When I was trying to get my 83 Z28 to run the other day, I noticed my oil was really low. I started putting oil in it, and it began to leak out on the passenger side, under the head, and onto the starter! It started to leak immediately after I put oil into the motor. Where could it be leaking from? Could I have a cracked block? It is an LG4 305. I hope its nothing major. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

It might just be a valve cover leak, hopefully.

 

Is your dipstick tube still seated properly in the block?

 

i never put oil in the passenger side of my car tho. the valve cover on the driver s side has the oil hole and the pass. side has the pcv valve. so how would oil get into that valve cover right away unless yours is setup differntly but i have always seen it the way mine is. if you poured it in on the pass side then that is most likely the problem. or u have a crack in the head but i highly doubt that. just get some new valve cover gaskets a pray that is it they are pretty cheap at auto. even if that isnt the prob it doesnt hurt. just more reassurance.

 

Oh, nevermind then, you got me.

 

Its definitely not the valve cover gasket that's leaking. Its under the manifold, toward the firewall. My oil goes in on the passenger side, not on the driver's side. It could be the dipstick tube, but I'm not sure. It seems like its really on there, but it could have a pinhole somewhere. If I had the cash, I'd just get my spare 350 built, but I was planning on doing that over next winter. If this motor's gone, I'm doing a complete restoration. I just wanted something with t-tops for the summer.

 

I'm going to say the valve cover gasket is leaking. Pull the cover and see. Replace with new ones. They are cheap, $20 at the most.

 

from that pic i would definitely say its a valve cover gasket.

 

It's probably the valve cover gasket.

Looking at your pic, you have the left valve cover on the right side of your motor, backwards. Look at the flange closely and you will notice that one edge (toward the manifold in the case of that one) has a reinforcing lip, but the edge toward the exhaust does not. Your gasket has probably squirted out.

Change the VC gaskets and put the VCs back on in the right places. Use a hammer to straighten the cover since the bolt holes are most likely smahed in from tightening, they always are.

 

Yeah, now that I look at the picture, it does appear to be leaking. I'm not surprised that the covers are on the wrong sides. The car was a real mess when I bought it. This is my first Chevy, so I'm still learning. I'll replace the gaskets this weekend and let you guys know if it leaks anymore. Thanks for all the help!

 

Make sure you use a good sealant when you replace em too.

 

sealant on valve covers gasket. i never ever put silicone on a valve cover gasket. only maifolds pans and timing chain cover. i personall think its a waist. those valve cover gaskets are pretty think to the point where u tighten the a lot and there is no room to leak. but if it makes u feel safer then i guess it wouldnt hurt any.

 

It is cheap and works... Had a horrible leak and that solved my problem 100%

 

Yep, some RTV sealant works well.

 

I'm usually more inclined to replacing bad gaskets with good ones instead of fixing bad ones, but that's just me.

 

Well, I replaced the gaskets, and it doesn't leak anymore. I had to hammer the edges of the valve covers back into shape, and I didn't use any sealant. That is the good news. The bad news is that the motor is junk. It has the worst rod-knock sound i have ever heard. I'm thinking about getting another Camaro and using this one for a parts car. I'm having a hard time registering this car anyway. If you live in Massachusetts, you know what I mean. But anyway, thanks for all the help. At least the leak stopped!