Is this hole on the side of my engine block normal?? PICS
 

So we are on the left side of the engine block down by the oil pan gasket right next to the exhaust manifold there are two holes that are threaded and the one closer to the rear is larger. My question is, are these supposed to be open like in the picture? Or is this possibly why i woke up this morning to a 3" oil spot below my tranny bell housing the day after having my oil pan gasket replaced.


Attachment 289506


Ive had no oil spots on driveway even before changing the oil pan gasket. I cleaned away the area around rear main seal and took truck for a drive only to find that area remain clean. So I'm wondering where this 3" oil spot could have originated from. Thank-you for your time!

P.s. The app wont let me upload the second picture that shows the smaller hole in the front.. I will try and edit after i post this.

Attachment 289507

Here is the second picture

I think those are the extra mounting bolt holes of the engine block. Three are being used by the bracket and the extra two are there just in case.

Some after market brackets use them for more support.

Those were for Option 226A, dikfer.

Okay, that makes me feel better. Thank-you for clarifying that for me!!! Now I just need to figure out why Im leaking oil the day after my oil pan gasket was replaced by a professional.

Yeah, I would wonder that too...

Also possible it is coming from valve cover, or oil filter gasket.

I did both of those myself and i've crossed them off the list. It's possible my small power steering pump leak could be masking some of it. Oh well, only time will tell..

I would monitor it for more spots. it's possible that they botched the job. Did they also replace the rear engine seal while the oil pan was off?

I told them I wanted to replace the rear main but he advised me not to (if it wasn't leaking too bad when he got up in there) because, and I quote "the success rate is 50% when fixing the rear main due to a groove being worn into the crank by the old seal". He went on by saying it could make my leak worse with a new seal... Long story short he didnt touch it but i feel as though the rear main may be leaking more after the oil pan was put in. I will be a hawk these next few days...

Sounds more like a tech who had a bad time putting one in and now won't do it again. I've heard more success stories than I have otherwise here on the forum. At any rate good luck

good to know I've completed a 50/50 job with 100% success in my driveway. take it back and at least get the pan gasket leak fixed!