I have a 1996 SS with the LT1 motor. I've got a couple issues going on, the first is a leak on the passenger side of the motor that no can seem to track down. Does anyone have any ideas where to start. It seems to be toward the middle or back of the motor and when you zip down the highway, pull up on the off ramp, you can smell (and see) burning oil off the exhaust manifold. I can tell the general area, because it's leaving an oil burn stain on the inside of the hood.

The second problem is it keeps throwing a code of the vapor canister system. The shop I took it too, fixed the sensor but the code keeps popping up and frankly I'm tired of looking at the stupid warning light on my dash. Is there a way to just make this code go away other than disconnecting the light in the dash?

Thanks
Dave G

 

First of all, do a "Search". Also go to this site: shbox.com

The Lt1 is known to have leaking problems in the rear of the intake. Apparentlly the factory didn't do a good job in that area. You can find the fix at Shbox.com. Also do a search for your other ploblems and if you come up nil, go for the thread. JMHO

 

Oil-leak - Rear of the Manifold; but sounds more like Valve-Cover

Canister - Most likely the charcoal canister is coming apart and either needs to be replaced; (or you can put a little lawn-mower type fuel filter in the hose leading to the valve on the intake manifold to catch the particles instead; you'll just have to tap all the carbon chunks outta it every few months)

 

Thanks for the help guys. I will check into it and see if I can get my little issues fixed. Thanks again!

 

What was the SPECIFIC code for the EVAP system?

 

I used to get EVAP code all the time too.

Let me tell you first of all, there are no sensors on the canister. The only places the codes can come from are the switch (has 2 hoses going in it on each side, and a loose hose for air) and the valve/solenoid (has 2 hoses going in it on the same side). These are both on the passenger side next to the intake manifold. But these will only get busted if the canister is broken and the charcoal goes up the ducts and clogs them up. That's what happened to me. I had to change the canister first, then blow out all the coal from the ducts (even using a metal wire poking inside to dislodge it). After that, I changed the valve thingy and the code was silent for good. The switch you can clean yourself by blowing in it/hitting it a few times.

The oil leak is probably, as I had too, behind the intake manifold, passenger side. I had to do it too, put new instant gasket there and wrapped the EGR tube in exhaust wrap.

 

A common cause of the EVAP code for "flow when not commanded" is having the two hoses on the solenoid in the wrong places (swapped).

But there are 3 codes.... on for the electrical circuit on the solenoid (P0443), one for no flow when solenoid is supposed to be open (P0441) and one for flow (vacuum) indicated by the flow switch, when the solenoid is supposed to bo closed (P1441). That's why it helps to know the exact code.

Shoebox has a photo that will tell you if you have the solenoid vacuum lines swapped:

http://shbox.com/1/evap_sol.jpg