To me, it looks like the front main seal is leaking, but I’m not too sure. Does anyone else’s 4.3 look like this? Where are the common leak spots on the 4.3?
My 98 4.3 looks about the same. Mine was actually coming from the oil pan and being thrown all over. If the truck is 2WD, you can pull the oil pan to replace the gasket without undoing motor mounts or lifting the engine.
That sounds similar to what I’m experiencing. How difficult was it to replace the oil pan gasket?
Cory said:
That sounds similar to what I’m experiencing. How difficult was it to replace the oil pan gasket?
It wasn’t too bad honestly. Just make sure you have the right tools and a good gasket. It’s easier when you don’t have to lift the engine.
I’ve had issues with leaks on my 4.3 as well. Sometimes it’s just the valve covers too. Those can start to leak and make it look worse than it is.
Rowen said:
I’ve had issues with leaks on my 4.3 as well. Sometimes it’s just the valve covers too. Those can start to leak and make it look worse than it is.
I’ll check those as well. Thanks for the tip. Did you have to replace the valve cover gaskets too?
@Sai
Yeah, I replaced mine last summer. It helped a lot with the leaks.
Avi said:
Another common leak spot is the intake manifold gasket. If it’s leaking, it can really mess with your engine performance too.
Good to know. I’ll keep an eye on that. I really want to get this sorted out before it gets worse.
Cam said:
If you’re not sure, it might be worth taking it to a mechanic. They can usually pinpoint the leak pretty quickly.
That’s probably a good idea. I just want to make sure I’m not missing anything major.