ok so i changed out my oil pump a few weeks agon on my 97 5.2 ram and now it seems to be leaking on the backside of the pan. i put a new oil pan gasket on and it ran fine for a few hours with no leaks but this mornign i went out cranked her up and its leaking again. any ideas or suggestions as to how to make it stop?

 

Was the pan in good shape when you took it off? Mine actually had pin holes in it where there was rust which caused a very small leak to start.

 

the pan was still straight and solid. all i did was remove the rest of the old gasket and apply the new one. i may try applying a small bead of RTV around the pan and gasket to see if it helps. the only thing i can think of though is that its not setting right on the backside of the block but i was smart enough to remove that nuisance of a shield ont eh back to allow easier reinstallation of the pan

 

Did you torque the bolts to spec or just really tight?

 

just really f***ing tight due to thefact my torque wrench seems to have grown a body and walked off.

 

It's possible that could be part of the problem. I looked at the Service Manual for the 1996 (should cover the '97), 200INCH pounds is the torque specification for the oil pan bolts. Over-tightening could cause a leak too. Is it possible to narrow down where from the pan it's leaking?

 

its right on the back valley its the only spot that leaks. the front valley wraps around the pan and block. hte back just kinda sits in a small notch. so should i tighten the back a little more and see if it helps or loosen them first?

 

Well if there is nothing wrong with the pan it probably would be best to rent or borrow a inch lb torque wrench and torque them down to 200in lb and see what happens. Also it may be a good idea to drop the pan again and check out the gasket.

At least if it were me that's where I would start and go from there. Unless something else becomes obvious.

 

If you are to drop the pan again to check the gasket and re-torque the bolts, I would definitely put a small dab of RTV in ther eas well. And you are positive that it's not the rear main seal?

 

i was thinking the rear main seal as well. itsa 17 dollar seal, just get it and put it in, easy as pie!