2000 Chevy Suburban Oil Pan Leak Question?

[skunkaperecords]

I have a 2000 Chevy Suburban 1500 5.3L V8. It has been leaking oil at a pretty fast rate over the past few months and I took it down to my wife's grandfathers garage. He says I have an oil pan leak from the oil pan gasket where the skinny long bolts/screws secure the pan to the engine.

He mentioned to me that his friends 1997 Suburban had the same problem but that they had to replace the same oil pan gasket twice in two months because it kept leaking. Does anyone know why this oil pan gasket is such a problem with the Chevy Suburbans? And do you have any advice on how to fix it right the first time so that we do not have to do it again a few months down the road?

Thank you so much!

 

[Michael S]

First thing you should do is take it off properly. Take off all bolts except for two on front and two on back. They come off last. Loosen the front just one turn each bolt. Next loosen the rear two one turn and using a rubber mallet knock on the sides of the pan all the way around. Working the rear bolts looser and looser until the pan is completely off the block.
This ensures that you didn't bend the rim of the pan.
Use a straight edge on the pan to check for straightness and if all is good, Clean it up and put the new gasket on. I hold the gasket at the holes with thread tied through the holes and it's never leaked. If it's all straight, I use axle grease on both sides of the gasket and remember to tighten bolts from opposite sides a little bit at a time.