Alright...so when i fired up my car the other day to get the oil pumping around a bit I noticed some smoke comming from the exhaust manifold...I thought it was an exhaust leak but it dosnt smell like exhaust...when i looked a little closer it seems as if the gasket for the valve cover is leaking and the oil is going down onto the exhaust manifold causeing it to smoke and smell...i know its a pretty stupid question because its comming right from the valve cover but if it makes me feel better hearing it from someone that knows more about cars then me then its worth it lol...



Also im wondering what kind of oil the car takes...i ask around and everyones like "it's writtin right you your oil cap" but its not...im guessin 5W30??...thanks.

 

Yes, that's what happening.
5w30 is what I use, but it depends on where you live, I'm in Texas.

 

ahhh alright thanks a lot...how come it depends where you live?...i live in Newfoundland, Canada if that helps any...thanks again!

 

put on a new valve cover gasket, this is a VERY commmon problem on the sbc engines 55-86 years especially


i use 10w30 winter and 10w40 in all mine if they are higher mileage

imho 5w30 is only for very tight nice condition low miles engines

and definitely not for warm temps


good luck

 

I would run 10w30 year round. That's what I use.

 

Oil is made up of oil and additives. When reading an oil viscosity rating the you get something like this:
5W30
The five being the acutual oil weight.
The W for weight.
Therefore you have a 5 weight oil.
The 30 stands for the properties.
So reading this viscosity rating, you have a 5 weight oil with 30 weight properties.
If you read any oil chart, such as in your owners manual you will see an oil recommendation chart. You should see a temperature table that shows different oils for different climate temperatures.
The colder the climate, the harder for the oil to flow. Therefore additives are added to let the oil change it's own viscosity due to changing climates (winter to spring, summer to winter,etc, hot one day-snowing the next). Also detergents are added to absorb "dirt". After a while, the additives no longer change for climate and the oil properties become a 5 weight. That's why when you drain it, it comes out fast. When you put it in goes in slow. So that's why it's important to change your oil.
Since you live in a cold climate area, it's important to have a thinner oil. So a multi grade oil will do for just about any climate in the majority of areas. Some colder areas may recomend a single low grade oil, such as a 10W oil.