I wanted to clean out all the leaks on my shop truck Rufus a 1999 Sonoma 4.3 stick shift.So because it in overall a good running truck and I have grown to really like it,the job I started was to replace the rad from a cob job rad repair,replace the oil cooler lines and replace the gaskets on the oil filter adapter that the oil cooler lines run to.The Fel-Pro gasket kit for it is ES70016.I got it back together and it was just dripping alittle off the oil filter and it was really late on a really long day.I thought I had over tighten the Wix oil filter and wanted to drive back home from the shop with the intention of getting another filter in the morning and some more oil.(kind of embarrassing rookie mistake) I make a judgement call that all I would have to do in put in the spare quart of oil I had based on it was only a small drip.I watched the oil pressure all the way back and it maintained about 40 psi.I stopped to get gas and checked the dip stick and much to my horror there was nothing showing.Still no knocks or issues.Put in the spare Qt of oil and nursed it to the parking lot of the parts store about a mile down the road and coasted into the parking lot as the pressure went to 0 and I shut it down.Scared that I had ruined the engine and it would be a total lost over night I had it towed back to my shop the next day.Still thinking it was the oil filter I got another one and some more oil.Got it up on jack stands and replaced the oil filter and filled it with oil.With my heart in my throat turned it over and it built normal oil pressure ran normal.Just for a second it squeaked on the start up.I sat there for a minute thanking god that I didn't ruin the engine.Thought I would rev it up to see if the pressure went up,but then thought first I should check for leaks.While it had just a drip before I drove it home I did check threw the wheel well that oil filter adapter and it looked dry.Well I checked to see if it was still leaking and much to my regret I saw about 3 qt's of oil on the shop floor and shut it off.Damm!!

So with this background it certainly is the adapter leaking where the gaskets go on.It's really hard to see up there.I had to use some Fel-Pro tacky gasket cement on the center gasket and the O ring just sets in a groove around the outside of the adapter.It's really hard to get up there or see so I used a long phillips screw driver in one hole to help guide it while having the 40 mm socket and extension on one of the bolts to get it started.I called Fel-Pro tech to confirm I had the right gasket set and ask them how to hold the O-ring in place while I reattach the adapter.The center gasket really I don't think is a issue.They told me it was the right set and really nothing for the use of the rubber O-ring could be used.Especially do not use silicone.

So sorry about the long intro in the background of this.My question is how to hold the O-ring in place??. Second to that I can't keep trial and error this loosing oil on the shop floor and chance losing a truck that I really like.

I come to you guys with hat in hand hoping that after I take it part the next time with a fresh gasket set it will be fixed.Please help.Got some bill paying to do today and I will check back later.

Thank You.