i noticed a rather large oil spot under the car yesterday when i got home. when i went to change my plugs and wires last night, i found the starter and side of the oil pan coated with oil. i didn't think much of it because the valves had just be adjusted a few weeks ago, and that can get pretty nasty. Well this morning on my to school, i start smelling burnt oil inside the car. when i get to school i pop the hood and smoke is coming up along the firewall on the passenger side. oil is leaking from somewhere, down my starter and on to my y-pipe, causing it to burn- hence the smoke. I just got done looking the car over, and i think i've found three possible locations for the leak.
starting from easiest to fix, and getting harder:
-blown valve cover gasket

-blown intake manifold gasket(back portion)

-or a blown head gasket (towards the back corner)

would a blown head gasket cause an oil leak? I've had one before, and it created more of an antifreeze leak than anything, so im not too sure on that one. Im praying to god that its not the head gasket cause thats a PITA to fix. Does anyone else have any ideas on places to look?

PS- i recently switched to synthetic oil could that be causing a leak? the engine is only about a year old so it couldn't have that much build up could it?

thanks for your help...

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My 1986 Z28 and more!!
85 IROC w/ 1364 miles!

R.I.P Dale Earnhardt

 

Well, You always want to start at the top and work your way down.. Since valve cover gaskets are the cheapest and you were just in there adjusting valves, I think this could be your problem. I would change them out and then clean the motor real good and see if it still leaks. If so, I would take a mirror and lok at the back of the intake.

I doubt it is the head gaskets.

 

will do, im going to pick up a set right now. anyone else have any thoughts?

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My 1986 Z28 and more!!
85 IROC w/ 1364 miles!

R.I.P Dale Earnhardt

 

Gotta agree with Kevin. It's so common it's disgusting. Especially likely since you just did work on it. You might have one of those situations where the gasket has decided to curl into the rocker space and leave a gap across there between the VC bolts.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

I had/have a similar problem as yours. My engine too is low milage. Here is what I have discovered to date:

- PCV system was not function properly and thus causing high internal pressures which force oil out.
- Passenger side valve cover seemed to be leaking on the back lower corner
- Back of intake manifold may not have been sealing. Replaced gasket to be safe.
- Intake manifold bolts came loose on rear which cause antifreeze to leak and ultimately why I decided to swap the intake gaskets.
- It's been a few months since I changed intake gaskets and I now discovered the bolts have backed off a bit. So I had to retorque them. Perhaps this is the norm with aluminum heads.

I still get a spot or two on the ground. I am going to switch to regular oil. I have seen and experienced oil leaks that appear after switching to synthetic.

If you find your cause, I would appreciated knowing. I am going to bet switching to regular oil will show an improvement with my leak.

Mark.

 

Also check the gasket around your distributor shaft. I've seen a huge amount of oil come out of this spot.

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1992 Camaro Z28; Engine:383 w/Edelbrock RPM ported heads. Lunati Solid Roller Cam 224/232 .502/.502, Fluidampr, 1.5 Roller rockers, 30 lb injectors. Haltech E6GM DFI, SLP 1 3/4" headers, 4" Mufflex, T56, 4.10. Super Ram.

Double-Pump This! EFI Rules!

Definition:

NOPI: n. 1. import 2. Sticker worth 47 hp 3. import with 6" exhaust tip
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