Oil Leak

[Vettefan87]

I have developed an oil leak. It was not leaking right after the header install I would have noticed it all the times I let the car idle and what not. I opened the hood, and it was smoking and I wasn't sure what it was so I started looking and then all of a sudden a ton of smoke started coming out, and im like uh...:ugh. and then it stopped and was the same amount as before which wasn't to bad, then a min or so later it did the same thing. It is burning off on the header, and I can't see anything dripping. When I first started looking I could see oil, or some substance on the valve cover, oil cap and some of the air stuff for the headers. Tomorrow I guess I get to jack the car up again and look underneath it.

 

[Mac]

I hate chasing oil leaks. Most of the time, it's something relatively simple but it's a pain. Check your PVC valves. If they're plugged, it'll force oil out through places that might not normally leak.

-Mac

 

[Vettefan87]

Could the roller rockers possibly have something to do with this? I will hopefully find out tomorrow, I just want to get a little head start I guess.

 

[Mac]

I don't think the rollers could create a leak but maybe one of the valve cover seals didn't set up right when you installed them. Did you use cork or silicon seals? Have you checked to see the valve covers are still tight??

-Mac

 

[Vettefan87]

I didn't install them myself, so that is why I am a little curious if those might be the problem. I will check the torx bolts on the valve covers tomorrow.

 

[Moonunit 451]

I didn't install them myself, so that is why I am a little curious if those might be the problem. I will check the torx bolts on the valve covers tomorrow.

The valve covers can be a bit(h to seal on these cars, believe me I know. I've read that there are some things you can add to the oil and use a black light (I think) to chase down. Usually a carefull inspection of the valve cover area and heads can reveal the leak, take a quarter turn, if it's not uncomfortable

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah I will definetly check the valve covers tomorrow, maybe I will get lucky and they will tighten back up, but they are going to have to come back off since the lifters are still making noise.

 

[rrubel]

Are you sure it's the lifters making noise? IIRC, you put an adjustable fuel pressure regulator on recently. Right after I did that, I noticed a ticking noise - turned out the pressure was high enough to cause the injectors to sound louder than before. I verified it by turning the pressure back down and the noise went away.

As to the oil leak, run a white towel around the bottom of each valve cover where they meet the head and see if you get spots. I've got something leaking on the pass. side that's dripping onto the header and starter, but only when I'm doing "spirited driving." So something isn't sealing well under pressure.
[RICHR]

 

[Edmond]

Are we talking about center bolt valve covers?

Wouldn't the side bolt valve covers seal better?

 

[Rowdy1]

Right Height?

Do you have enough room under the valve covers to fit the roller rockers? Could it be the noise you hear? "If" the rockers are hitting the covers, it will loosen them by pushing up on the cover and could do damage. Sounds like it's a gasket leaking on the headers but why? Not sealed or something else:confused

 

[Edmond]

Lou,

Aren't the oil drip tabs supposed to be removed in order for clearance of 1.6 roller rockers?

 

[Vettefan87]

He did grind off the ridges that are on the inside of the valve covers. If the car sits for a period of a half hour or more on start up it ticks for about ten seconds, then goes away. The tick is definetly louder then the injectors, then goes away, and the car runs fine.

Lou I don't understand what you mean when you say a gasket leaking on the header? Do you mean valve cover?

Edmond yes it has centerbolt valve covers since it has aluminum heads.

 

[wilezcoyote]

Mine started smoking like that about 2 weeks ago. I thought it was the drivers side valve cover gasket. Changed it and it still smoked and dripped. Found out it was an oil pressure transducer behind the distributor. Most of the oil was collecting on top of the tranny and then running onto the drivers side precat. Some was running around the backside of the valve cover/head.

Changing it wasn't hard but like everything else on this car it was fun to get to.

 

[rrubel]

Got one other thought... I saw today on mine the same behavior you've got. Little smoke, nothing, BIG PUFF, then nothing... There's oil on the starter, but I can't see it anywhere else. I'm wondering if there's a leak where the dipstick tube goes into the block. That's right above the headers...
[RICHR]

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah I have to take it back and have those lifters adjusted some time this week. So I will just wait till I get the car back and hopefully the problem is fixed for good this time before I start to look for that damn leak.

 

[Rowdy1]

Yep

Lou,

Aren't the oil drip tabs supposed to be removed in order for clearance of 1.6 roller rockers?

I don't remember which brand but some are higher than others and won't fit with the style covers I use, on yours it may be different. The drip tabs will most likely be in the way. What I was talking about was the valve cover gaskets leaking on the header.

 

[Moonunit 451]

Got one other thought... I saw today on mine the same behavior you've got. Little smoke, nothing, BIG PUFF, then nothing... There's oil on the starter, but I can't see it anywhere else. I'm wondering if there's a leak where the dipstick tube goes into the block. That's right above the headers...
[RICHR]

My ONLY bummer :cry No matter what I've tried, I can not seal the dipstick tube on this motor ad Never smokes, but it makes a mess on the, well all ove the undercariage. I clean it the best I can when I service it. Small price to pay from what I've seen, and it's, all go and no show anyway so I just accept it.

 

[rrubel]

Got one more place for you to look, Vettefan... according to my mechanic, if the oil dipstick is loose enough, sometimes a jump on the gas can make it pop up enough to drip some oil onto the headers. Mine's tight because I have a custom-bent dipstick tube, but you might want to check that.
[RICHR]

 

[Moonunit 451]

Where'd yo get that Rich? My original one from the 86 block was fine in that one, but loose in the 87 block. I bought a Lokar custom braided tube and it is loose too for some reason :eyerole

 

[rrubel]

Bought it from someone on the net who was selling their headers and stuff. This one is a former stock tube, but was bent to fit outside most headers. Only downside is that I need to hose-clamp it in place because it wants to sit too close to the starter. I grounded it twice before learning that...
[RICHR]