Oil temp guage always reads nothing.....
Car smells like oil when driven, burnt oil...
The car smokes like a mother sometimes when started.??

Do i need new valve seals? is my motor dieing, it has 160,000mi , Something else wrong, do i need a new oil guage? Im so confused about it.. All replies welcome

 

First thing is to get guage working. I would check the sender. At that mileage leaks could be causing oil smell as the seals are probably going. If it puffs oil when started it probably needs valve seals. GM has a kit available that uses a positive seal with a viton insert that is quite effective. If you need it I'll get part #. If it does not blow oil when driving it probably does not need rings yet.

 

Danno is quite right, but do a compression test and leak down test to be on the safe side. Also, have you checked for oil leaks? If oil is dripping onto the exhaust manifolds it'll be burning off and causing the fumes to enter the cabin.

If your gauge is not faulty, and you really don't have oil pressure, I'd seriously recommend you do the checks and find the problem before you drive the car again. You don't want to be replacing the bearings...or worse still, rebuilding a siezed engine.

Good luck, let us know what happens

Si

 

Part # for GM valve seal kit is 12511890.

 

OK thanks guys

 

Check to make sure that your oil pressure sender behind your manifold next to your distributor is bell-shaped. On my car a previous owner couldn't get the bell-shaped sender to fit so they just stuck a switch for a light in there and my gauge never worked. Let me know if you have trouble getting a new one in there. Also have someone drive behind you to determine whether or not there is smoke coming out of your pipes while you're driving.