Are engine oil leaks a symptom of age or mileage?

[JDgreen227]

Could also be a plugged or failed PCV system.

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.

 

[GManBart]

There are way too many variables to have one definitive answer. In your case, it sounds like time was the bigger factor, but it's hard to tell. Maybe the cause of the leak was because of a gasket/seal that wasn't as good as it should have been from the start, or there was a minor casting flaw that was missed...or something odd like that...no way of knowing without tearing the engine apart, and even then it may not be obvious.

 

[tcartwri]

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.

These early LS motors were notorious for sucking oil into the intake from the pcv. You need to check upstream of the valve at the throttle body itself.

 

[CobyRupert]

For parts that are "non-moving", let's throw in another variable besides age and mileage, which I think is even more important: the number of heat/cooling cycles. (- where the heating/cooling turns them into "moving parts".)

 

[Soundguy]

Was cleaning my garage floor yesterday and noticed that my Y2K GMC has just begun leaking oil, it's not from the drain plug or oil filter. I am truthfully surprised it has gone this long without a leak, as most of my vehicles began leaking oil at the 6 or 7 year mark. The truck still has less than 40,000 miles and I am wondering if engine oil leaks are more a symptom of age or mileage?
Anyone have an opinion on this?

be glad.. my 2000 yukon has been using oil to the tune of a quart per 1km since nearly new..

 

[RedNeckRacin]

be glad.. my 2000 yukon has been using oil to the tune of a quart per 1km since nearly new..

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!

 

[tcartwri]

be glad.. my 2000 yukon has been using oil to the tune of a quart per 1km since nearly new..

A lot of guys plumb an oil seperator and catch can into the pcv lines on these motors.

 

[Clint S]

I once had a dealership tell me
"Weeeeeeellllllll a little seepage is normal in the vehicles so warranty will not cover the repair" I asked to look at used cars on the lot and stated if every one leaked I was OK with not doing the repair. It got it done.

So according to my ex stealership a little seepage is normal, but as others said gaskets wear out and may start to leak, heat cool cycles, vibration ect. Don't think of it as a leak think of it
Sweating Horsepower

 

[J F]

I know the older I get the more I leak .

Ya know, after reading here for a number of months, I've sometimes thought you were quite the "whatever", but yes, this was funny as helllll. :thumbsup:

 

[JDgreen227]

Ya know, after reading here for a number of months, I've sometimes thought you were quite the "whatever", but yes, this was funny as helllll. :thumbsup:

I hit Six-Two this summer, which is why I commented earlier in this thread that kevin37b's comment was one of the funniest things I have ever read on TBN...sad thing is, I know EXACTLY what he is referring to....