03 S-10 4.3l Engine - oil leak

I've got 2 S-10s approaching 200K that hold oil until the next change. One of the things I love about them.

Except for the time the wife came home with it rumbling and knocking. What does "Check Gauges" mean? she asks. One of the lines to the remote oil filter worked loose. Filled it up with oil, and its run another 50K since then, no problem. If that's your problem (4x4?), it won't be very expensive.

It'll be worth it; its a rock solid engine.

Normally the 4.3 doesn't leak oil. They have a problem with the intake gaskets failing due to the materials used in them though. Additives are a waste of time and money. Think of it this way, would you want a doctor to give you a bottle of goop to drink in the event you had a gunshot hole in you? Leaks are caused by mechanical failure of some type. Fix the problem.

The 4.3 is a good engine.

honestly, this is the 2nd S-10 I've had (both 4.3l vortec) and both leaked... the other started leaking a little earlier... I'll probably take a look to see if I can get to it, if not just take it to the shop... thanks!

Is it the engine itself OR the oil lines? The oil lines are a problem due to the design of the seals. The later retrofit lines are a bit better but for a leak proof system I make up a set of good lines using aeroquip fittings and drill and tap the factory fitting blocks to fit them. Once installed they don't leak like the factory crimped lines.

From what I've heard it may be the cooling lines for the oil... I haven't looked up underneath yet to see...

That would be likely. The factory crimped lines fail at the crimps. You can buy new ones from many parts places for under 100 bucks for the complete set. You can also have new ones made up by stripping and cleaning the factory fitting blocks and having high pressure line crimped on them at a hydraulics shop (NAPA and Carquest also do lines at many locations).

The more common leaking problem is the intake gaskets. When the 4.3 was designed the EPA/OSHA rules forced a change in the material used to make the gaskets and GM altered the way they were torqued as well. Those two items made it darn near impossible for the gaskets to stay in one piece.

thanks for the info... I'm not real handy w/ cars and hope it won't be too pricey to take it to a shop...