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Distributor O-ring oil leak


GPdriver1986

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Hey guys I think my distributor o-ring is leaking oil because I checked the back rocker cover and it was not leaking but when I looked under the throttle body there was oil residue. It also seems very strange that the oil seems to be going towards the back of the engine (rocker cover,exhaust manifold,oil pan,tranny pan). I also took a work light and took a good look at the distributor cap thing there is oil residue and I think the previous owner put some silicon or blue stuff on it I think he tried to stop the oil leak. I'll try wiping everything away to see if the oil comes back. Any suggestions or opinions are greatly appreciated.

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oh yeah and I know that the 2.8\3.1 MPFI engines have this problem, because brought our 2.8 Corsica into the shop to get it fixed like 7 years ago.

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there is no distributor on a 3.1, direct fire ignition. several coils on front of engine. but yes, there is a common problem with oil leaking back there. do a search thru the forum to find out what it is.

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yep, thats what he meant. I just changed my O-ring, and it was pretty easy. I had the same leak, all over the back of the motor and tranny pan. If you buy a valley pan gasket set that is lower and upper intakes and TB gaskets, you will get a new O-ring with it. I fixed mine and absolutely no leaking now

 

Robby

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I refer to it as the distributor o-ring because thats where the old distributor used to be (Pre 1986). I know its the oil pump drive shaft. Do I have to remove the plenum?I called a GM dealership they the o-ring costs 2.40$ CAN

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You don't need to remove the plenum but you have to remove the throttle body and while are it, clean the throttle body.

 

You might want to just go ahead and remove the plenum and clean it and all passages including the EGR passages. When you remove the plenum, you have to get a new gaskets. With me, I just bought a cork gasket and created my own plenum gasket since I am removing my plenum a lot for other troubleshooting that I'm doing. I'd recommend to get the right plenum gaskets at the local autoparts store.

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Yes that is probably where your leak is coming from. I just fixed mine and yes you do have to remove the TB to get it out as it is about 4 inches long.

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I refer to it as the distributor o-ring because thats where the old distributor used to be (Pre 1986). I know its the oil pump drive shaft. Do I have to remove the plenum?I called a GM dealership they the o-ring costs 2.40$ CAN

 

It's a good idea sticking with the OEM replacement part. I was told that GM changed the composition of the o-ring material so that would last longer.

 

I don't know how true this is, but it does look and feel different (at least to me) than the replacement ones you get at Pep Boys and the like.

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Do I have to bleed my cooling system because I have to disconnect the coolant hoses on the throttlebody?

 

Like Slade said, you don't have to but that would be an excellent time to go to your local parts store and pickup a "radiator bypass", or so they call it at Advance Autoparts. It is nothing more than a hose with a 90 degree bend in it. just clamp it to the two pipes that connected to the TB and you have officially performed the "Throttle Body Bypass". I did this to mine, not for any performance gains but for the ease of removing the TB when I needed to. The hose connections on the bottom of the TB are held on by 4 bolts, you could remove that as well if you wanted.

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GM updated the seal, I think mine was the color orange the last time I replaced it. I wouldn't use the throttle body bypass kit if you drive the car in the winter, I see you live in Canada.

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