Are engine oil leaks a symptom of age or mileage?

[timswi]

I had an '01 Tahoe 5.3 that never leaked. Sold to to my neighbor almost 4 years ago and it's still bone dry. Does it have an engine oil cooler? The hoses/connectors can dry rot..40K on a 13 year old vehicle implies a ton of sitting.

I've had a few high mileage 5.3's and none of them ever leaked oil..Maybe used 1/2 quart of oil over 4500 miles.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had an '01 Tahoe 5.3 that never leaked. Sold to to my neighbor almost 4 years ago and it's still bone dry. Does it have an engine oil cooler? The hoses/connectors can dry rot..40K on a 13 year old vehicle implies a ton of sitting.

I've had a few high mileage 5.3's and none of them ever leaked oil..Maybe used 1/2 quart of oil over 4500 miles.

Another thing to check is the tranny cooler lines. I have changed a number of them. All in all most all if not all the late model GM vehicles I have been around seem to have tight motors that do not leak oil.

Chris

 

[Topkicker]

Before this turns into a "this brand is better than your POS General Motors truck" thread, the answer to your question is simple. It's not age or millage. You have a failing gasket or seal. When dealing with ANY mass produced vehicle, failing parts can range from the day you brought it home to 10 years down the road.

 

[timswi]

Another thing to check is the tranny cooler lines. I have changed a number of them. All in all most all if not all the late model GM vehicles I have been around seem to have tight motors that do not leak oil.

Chris

Possible but I'm relying on the assumption that the OP can see the difference between tranny fluid and oil...I've never had a tranny line go bad either. The only leak I've had in close to 20 years is an intake coolant connector on a '97 5.7..Easy fix.

 

[dhagood]

the rear main seal on my 95 gmc k1500 has developed a major leak. at 131,000+ miles and 18 years i guess i can't complain too much. the part is something like $38 so that is no big deal. i just have to get'er done.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Possible but I'm relying on the assumption that the OP can see the difference between tranny fluid and oil...I've never had a tranny line go bad either. The only leak I've had in close to 20 years is an intake coolant connector on a '97 5.7..Easy fix.

Really. I have changed 5 or so sets. Just did some ona Durango last month.

I think he also would know the difference in fluids but just wanted to through it out incase he had not checked the fluid and just assumed.

Chris

 

[CJONE]

No chance of that as my GMC has been maintained far in excess of what the factory specs call for. What CJONE says about letting a vehicle sit cannot always be correct. Prior to my divorce I owned a '93 Cutlass with the 3.4 V6, it was stored at least every winter and sometimes for two or three years at a stretch yet it never leaked a drop of fluids.

Yea, I should have said CAN cause. Sorry

 

[CJONE]

ouch! must be something about y2k? my 2001 international is using oil, sure blows a good puff of black smoke on start up though! Its blowing out the valve cover breather, and around the oil pan. I think a gasket kit is in my future!

I'll kinda agree with the y2k thing, my 2000 2500 Chevy was/is the biggest pile I have ever owned. Could't get rid of it fast enough. CJ

 

[ededic]

My 99 GMC 2500 (new body style) sat most of it's life as I only put 2200+/- miles a year on it. Every time I started it up it seemed to have something wrong with it. A leak, a sound, a squeal. Gaskets dry, belts harden, hoses deteriorate and corrode when idle. My 96 Audi A4 was purchased with 60k miles in 2004 and was said to have sat in a parking garage in Chicago as a weekend car. I replaced many parts on this car over the years that I chalked up to sitting fatigue. These vehicles are meant to be driven and used. I now bought a new truck as my only vehicle and daily driver and do not have nearly the issues and have over 100k on it.

My deep personal research and an ounce of opinion.

Ed

 

[Soundguy]

heck the dealer told me that useage level was book spec