RFF

Found an oil leak on the car, it is kind of like where the timing cover meets the oil pan. The leak is very small, basically it just collects oil gunk on a loom and some lines. I want to go synthetic but I'm wondering how bad will the leak will increase? I have heard people say running synthetic will cause a leak to get very bad and I have heard a leak will increase but not by much so what can I be expecting here? Also say for instance if the leak does get bad could I switch back to mineral oil and sort of reduce the leak bad to the old status?

red9450

I would add something a little heavier tahn your running now, and stay away from synthetic. see if that slows the leak. worked for me before

archemedes

synthetic DOES NOT flow better or cause leaks oil weight is measured in viscocity and it is the same test for dino or synthetic, synthetic just cleans better, and doesn't form sludge from teh impurities in dino oil that is the reason people think it causes leaks, now with that said will it get worse yes, all leaks start small and get bigger will it be from teh oil no oil doesn't cause leaks it just leaks, would I fix it right now no let it go until it gets bad, then pull teh motor and do a rebuild stick with 10w30 (it's what comes in every gm car that's not diesel from teh factory)

red9450

like you said, it cleans better. If the dino juice doesn't clean the hole out, could seal it up better. thats what I was getting at.

archemedes

while filling the motor with gunk that's the problem if it fills those holes it fills the holes inside that it's supposed to flow through

red9450

Haha. ok.

RFF

Anyone have an idea how hard it is being fat and trying to get under a Camaro with no jack/ramps? Well take that plus hunting for black loom at night pretty much sucks. I ended shooting blind and looking for the crank pully. But this is basically the leak.

archemedes

clean the engine and see where it's comming from, that may be an intake, or front seal leak

RFF

Not an easy task even with ramps but some simple green should work. I don't know if this is true with the newer engines but I know the older Chevys had problems leaking around the timing chain cover, that and leaky valve cover gaskets.

meissen

I had the leak at the timing cover's gasket... but mine was coolant. Had to tear the front all apart and replace the gasket. pain in the ***, but it semi fixed the problem. Now I only find two drops of oil under my car every morning compared to puddles of coolant.

archemedes

anything that bolts on can leak

RFF

True, so to hell with it I'm going synthetic. Already have the Mobil 1 filter just need to decide now whether to go with Mobil 1, Royal Purple, or Leading Edge.

archemedes

mobile 1 is cheaper I run it in the gp right now, the royal purple is in the bravada and it doesn't tend to burn as easy as the mobile 1 (had it in teh van also and that thing burned oil)

RFF

Yeah for a few cents extra I think the royal purple would be worth it, the leading edge is the same price I just can't seem to find any info on the oil itself.

archemedes

never even seen it, and royal purple a few cents? last time I bought it it was 2 bucks a quart more