Call Haynes and correct them. My manual calls it that. I knew the pcv valve was on the drivers side. I realize what I wrote but tried to describe it best I could for someone who knew little about the lt1. Last thing I want to do is give misinformation! My engine was torn apart and I haven't assembled everything yet, just the engine. I need to wait till spring to put it in the car. I can't seem to find the hose or the "valve" that install in the valve cover. My hose did not just plug in there, I think. It was so long ago. How does it mount? I searched your site, Shoebox, and didn't quite find a clear pic of that little -valve -thing-whatever-it-is.

 

From the throttle body to the valve cover, there is just a rubber hose with a plastic 90° elbow on the end of it.

 

Best place for ramps, Walmart, get the silver Rhino Ramps, they even fit under C5 Corvettes. Like $15-$20.

-Dustin-

 

i wouldnt even worry about it

 

Okay, I checked the papers underneath the car this morning and there were NO drops of oil... Do you think it is possible that the mechanic who looked at it, tightened something and solved the problem? If so, that's one sneaky bastard to tell my sister that it would take 7 hours to fix. Sounds to me that the guy just wanted some work.

 

Who knows. I just got my intake manifold gasket replaced. Cost me $140. I was going to do it myself....but don't have the time and all the tools I need. Listen to these guys Brangeta, a car is not as complicating once you get a basic idea of how they work. (What part does what) It'll all come to you in time. Good luck!

 

As I said, you may not see any oil drop to the ground, it could very possibly be dripping from place to place on the engine and around hoses and possible backwards underneath the car before it ever drips right down to the ground. i.e. A raindrop will not fall directly to the ground in the rain forest. Instead it could take a few mins going from leaf to leaf or maybe not hit the ground at all or if it does, maybe far away from where it started.
Bill

 

Just checked under the car with a flashlight and there is one small drop accumulating on the bottom of the oil pan... Seems like I need to just wait a few weeks and see what happens.

One of my friends told me that if after you get your oil changed, if they put in too much oil, that can cause something to leak. What would leak because of that? The oil pan? If so, that may be why I have been losing oil at a seemingly slower rate lately. About a month ago it was leaking very slowly, picked up pace til about last week, and has slowed down in the past 2 days. Maybe it was overfilled and has leaked to just about to normal conditions? Is that possible? When I check the oil dipstick, it is hard to tell where the oil level is since the darn thing is so complicated to get out and so flimsy, but it is obviously very much full still after losing perhaps 1 to 2 ounces (however much you would assume about 30 drops would add up to) of oil.

 

First off, if they put in too much oil, depending on how much, you would be having some serious problems with your engine. You probably wouldn't be driving anymore.

Try to determine where there drop of oil is coming from and where it originated. Oil loss, depending on where it is leaking, can vary due to temperature or driving conditions. When you pull the dipstick out, pull it about 3/4 way out and grab the end with the paper towel filled hand to be able to hold the stick more firmly and allow less shaking of the stick. Pull it off to the side of the car and it should be fairly easy to see the line on at least one side of the stick.
Also, had it been overfilled, and assuming it was slight, and it did leak out, it won't stop leaking, it will continue to leak as the oil is pumped around the engine.
Bill

 

It could be left from the oil change. The mechanic could have been a little messy and not wiped the oil that may have dribbled out the drain hole. Possible he spilt some out fo the oil filter. Best you can do is wait and see if you have no drips yet. If the rear main is leaking, (located on the back of the oil pan)it'll be all over the inspection cover to the transmission. That is located behind the engine towards the bottom. The transmission is silver in color. If the front is of the oil pan is leaking you will have oil steaking towards the back. By streaking, I mean it looks as if it is running towards the back of the engine. I had both leaks, front and back. It looked bad under neath but still only dripped about 1/2 quarts worth over 3000 miles. From the looks of the oil pan and oil color on there it looks fairly fresh and not all black and nasty. If the oil change happened soon and as you say it didn't leak before, I would think it safe to assume your mechanic was sloppy. Assume this only after you are sure it is not leaking else where. Try a different mechanic. If you went to a Jiffy Lube type place, you would think after changing 30 engines oil in a day you might get a little sloppy.

 

Well, I don't think it would drip for about a month, so I don't think the mechanic was just messy. I do believe that the problem isn't major yet though, and that may be making it difficult to diagnose. I'm nowhere close to losing 1/2 a quart of oil.

The area above the oil filter looks like a greasy mess, but there hasn't been any oil running down or dripping off the filter. The only oil is on the back side of the oil pan. There was some discoloration on the large square behind the small hump directly behind the oil pan, which my Haynes says is the automatic transmission fluid pan, but I managed to wipe it off and it was just some black dry mess. It didn't look streaked, it was just on the front left corner and back right edge. Could be dried oil though if oil dries out (don't know). I also wiped the bottom of the oil pan and got more of the same black mess along with a little brown oil.

I popped the hood again and looked around for any moisture, but all I found were more rusty iron parts that look like they haven't been wet in months. I looked at several of the hoses and such, and they look in good condition, no cracks or anything. My haynes manual shows the oil drain plug on the right side, wtf is up with that? I don't have any sort of plug there, mine appears to be on the left just like the oil filter is on the left (drivers) side. Look on page 1-5 if you like.

I added a pic of the oil dipstick to my oil leak gallery, it looks like it is full, or even a little more than full. gallery Kind of weird how it can be full yet I have had approximately 1 to 2 ounces worth of oil leak out in the garage the past month, an unaccounted amount in the parking garage at school, and an unaccounted amount behind a store my sister works at when she has the car.

 

If you look in your photo gallery, the first pic of your oil pan. The drain plug is the bolt on the side towards the very bottom of the pan on the drivers side. The holes in the dip stick help you read the oil level. I know what you mean by hard to read as it does like to streak. When you read it, intitially, you should pull it all the way out and wipe it off. Then re-insert and pull it out and read it this time. Supposedly when it is in the cross hatched area, it is in normal. Obviously, the lower it is in the cross hatch, the lower your oil level. You don't want it to be above though also. If you stick the dipstick in the tube and try to read it and there is no oil in the hole(in the dipstick) the oil level is lower than that hole. I bead blast the final 4 inches of my dipstick. It ruffs up the surface, slightly and is totally easier to read the dipstick. By bead blasting it, it dulls the finish to a dull grey instead of shiny metal. Your reading on the dipstick looks to be good. The oil looks great also. The color of honey is good. Burnt and black is not good. The tranny pan may seep a bit as you have described. Mine did also. Not sure why but a lot has to do with maint. of your vehicle. The better you care for it, the less it troubles you, unless you start to mod the car. All sorts of weird quirks and problems start to crop up. Mostly human error from taking things off and forgetting to put them back on. You've seen how cramped the engine compartment is, now try wrenching in there. You have to be creative to get at some of the bolts and nuts. Have fun and don't let it get the best of you. Your oil problem doesn't seem to be much of an issue. More a nusiance now, but your on the right track to chase it down and take care of it.

 

Well being that the car holds 5.5 quarts, (more if you have an oil cooler) then I don't think you would notice an ounce or two missing on the dipstick. Also I don't have a 98+ camaro so my haynes manual is different than yours, but my drain plug is on the drivers side too. It seems like all you can do now is wait for more leaking and try to track it down or forget about it and just keep checkin the level.
Bill

 

STart becoming more acquainted with your car. If you changed your own oil half of your complication in this issue would have been taken care of since you would know if you spilled oil etc. Changing oil takes 5-10 minutes.