have even seen the class-action lawsuit that General Motors had to settle in 2017 to the time of $142 million.

Oil leaks are a common issue with many vehicles, and the General Motors Chevrolet 5.3 liter engine is no different.

The good news is that it doesn’t take a professional to discover the reasons and fix them. You can solve the problem on your own! Don’t forget to ask for your free car if you have to visit a repair shop anyway.

In this blog post, I’ll provide you three most common reasons for oil leaks on General Motors 5.3 Liter Engines, what you should look out to diagnose the problem, and the DIY steps to fix the problem. 

The engine gasket is one of the most common causes of leaks. The gasket in your engine is a seal that joins metal components together to ensure a free flow of fluids without vacuum leak. The gasket ensures tight clearance between two metal components.

Degrading of the engine gaskets is caused by the oil creating a sludge scenario over time, followed by an accompanying increase in pressure, which is detrimental to the gasket. The sludge scenario occurs when the oil breaks down over time due to the extended period of exposure to temperature.

Also, wear and tear can lead to your gasket getting damaged. The oil pan, which is located at the bottom of the engine, is also vulnerable to damage due to debris from driving on the road. The oil pan is responsible for lubricating and cooling the engine.

When the gasket between the oil pan and the valve cover wears out, this could cause an oil leak in your vehicle. I found this one helpful for repairing small blown head gasket leaks. And I always use the manual downloaded from here.

General Motors models hold the most number of high mileage engines affected by this issue. The latest statistic that came out is that out of 1,900,000 million vehicles that have been recalled, there are 2,000 engines with degraded gaskets. Only 200 engines out of 2,000 were found to leak.

How To Detect Degraded Engine Gasket Issue

The following oil pan gasket leak symptoms might point to the fact that your car’s engine probably has a degraded engine gasket or oil pan. If you notice the following signs, it’s time to replace the gasket.

• Smoke Coming out of your engine

If you notice smoke coming out of your engine, you probably have a degraded gasket. This smoke occurs when the oil in the oil pan drops on the exhaust manifold.

• Droplets of Oil Under your Car

If you notice puddles of oil under your vehicle, the problem is probably due to a faulty gasket in the oil pan. The gasket, being made of rubber, would tend to degrade over time due to the high temperature it is exposed to in the engine.

• Overheating of your engine

When oil leaks in your car, it’ll make the oil level drop below normal, causing overheating in your engine. If you notice overheating in your vehicle, it might be a sign of an oil pan leak. Phosphate free coolant can fix the issue effectively. Here’s my guide on correct antifreeze coolant ratio.

Step By Step Guide On oil pan gasket leak quick fix (DIY)

Using a stop leak additive is the easiest and most cost-effective oil pan gasket leak quick fix. I recommend having a one step leak stop for convenience. If this doesn’t solve the problem, the only way to fix the Oil leak in your car is by changing the engine gasket if diagnosed as a worn-out engine gasket. Scan your car before popping up the hood. Here’s how to scan. The DIY steps in changing an engine gasket are explained below;

1. Remove the battery
2. Remove all components connected to the intake manifold.
3. While removing the components, don’t forget to note those components’ positions for ease during decoupling. Take a photo or video clip and later use it for reference.
4. Remove the exhaust manifold from the head of the cylinder.
5. Remove the cover of the engine.
6. Remove the timing belt or chain.
7. Make sure you indicate marks on the timing chain or belt, also for ease during recoupling. You can take a snapshot for reference.
8. Remove the cover of the valve from the head of the cylinder.
9. Disconnect the pushrods and the arm rockers.
10. Remove the bolts on the cylinder head.
11. Then, remove the cylinder head from the engine.
12. Use a scraper and an aerosol to clean the cylinder’s head and engine block’s connecting surfaces.
13. Install the new engine gasket, and make sure it fits on the engine block, ensuring that the right side is facing upwards. Here’s how to measure correctly.
14. Replace the cylinder head.
15. Install the new head bolts and using a torque wrench and an angle gauge to tighten the head bolts to a specific torque value for proper sealing of the gasket head.
16. Re-Install the timing belt or chain, valve cover, and other components that you’ve previously removed.

Not all causes of oil leaks in vehicles are notable. It might just be a slight problem with your filler cap. The oil filler cap is an essential component in your car’s engine, yet one of the most delicate and vital parts. There’s a filler cap in the engine oil compartment that covers the hole where the engine oil is being added. 

Recently, General Motors Corporation announced a recall of more than 1 million cars due to an engine oil filler cap issue.

The filler cap helps to prevent dust or dirt from entering the engine oil compartment. When this filler cap is removed, broken, loose, damaged, or not tightened properly, the engine oil is likely to spill out, and this can cause oil drips underneath your vehicle while parked or riding. What causes oil leaks? When the engine generates pressure, stress can be exerted on the filler cap, causing an oil leak.

Read my guide on how to fix low oil pressure at idle.

How To Detect Oil Filler Cap Issues

If you notice oil leaking in your vehicle, the first thing to do and the first component to check is the oil filler cap. The steps below explain the procedures to follow to diagnose that your car’s oil leaking problem is from the oil filler cap.

1. Open your bonnet.
2. Locate the engine oil compartment.
3. If you find out that there’s no filler cap there, that’s the leading cause of the oil leak in your car.
4. If your filler cap is loosened or not correctly tightened/aligned, this could likely be because of your car’s oil leak problem.
5. If you notice that the cap is broken or damaged, this is the source of the oil leak in your car.
6. A bad or worn-out rubber seal on the filter cap might cause an oil leak in your vehicle.
7. Use the dipstick to check if there’s too much oil in the engine oil compartment. Too much oil in the engine can lead to leaks through the filler cap.
8. If the filler cap doesn’t have any issues, pressure builds up in the crankcase could be why oil would leak through your filler cap. Hence, check for oil accumulation in the head of the filler cap.

That’s why I mix specialized hybrid oil booster additives to my engine oil.

Step By Step Guide On How To Solve Oil Filler Cap Issues (DIY)

1. If your oil filler cap has been removed, broken, misplaced, or damaged, you’ll need to buy a new filler cap. Replacing the oil filler cap would solve the issue.
2. If you notice that the leaking problem is from a misaligned filler cap, make sure you tighten the lid properly.
3. If the problem is a lousy O-ring or rubber seal on the filter cap, replacing the rubber seal on the filter cap with rubber formulated with nitrile. Nitrile helps to prevent the O-rings and rubber seals in the internal combustion engine from deterioration.
4. If there’s too much oil in the engine oil compartment, drain the oil and replace it with the appropriate quantity.
5. Remove the filler cap and clean the drain holes to prevent oil from draining from the head back to the crankcase. This would help to prevent oil accumulation in the head.

Read why different oil grades are recommended for different vehicles here.

General Motors has recalled 1.4 million cars for a faulty oil filter adapter. A faulty oil filter can be the cause of oil leaks in your vehicle. The oil filter removes all the dirt in the oil before pumping it back to the engine to provide lubrication for the engine’s components. See details here.

If the oil filter is not tightened enough, the engine’s pressure build could cause the oil to leak from the filter.

Using a small oil filter would also cause loosen seals on the oil filter when fastening the filter onto the engine. If you notice a build-up of oil throughout the top of your oil filter, this could be the source of oil leaks in your car. 

How To Detect Oil Filter Issues

If you notice the following symptoms, it could be that you have a faulty oil filter.

• Overheating of the engine

A clogged oil filter would prevent oil from entering your engine, hence depriving the engine of lubrication. This could eventually lead to overheating of your engine, thereby illuminating the ‘check engine light.

• Dirty fumes coming out of your exhaust system

A clogged oil filter would cause the flow of oil into your exhaust system, where it would eventually burn up. This could lead to dirty fumes coming out of your tailpipe.

• Low oil pressure

A clogged oil filter, which prevents oil from flowing into your engine, might lead to an erratic drop in oil pressure while you’re driving. The oil pressure in your vehicle is monitored by the oil pressure gauge in your vehicle’s dashboard. A drop in oil pressure is terrible for your car’s health.

• Sound of metallic noises in your engine

If you hear the sound of metallic components grinding against each other while driving, the source of the problem could be a clogged oil filter. When the oil filter is clogged, the engine lacks lubrication, leading to an increase in the engine’s friction and overheating.

I have weighted the differences between Castrol and Pennzoil here.

Step By Step Guide On How To Solve Oil Filter Issues (DIY)

The solution for a faulty/clogged oil filter is to use clean oil for your engine and replace the filter. Degrease your engine before and after oil filter replacement. I use environment-friendly non-aerosol cleaners and recommend that too. Follow the steps below to replace your faulty oil filter:

1. Warm up your car, or drive around for about 5-10 minutes to ease oil flow.
2. Park your vehicle on a flat surface, switch off the engine, and open the bonnet.
3. Locate the old oil filter, and remove all the pipes connected to the oil filler.
4. Jack the car up and put a bowl under the oil drain plug to collect the oil.
5. Use a screwdriver or a socket wrench to open the oil drain plug and completely drain the oil.
6. After draining all the oil, replace the oil plug, tighten with your hand first, then use a wrench to secure it.
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Use your disposable gloves to remove the old oil filter. Be careful here because the old oil filter might contain hot oil.
9. Use a brush to lubricate the new filter and secure it in place by tightening it with your hand.
10. Jack the car up, remove dirt from the drainage hole, and screw tight the new drainage plug with a gasket.
11. Again, lower the vehicle, and keep pouring oil till it reaches the highest spot on the dipstick.
12. Screw the filler cap properly.
13. Start the engine and let it run for some minutes to circulate the oil.
14. Use the dipstick to recheck the oil level. If the oil is not enough, add more. If the oil level is okay, then the replacement of the filter was successful.

Do you know your cash car purchase can come after you? Here’s my guide on why buying a car with cash can be a crime (Form 8300 explained too)

• Oil leaking in your vehicle isn’t something you should ignore. Check it out now! Fixing oil leaks should be your priority.
• Your car needs adequate oil in the engine to provide lubrication for the engine’s adequate performance and the components to perform smoothly. The absence of this lubrication can cause overheating, thereby leading to damage of components in your engine.
• If you don’t fix the oil leak problem in your car, your car would probably keep running till the oil runs out. This could severely damage your engine.
• If you choose to ignore oil leaks in your car, it could bring about wear and tear in your vehicle over time.
• When oil leaks are left unchecked in your car, it can lead to premature degrading of the rubber tubes and seals. It can cause dirty stains along your drive-path, lead to engine failure, and can cause fire-outbreak in your engine bay.
• Leaking oil can create stains and slippery surfaces on the road, your garages, parking spaces, etc.
• Oil spilling on the ground is dangerous to plants and animals. It is an environmental hazard.
• Topping your engine compartment with oil when your car has leaking issues might drain you financially. Modern engine oils are costly!

I scan my car regularly to monitor the overall health and save money on expensive repairs. Here’s how you can do it yourself too.

An oil leak might not affect your car’s performance, and it might not be a safety hazard, but it can cause the engine to burn more oil. So, fixing your car’s oil leak is worth it if you don’t want your engine to burn more oil.

The statistics of vehicles with an oil leak is about 15%. However, it’s most likely higher due to many people not being aware of their car’s oil leak. The first thing I do after noticing an oil leak is applying a specialized oil leak stop additive before getting my toolset.

• One of the best methods to prevent oil leaks is by changing the oil and filter regularly. Changing the engine oil regularly is vital to your car’s health and performance. Changing the oil ensures that a clean oil with the correct properties is supplied into the engine. Changing the oil filter regularly helps to avoid oil leak issues due to clogging. Clogging in the oil filter prevents oil from being distributed into the engine.
• Using the correct type of oil in your engine.
• Regular Maintenance Checks: The signs of oil leaks usually leave effects on other areas and parts of the engine. Routine checks are the best way to monitor your engine’s overall health.
• Avoid overfilling of the oil during frequent oil changes. Always maintain the specified level. Overfilled oil can lead to oil leaking in your vehicle.
• Regularly apply leak stop additives on the gasket and seals. This would ensure better performance of the gasket and seals to prevent leaking.

Here’s my guide on the best engine oil.

There you have it! Fixing a GM 5.3 common oil leaks. Suppose you’re faced with any of these problems. In that case, the first step is to diagnose the cause of the leak and stay on top of it by reading carefully and implementing these easy-to-follow steps.

Here’s a secret. Use this calculator and see how much your car salesman made by selling you a car.