I've been noticing a burning smell from my 95 z for a while when I take long trips. I took a 160 mile trip today and when I was leaving I noticed a decent sized puddle of oil under the car. This explains the sizzling noise I hear after I shut the car off and the burning smell which must be the oil dripping onto the headers. I know I've read somewhere before where the leaks could come from but i'm having a hard time finding it. So what could be causing this leak? I think I read that one of the places it could be leaking from is the rear intake manifold gasket. Can anyone confirm this or know of any other places I should check? Thanks in advance.

 

I've never heard of oil leaking onto the headers from an intake leak. Usually it will leak down the bellhousing on either side and end up dripping off the oil filter or starter and oil pan. I'd first check your valve cover gaskets. When the engine is cool enough to put your hand on start feeling all around below the valve covers and on the back of the engine. You may have leaky valve cover gaskets and possibly even an intake leak. There are no front/rear intake gaskets.

 

I just felt around under the hood and found a bit of oil on the passenger side valve cover. The wierd thing is that there is a lot of oil on the side of the valve cover near the headers but I felt under the valve covers and there was no oil. So i'm guessing maybe the oil leaking out by the headers is just getting burnt off. I'll just replace it and hope for the best.

 

You may have a bit of blow by leaking out around the grommet on the valve cover, passenger side

 

check your oil dipstick tube, i was having the same problem after i had just fixed my intake leak. found out there was a pinhole where the tube attaches to the block. it was spraying oil everywhere and the underside of my car is full of oil as well, i ordered a new one along with a new dipstick for $21 it should be here tomorrow. good luck finding the leak

 

Thanks for all the input. I'll try to get it on a lift tomorrow and check it out.