I think I may have a small oil leak in my 305TPI. I dont know too much about engines, so how bad is this problem. I have heard that chevys are synonymous for oil leaks. What problems could this cause? Is it really bad? How hard is it to fix? Any answers to these questions would be really appreciated. Thanks.

 

well it all depends, chevys are notorious for valve cover leaks, if thats what leaking its not that hard to fix

 

where is the leak and how bad is it?

 

Well I havent exactly found the cause of the leak, but a notice a very small pool of oil building like next to the valve covers, kind of on the throttle body on the right side if u are looking at the car. I can get a picture tommorow to help if needed....

 

This is one of those "a picture is worth 1,000 words" instances. You have TPI so the throttle body is more or less 'suspended' from the plenum and, as far as i know, would be a very hard target for pooling oil. Unless you mean the oil is puddling up on the manifold...

 

I'll tell you how bad it is, if you tell me how long a piece of string is...

 

Well here are the pics finally... please tell me what u guys think it could be and the seriousness of the problem. Thanks!

It is circled in the first pic and the follwing two pics have arrows pointing to the location where the oil slightly puddles up. Thanks.



a lil close...


even closer...

 

bro thats normal.

 

well wait it kinda depends smell it, and then tell us what it smells like. Could be a few things but most lilely just build up dirt.

 

well thats what lead me to check it out.. the smell... it smells like butning oil... this picture was taken after i just drove it, so it seems the oil somewhat evaporated, but it does pool up a little in that area.

It is a VERY noticeable smell and I have been told the smell is of burning oil, but its hard to describe smells over the computer. ... What could the problem be?

 

that right there isn;t the cause of burning oil smell, its something else

 

It looks like oil could be seeping up the intake bolt....

I've seen it before. Try taking out that intake bolt and using some permatex on it, or locktite (blue, NOT red :P )


That should fix you up

 

agreed that isnt where the oil is burning, however that is oil, oil with dirt stuck to it.. probably coming up the intake bolt.. the buring smell is probably oil leaking from the valve cover onto the exhaust manifold.. see if the flange under the cover is wet above the exhaust manifold next time..

 

My corvette used to have that same problem and it was coolant. I would hit the engine with some gngine degreaser, then watch for it under idle.

 

Yup, my Z did the same thing, with coolant, but on the passenger side, where the heater hose goes into the intake.

I bet that oil burning smell is just a crapped out valve cover gasket leaking oil onto your exhaust manifold though. The intake doesn't really get hot enough to burn oil off of it, but the exhaust manifolds do.

I'd just change your valve cover gaskets. They are cheap, and take only about 1/2 hour to do (most of that is just getting the valve covers off with all the wiring and hoses over them, lol).

 

I'll vote for thermostat housing gasket.

I'd replace that pregnant upper radiator hose while you're at it, too.