Need advice re: strange oil leak

[ScottArizona]

A while back I posted a message about whether an oil pan gasket change was a DIY. Loren suggested a thorough cleaning to verify that the pan was in fact the source of the leak. Well, I am glad I took his advice, as the pan is not leaking and I was able to locate the source of the leak. However, I've searched the archives and can't find any info on this leak. The leak is coming from the very first bolt that appears to connect the two halves of the engine case (I'm not sure this terminology is correct) immediately forward (towards the nose of the car) from the oil pan. There are a series of bolts in this area that seem to keep the two halves together (becuase there is a seam runing between them). Again, this is the first bolt and is relatively small (10 mm bolt) and I can see after the car is warmed up the head of the bolt begins to seep a very small amount of oil. I thought that before I got under there and just started tightening I'd aks the group to see if this is a known leak and whether torquing it down would do any good. I'm thinking the other alternative would be to drain the engine oil, remove the bolt, apply some RTV, and then re-insert? What would you guys do? does anyone have the torq specs for this bolt. Thanks so much, Scott.

[Loren]

Can you post a picture of the leak area?

[ScottArizona]

Loren,

I will do that tonight after I get home from work. Thanks!

[ScottArizona]

Loren, below are two pictures of the bolt where the leak is occuring. In the first picture, the culprit is the bolt that is just to the left of the center oil pan bolt. To give you a point of reference, this bolt is towards the front of th car just forward of the oil pan. Although there is oil visible on many of the bolts in this picture, the only one leaking is the one I have pointed out (the oil leaks from there and migrates elswhere). The second picture is a close up of the leaking bolt. Thanks for the help!!!!

[Loren]

So, if you clean that off and drive the car again the first place you see oil is that crankcase half bolt?

Be very careful if you tighten it as the torque spec is only 10 ft-lbs. -- and that is not very much.

[ScottArizona]

Yes Loren. The seepage comes right out from under the head of the bolt. I tightened it last night just a tad and cleaned the area. Will check tonight to see if the leak persists. If that doesn't work, would you recommnend draining oil then reinstalling the bolt with some RTV? This seems like strange place to have a leak, unless I'm somehow missing the actual source, but the entire area around the bolt was dry last time I checked.

[Loren]

Yeah, I would likely try some Permatex High Performance Thread Sealant.

[wrljet]

Yeah, I would likely try some Permatex High Performance Thread Sealant.

Or use a Stat-O-Seal.

Bill

[ScottArizona]

Bill, what is a stat-o-seal? Does it go on the threads? The bolt head? Would I have to drain the oil? thanks.

[Loren]

The Stat-O-Seal (brand) is very simply the a sealing washer. It consists of a synthetic rubber "O" ring mechanically locked to the I.D. of an aluminum washer. When tightened the "O" ring is compressed, forcing the sealing surfaces around the bolt shank. They will form a positive seal over a temperature range of -85° to +450° F. They provide the advantages of an "O" ring type seal without the necessity of machining "O" ring grooves into the part.

[rbarna]

Was there any resolution on this? I think I'm having the same leak. I will need to clean everything to localize it though. Mine is a 2000 C4 with 60k miles.