Could a lot of gunk under the valve covers be causing bad oil pressure or smoking at start?

 

if the oil drains are plugged or restricted yes

 

Well, I would go do it right now, but I don't have any gaskets to put the valve covers back on. Damnit.

 

Put that on your shopping list, along with a cap and rotor. Get some paper towels, too, so you can stuff the oil drainbacks full and clean up the "gunk" without fear of sending all the "gunk" to the oil pan. You might also want to check out your PCV valve, since a working PCV (along with oil changes at the correct itervals) can help reduce the tendency to create that buildup.

 

PCV has just been changed, and is 100% functional.

 

Yes, you had mentioned that in a different thread. That may solve the buildup problem, now you just need to clean up what had accumulated before the PCV change. Are you changing the oil on schedule? Not using a Quaker State or Pennzoil multigrade, are you? They tend to ash terribly.

 

I've got about 2,500 miles since my last oil change, so it will be coming soon. Too bad we're all out of L49's at work, we have filters for every single thing out there, except for my damn Camaro. Last oil change it did have Pennzoil put in it, if it was up to me I would have put royal purple in it, but my mom was the one who had the car when it got done.

 

It's not uncommon for a lot of gunk under the valve covers and hardened/cracked valve stem seals to go together. "Smoke at start-up" sounds like that's the case. It's also more likely than plugged drain-backs.

Low oil pressure is probably worn oil pump or worn bearings, rather than plugged drain-backs. Also not uncommon to go together with a lot of gunk under the valve covers.