Oil Leak Is Killing Me! 1984

[craig0ry]

Okay guys, so when I bought it my '84 had a pretty big oil puddle under the car every morning. Well since my purchase I have replaced the distributor seal and the valve cover gaskets (I have done these three seperate times to try and prevent leaking! With Moroso steel and silicone, no cork!) and yet the ****ing p.o.s. is still leaking and it drips straight onto the exhaust so I have billowing clouds of smoke, which whenever AC, heat, or the vent is on comes STRAIGHT INTO MY CABIN! I have a headache every time I drive my car!

SO what I am wondering is where you think I could be leaking from that it is dripping onto the exhaust? I would assume oil pan but that cannot leak to the exhaust... I am thinking Valve covers again for a fourth time? Please tell me there could be something else last time I siliconed the **** out of the valve cover gasket I cannot believe it could still be leaking.

 

[Chas]

oil return holes clean??

make sure you have a clear hole for the oil to go back into the block...they make a special spacer for valve covers that spread the pressure further back on the lip....what kind of covers? stock?...maybe need to replace .
My 2 cents...Chas

Okay guys, so when I bought it my '84 had a pretty big oil puddle under the car every morning. Well since my purchase I have replaced the distributor seal and the valve cover gaskets (I have done these three seperate times to try and prevent leaking! With Moroso steel and silicone, no cork!) and yet the ****ing p.o.s. is still leaking and it drips straight onto the exhaust so I have billowing clouds of smoke, which whenever AC, heat, or the vent is on comes STRAIGHT INTO MY CABIN! I have a headache every time I drive my car!

SO what I am wondering is where you think I could be leaking from that it is dripping onto the exhaust? I would assume oil pan but that cannot leak to the exhaust... I am thinking Valve covers again for a fourth time? Please tell me there could be something else last time I siliconed the **** out of the valve cover gasket I cannot believe it could still be leaking.

 

[craig0ry]

Yeah they are the stock valve covers... Can anyone recommend a good replacement? Mine are scuzzy anyway. I am not looking for something chrome either ....

Thanks!
-Craig

 

[1stiff84]

Hi Craig

Are you still using stock valve covers? If so, the spacers will not be of any use. If you are using steal, maybe the lip is bent, in which case you will need to straighten or replace.

Are you sure it is leaking from the valve covers? If not, these motors tend to leak at the intake manifold, too.

Hope this helps.

 

[drags1998]

Check the rear of the intake manifold,just to the rear of the dist. If you dont see anything at idle, hold the engine at 3000 rpm for 30 secs. then recheck the rear of the intake again!!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!

 

[craig0ry]

Check the rear of the intake manifold,just to the rear of the dist. If you dont see anything at idle, hold the engine at 3000 rpm for 30 secs. then recheck the rear of the intake again!!!!!!! Good Luck!!!!

I will look @ this...

BTW, I'm using stock valve covers, with Moroso steel and silicone gaskets... So no spacers...

 

[craig0ry]

Could I have overtightened them? I did a diagonal pattern and tightened them down snug, then I tightened them TIGHT.

 

[taegdh]

Replacement valve covers

I would look for cast aluminum ones. I know they may cost quite a bit more, but they don't deflect like the stamped tin ones do at the bolts, (even with load spreaders). You can get them at most of the major auto parts suppliers. I just opened a copy of Street Rodder that I have on my desk, and Billet Specialties had them for $80 to $110.
Also, use good gaskets and RTFD. Some manufacturers say to use a sealant some dont, look for their recommendations. When in doubt, you could also use good RTV and make your own, just make certain that you let it set for 1/2 an hour or so before applying the valve covers.

 

[EOLIVER]

Oil Leak

Also check the oil dip stick tube. I

 

[1stiff84]

Hi Craig

I remember the torque spec for the valve covers to be ~4 ft-lbs. I have split gaskets (separated silicone from steel insert) when I overtightened in the past.

Hope this helps.

 

[86PACER]

I agree with the leaking intake manifold. If it's leaking from the back, you won't be able to see it, and it drips along the block and ends up under the car. I had this happen to me. This oil can also drip down onto the oil pan mating surface form the back of the intake, and make it look like the oil pan gasket is leaking. I would wipe all arround the oil pan with a rag, and keep an eye at the front and back of the intake manifold, and oil pan for leaks. They can be very difficult to see with all the engine parts in the way. If it's not the valve covers or the distributor hole, it's can only be the intake, the oil pan, or the timing chain cover.

If you still cannot find the leak, there is dye available that you can add to the motor oil. The you use a black light and the oil will glow and stand right out. This will help pinpoint the origin of the leak.

 

[Vettes n Harleys]

Have you checked the oil sending unit at the back of the engine? They can make a mess and you would never think they could leak.

 

[WhalePirot]

Chances afre, unless you have overtightened the covers, that you are driving yourself nuts, fixing something that ain't broke.

The stock '84 covers, which I still use, are not stamped, but cast; magnesium, I believe. They are not prone to bending, as the stamped covers are, alluded to in one post.

One of the Corvette specialty catalogs sells paint if you wish to clean and refinish them, as I did.

Others have made great suggestions on alternate leak sources. They are hard to see, with the cramped conditions, but your 'puddle' sounds like a large leak and might not be so hard to find.

Might we assume that the oil filter was properly tightened?

 

[plumcrazy]

i would go with the rear of the intake manifold. i have the same problem and it
drives me nuts, so i am gonna put up with it till the fall and cure it with a fresh
motor rebuild

 

[craig0ry]

Have you checked the oil sending unit at the back of the engine? They can make a mess and you would never think they could leak.

This turned out to be it. I was all set to try the intake... when I decided I would take it to a shop just to see what they thought was wrong. $100 dollars later and she's leak free!

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Vettes n Harleys]

coooool! I HATE AN OIL LEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MoeJr]

The leak was the valve covers?

 

[JonM]

The leak was the valve covers?

oil sending unit