I have a prob I bo ught my car about a year ago and now I'm ready to get it on the road. Yes I am a rookie. 89 rs 305v8 700r4. I fire it up and after it gets warm it smokes from under the hood. I can see on pass. side of engine that where the manifold bolts to the tailpipe It is covered in oil. not gushing but constantly covered oil. Is it the oil sending unit or valve cover?

No brake lights or turn signals I have taillights when I turn on my lights. these are the only things stopping me from passing insp. and driving my car. if it is the VCovers how aggrivating is the pass. side to get on and off properly.

oh one other thing I keep a check on the oil level and it NEVER is low or at least not anything noticable.

I will keep the 305 in it long enough to build a 350 after the 1st of the year I already have a good short block I'll have the majority of the parts by christmas. So I'll be here asking alot more ?'s

 

When the engine's cool, run your hand back behind the valve cover and also behind and below the distributor along the edge of the intake manifold and china wall (top edge of the block). Check for signs of wet and fresh oil leak. More than likely one of those two spots is where the seal and oil leak problem is located. My money is on the seal between the rear of the intake and the block but, you find it and then decide what's next.

As for the brake lights, checked the bulbs? Also check the brake light switch. It's located near the brake pedal assembly. Test it with an ohm meter.

good luck

 

thanks

 

Another thing that may help you find the leak is go to your local parts store and get a rattle can of engine degreaser. Spray off all of the oil that is on the outside of the block so you can see where the new oil is leaking from.

 

thanks fellas if it is the VC or the intake how hard is it to fix

 

Valve cover gaskets are simple to install. If you have A/C it is slightly more difficult to get the valve cover out. Intake is a little more in depth, but not difficult. Take pictures of how everything looks from different angles before you start. You may also want to get a roll of electrical tape that you can write on to label things as they come off. As long as you take your time it wont be bad. I suggest picking up a chiltons manual for your car, it will show the step by step process. If you decide to do it let us know, and we can give some more detailed advice.

 

Also before you start tearing things apart, if you look under the hood with the motor running can you see where the smoke is coming from? Is the smoke pure white, gray, bluish, brown, black? One side of block or both? Any details you can provide will help.

 

pure white on pass. side rear up against firewall if i look from front radiator area down toward where the manifold bolts to the tailpipe it is covered in oil not very thick but enough to keep it smoking. that is why i thought it was the VC's. if it is the intake I guess it would still be worth fixing.

 

It could be either one. Neither are a hard fix and shouldn't take too long. If I had to bet I would say it is the real seal of the intake.

 

thanks

 

I ran my hand across the bottom of the VC in the back where the firewall is and it came out covered in oil so I think I know what the problem is. Thank you all for your help!!!!!!!!!!

 

I took the hoses and wires loose kand loosened the VC and there is a pipe (metal) that seems to b in the way in the back coming across the VC just enough to stop the VC from coming up and over the rocker arms. How do I move that pipe? it looks like it goes from above the back end of the VC against the firewall and down to the tranny. Now I know it doesn't connect to the tranny but how do i loosen it to get it out of the way?

 

o.k got the VC fixed I just have to clean all the leaked oil off of the engine and I fixed my brake lights. Someone had broke the switch in half. But as soon as the brake lights started working the temp gauge quit. There are some cut wires under the dash/steering column from PO but what could have possibly have come loose? The gauge literally looks stuck facing completely/straight down. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got a 21year old car and when I fix one thing something else goes wrong.