Front side oil pan leak?

[toxicavenger]

I need some help here guys.

I have an oil leak on the front side of my engine coming from the oil pan bolt closest to the flywheel. I torqued all the bolts already on the oil pan. The CPS is not leaking, and the oil pressure switch is not leaking. As soon as I clean that bolt off more oil appears in a few minutes and it drips onto the flex joint of the exhaust.

So any ideas where it could be originating from? My guess unfortunately is the remain seal, but I really hope it isn't.

It is on a 06' Saab 9-5 2.3t.

Thanks ahead of time.

[nordwulf]

Hey Terry, good to see you here again. Just a guess but perhaps the seal between the pan and engine block needs to be redone with anaerobic sealant?

[toxicavenger]

Hey Terry, good to see you here again. Just a guess but perhaps the seal between the pan and engine block needs to be redone with anaerobic sealant?

Wulf, I am thinking that also. I really hate to do have to do it. But since the rear main seal is so tough to do it might be my next step.

I chased a leak on the rear of the engine for a long time and it ended up being one of the crankcase hoses. So it sucks to have this happen 6 months later. I guess at 164k I can't ask much out of it.

Thanks buddy!

[nordwulf]

It's not a fun job but it would be interesting to see what the inside of the oil pan looks like after 164k miles. The 2004+ 2.3T engine shouldn't have any sludge but it wouldn't hurt to take a look inside and check the oil pickup screen. Good luck!

[toxicavenger]

It's not a fun job but it would be interesting to see what the inside of the oil pan looks like after 164k miles. The 2004+ 2.3T engine shouldn't have any sludge but it wouldn't hurt to take a look inside and check the oil pickup screen. Good luck!

Thanks brother. It will be on my to-do list for tomorrow. I have all new front suspension components to put on next weekend. So I don't need this car leaking.

[toxicavenger]

Just an update I dropped the oil pan and it wasn't fun. Basically I had to drop the exhaust down, remove transmission mount, to get enough room for clearance to get the oil pan out. The oil pan was super clean for a car with 164k on it. I cleaned the surfaces really good and put some anaerobic sealant on it. So I will check it over the next few days to see how it goes. Of course I changed the oil/filter at the same time.

Heck I even had suspension parts I needed to put on so I installed new bilstein's up front, ball joints, tie rods, sway bar links, control arms, strut mounts, and strut bearings.

Thanks again for the input Wulf.

[nordwulf]

It isn't fun but dropping the pan is a rite of passage for the true Saab 9-5 owner. We should have badges on the forum here commemorating miles stones in Saab 9-5 ownership.

Good luck, hopefully this fixed the leak.

[toxicavenger]

It isn't fun but dropping the pan is a rite of passage for the true Saab 9-5 owner. We should have badges on the forum here commemorating miles stones in Saab 9-5 ownership.

Good luck, hopefully this fixed the leak.

I hope so. I have to say the shittest job was replacing all the subframe bushings on my wife's 06. The wagon luckily has some good looking subframe bushings. I hope to keep this car at least another 5 years, but I don't want anymore badges Wulfer's!

[nordwulf]

Have you done replacing the alternator and try to get it out and back in through the top of the engine bay? That'll give you something to bitch about...

[toxicavenger]

Have you done replacing the alternator and try to get it out and back in through the top of the engine bay? That'll give you something to bitch about...

Dang, not yet, but I have a rebuilt one on my shelf waiting for that day.