Ok, this weekend I plan on taking a long look over my engine and trying to find this leak I have. I have a leak in the rear passenger side of my engine and I need ideas on what could possibly be causing it. I have changed the valve cover gasket so I know it's not coming from there. It actually was before but that's why I changed it and it stopped coming from there but seems to be coming out even worse now from the other spot. The car still runs strong and acts as if nothing is wrong. The car doesn't leak just running sitting still. It's only after I have driven it. It seems to be from pressure. The oil comes out and makes a mess across the passenger side of the car. The oil gets on the converter and causes a lot of smoke. I need ideas what to look for. The oil has to be coming from the back because the mess starts at the back of the engine and runs along that side. Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

-Shawn

 

look at the rear of the intake

 

The back of the intake is a possibility, but it's not as common on TPI cars as it is with LT1's. It sounds to me like the rear main seal has blown through...they tend to get worse with time and they leak a LOT of oil. The smoke is probably oil on the exhaust, not the convertor, because the convertor doesn't really get hot enough to burn the oil off.

If it is the rear main, you better change the PCV valve too. If it goes bad it can cause pressure to build up in the crankcase and that's what blows main seals out.

 

Has any work been done on the shortblock? If so two things: first, there is a bolt that goes in the front of the engine into the fuel pump rod passage. If it is left off or comes loose, oil comes out, and runs along the pan. Second, is it possible the wrong gasket was installed on the passenger side oil pan rail? Gasket kits come with different ones, the wrench twirler has to choose the right one for the year of the engine. Wrong choices have been made, resulting in leaks that increase with rpm cause more oil is being flung.

Rear main seal leaks tend to be a steady drip at all rpm's untill they get really bad, then it's a steady stream.