Hey guys,

I have just noticed that my car (1997 Camaro 3.8) is leaking a little oil. I think it is a pretty slight leak (the puddles it forms are very small, maybe an inch in diameter), and my oil pressure isn't low, but the other day my "Low Oil" light came on, and it was about 1.5 quarts low (but this definitely didn't happen all at one time. I would have noticed a 1.5 quart puddle in my driveway). I have already scheduled a mechanic to look at it on Tuesday, but does anybody have any clue what it might be from? Anyone have a similar experience? How much do you think the repair would be?

Thanks for any help,
Frank

 

A leak can sometimes get worse quickly and cause major probs. I would first change your oil filter and oil. I had a car (Cutlass supreme conv.)that had a rock hit the filter a put a great big hole in it. It could be your valve cover gasket or your head gasket. I assume since your asking for help your not very (like me) mechanically inclined. Valvecover gaskets are pretty easy and if you don't do it yourself you can usually, secretly, ask a shop mechanic to come over off the job and do it for like $40. The head gasket can get pretty expensive. Maybe $700 or so. Just dont keep driving for to long without repairs. Good luck on this. If you can post where the leak is falling, if it does it at idle, and if you smell it burning on the engine or see smoke breifly after start up. This will give a mechanical person the ability to diagnose you better here.

 

ive never really heard of an oil leak from a head gasket. could be alot of places, oil pan, timing cover, valve covers etc etc. best way is to get down there with a flashlight and look for yourself, its really hard for us to say without seeing your car but it shouldnt be hard to figure out. also if you feel like it you can get some of that UV dye you add to your oil, then use a blacklight to see exactly where its at.

 

then you've never seen a Neon............


not too common on OHV engines, since generally, they have no pressurized oil passages going through the head gasket

 

If I had blown a head gasket, the car would be running pretty bad though, wouldn't it? Plus, my pressure would probably be low, right?

 

judging from where it is on the ground is it from the front or rear of the motor