My 88 trans am is leaking oil as fast as I put it in. I can't tell where its coming from but after its been driven a bit I can see oil leaking from directly behind the flywheel shroud and there was a good amount of oil inside the shroud as well. My only clue as to where it may be coming from is the fact that all of the wiring above and connecting to the oil filter is absolutely soaked with oil, yet there isnt much oil at all on the filter itself. I am also experiencing smoke coming from the pcv valve on the drivers side and the oil filler cap. I also have black soot on my rear bumper. My underbody is covered in a coating of oil. The passenger pcv valve was blowing out of the valve cover for awhile.

 

Would I be correct in my assumption that the leak is being caused by a bad oil pressure sending unit? This thread is starting to make me think it is since one person mentioned they were losing 2 quarts of oil a day, which sounds just like my leak. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...e-sending.html

 

Could be. Was anything done to the engine before this started happening?

Intake manifold end gasket is another known source of leaks that would do what you describe.

 

Check or replace your pcv valve as well. Sounds like you've got some issues with pressure inside the crankcase?

Quarter car wash and a can of engine cleaner will help narrow down the location of the leak. OPSU is a common cause.

 

what about distributor base oring leak.

 

rear main

 

rear main!!

 

can the rear main seal really cause an oily film under the distributor?

 

If you've got a two-piece rear main there's a better than even chance it's leaking if its original. It's probably not, however, causing oil to get behind the dist. I suppose it could be leaking down, to the side then back up around the bellhousing to get there, and air moving around the engine compartment WILL move oil.

Clean everything off so YOU can see where the oil is coming from. Like someone else once said, in effect, your monitor's blocking my line of sight.