3800 oil leak

[blowout preventer]

I have an oil leak in an olds Intrigue, coming from the bottom but not
sure where, I think it's coming from either the oil pan gasket, or
possibly one of the main seals.
Because of the cradle under the motor it is difficult to determine the
source, and also the oil pan bolts aren't even accessible to see if they
are still tight.
Since repairing either one is a hassle, removing the cradle etc, I was
thinking of trying a can of that "oil stop-leak".
I will consider myself lucky if that actually stops it or slows it
down, but it's the easiest thing to try first.

1. Any idea what the likely source of the leak is (are these engines
prone to failures in the vicinity of where mine is leaking)?

2. I always thought all stop-leak does is swell the seals slightly
and curb leakage that way. Or can it also address gasket leaks? I
don't know if the pan gasket on this is cork or neoprene (1998 model
year).

3. Any down-side to using his stuff, potential problems from using it?

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by blowout preventer
I have an oil leak in an olds Intrigue, coming from the bottom but not
sure where, I think it's coming from either the oil pan gasket, or
possibly one of the main seals.
Because of the cradle under the motor it is difficult to determine the
source, and also the oil pan bolts aren't even accessible to see if they
are still tight.
Since repairing either one is a hassle, removing the cradle etc, I was
thinking of trying a can of that "oil stop-leak".
I will consider myself lucky if that actually stops it or slows it
down, but it's the easiest thing to try first.
1. Any idea what the likely source of the leak is (are these engines
prone to failures in the vicinity of where mine is leaking)?
2. I always thought all stop-leak does is swell the seals slightly
and curb leakage that way. Or can it also address gasket leaks? I
don't know if the pan gasket on this is cork or neoprene (1998 model
year).
3. Any down-side to using his stuff, potential problems from using it?

I had a 3300 which is basically the same as the 3800.
It leaked from the oil pan gasket. Tightening the bolts
helped for a while. You should be able to get to most of them
although it won't be easy. Snug them periodically.
I would not try stop leak. It expands the gaskets alright,
but when the stop leak chems wear out in a few weeks, then the
leak is MUCH worse. I forgot what the gaskets are made out of.