I think I have an oil leak from the left head (Looking from the drivers seat)

The car doesn't feel like it lost power, but I need to get a compression test done to make sure. Would I be losing compression?

Because I have a serious oil leak, about 1000 miles is a quart lost. I am thinking about doing the job myself, but I want to make sure I do the right job with whatever I do.

Tomorrow I am going to stick my hand as far back as possible behind the intake manifold to check for a leak there... that way I can just rip that bitch and replace that. But I am pretty nervous about this if its the head gasket, or the pan gasket. But theres oil above the pan so the pan idea is kind of out of the question I think... hrm

 

Ahh, if the oil was leaking from the head gasket you would have some serious problems, are you shure it isn't the valve cover gasket thats leaking? I doubt that it is the intake leaking if you just put the cam in but if you did a crappy job with the sealent it may be.

 

What kind of serious problems? Even the smallest leak?

Well its been leaking since the cam was put in... the valve covers seemed dry, my friend did more of inspecting then I did. This is what he told me anyway...

While i'm down there changing this gasket, if it is the problem... what else could I do down there to make the engine run more efficient? Not doing any serious that involves serious cash. Not like porting the heads or anything. Just changing something stupid to help things run better.

Also, when ripping apart the valvetrain... the rockers and everything... how hard are they to put back together?

 

The problem with an oil leak at the head gasket is that its not really possible. The oil that does pass between the head and the block isnt even pressurized so theres no chance of you losing any there. Id keep looking around the intake or maybe the timing cover/oil pan gasket. Those are the only seals that you should have replaced so there is a chance one of them is leaking.

 

Well if the head gasket is blown there could be coolent leaking out into the bore's as well, does the car smoke at all? Changing the head gasket is no small task. You will need to adjust the rocker arms after you put the head back on which is kinda a pain, there are lots of online guides that will tell you how to that. You should have someone take a look at it though because it dosen't really sound like a head gasket is causing the problem.

 

No... coolant is being sprayed in the cylinders... no extra smoke. Just oil hitting the ground after the car gets warm. My first guess was the oil pan gasket, but my friend says that there is oil above that. The head bolts are drenched in oil. And there is oil where the heads meet the block...

Its possible they are warped?

 

Like turbo z said there is really no way for oil to leak between the heads and the block, the oil gets to the rockers through the pushrods and then drains back down to the oil pan.

 

if u have a black light then ur set go to napa get a can of brake clean hose it all down with the stuff to where u dont see or feel the oil then buy a small bottle of ENGINE OIL DYE http://www.napaonline.com
part number BK 7652661 dump it into the OIL run the vehicle for 20-25 min shut it down break out the black light and u can see where its coming from

 

My money is on the infamous intake leak. Yes I read that you just did some work. Did you let the engine sit for at least 6 to 8 hours (preferably 24 hrs) after you were done to let the RTV sealant set up??

The nice thing if it is the intake leak that is about one of the easiest things to repair for oil leaks. Doesn't involve touching the valve train at all except taking off the valve covers for easier access.

If you do find it is your intake leaking,, use "THE RIGHT STUFF" (Permatex) for your RTV,, this stuff if let to sit for 24 hrs. sets up really really nice. Over 65k on mine since last time intake was removed and my engine is dry as a bone.

Just as a long shot that may slow down the oil leakage,, check your intake bolts to see if they are still tight. When I removed my intake the back bolts were only finger tight.

 

If I race my car with the leak, but make sure that the oil level is mint... think the car will be aight?

Because a few people thinks its the intake manifold but I stuck my hand behind it today and didn't see anything. I have yet to do the mirror trick, but I will give it a shot. I am probably going to put that bitch on a lift and check it out again. But I am not sure... everyones bet seems to be on the intake manifold or oil pan gasket. But since there is oil underneath the valve covers, on the heads kind of... on the left side of the motor looking out from the drivers side.

I am hoping to god its nothing serious... but wateva b...

L0L

Think i'll be safe?

 

if your car is leaking oil why the hell would u take it to the track and spray it all over the place?? They are gonna love you there. If you can't find the leak i suggest you take it to someone who is qualified to do so.

 

It doesn't spray like that... a quart every 1300 miles or so...

 

Any oil on the track at all is enough too **** alot of people off. I would put my money on the intake manifold, so check the bolts, and then run your hand along the back of the intake. Not just the back side of the intake, but make sure you get all the way to the intersection of the block and the intake, as it would be easy to not check low enough.