Does leaking oil from between the head and the block mean a blown head gasket or a warped head. I do not have a coolant leak into the oil or a oil leak into he coolant. I do have a lot of white smoke coming out of exhaust. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

It would be highly unusual to have oil leak between the head and block. are you sure of where its coming from?

Is the smoke White or does it have a blueish tint?

Time to pull some plugs.

 

Oil does not pass thru the head gaskets. More likely you have a leaking intake gasket or china wall seal which is dribbling down the block.

 

Well my car overheats and i have replaced the theromostat and had the radiator cleaned. Still overheats and there is some bubbling going on with the water. It also builds up a lot of pressure. What do you mean by china wall leak? I degreased and pressure washed the engine to see where the oil is coming from and it seems to be coming from the area I had mentioned. If you can, can you please get into detail as to why you think it might be the intake. Cause to my eyes I don't see it. Maybe I'll go home and take another look after I get off work. Thanks

 

can you get a picture of exactly where the oil is leaking from?

 

China walls = the part of the block that meets the front and rear of the intake. Look like the Great Wall. The lifter valley under the intake is full of oil, and is notorious for leaking here. It can wick around anywhere.

Another typical leak is valve cover gaskets, dribbling down past the plugs to where the head and block meet. Oil coming from one place is often great for looking like it's coming from another. Clean the motor like a pin again, then watch it reeeeally carefully for the first drops.

 

Have already replaced valve cover gaskets and I am sure that it is not coming from them. Ever since cleaning the engine I haven't drove the car so the engine is still very clean. Have started with a clean car then start car. Keep an eye on that certain spot and little by little a puddle shows up. Do you think I might have a cracked head? Again i have all the signs of a blown gasket. Car overheating, white smoke from tail pipe, and sometimes a little water coming from the tail pipe. Oh yeah, and it builds up alot of presssure. Like I said everthing points toward a blown gasket just not sure of the leaking oil. I get some people saying that it is possible to leak oil and some say it's not. I have already started with the tear down earlier so just want some other opinions. Thank you

 

Before tearing down, I would at least do a compression test first, to verify a gasket problem before doing all that work based on a guess.

 

Hey guys I seem to have a similar problem but I don't see an oil leak and I have no smoke at all other than when I step on it hard on the freeway it starts shooting out black smoke but other than that it overheats big time with pressure build up and everything and I pretty much replaced everyhing water pump heater core heater control valve new radiator cap flushed out and cleaned radiator new thermostat new hoses can u guys help me any ideas please

 

I have never seen a car that leaked oil from between the head and block, and I agree with the others saying that its probably a leak from somewhere else that just runs down there.

I also agree with TreeFiddy, a compression test is definetly what you should do next. Test the compression of the bank of cylinders you believe might have the blown headgasket and see what your results are. Typically anywhere from 90-120psi is ok. My 81 trans am had a burned intake valve, when I checked the compression it literally only had 3psi. It was real bad. If you do this test it will tell you if you do or dont have a blown headgasket, if your compression checks out ok then you just have a leak.

Bubbling of the coolant IS a sign of a blownheadgasket though.


If you pull some plugs from the troubled cylinder(s), they also may have some coolant on them, ive actually seen where it leaked so bad when I pulled the plug out there was quite a bit of coolant that gushed out, needless to say that car was towed to a shop. I have heard (but never noticed, honestly) that coolant will also leave the tip of the plugs white from being burnt off. Again, I havent seen this so dont hold me to it :P

Pep boys, auto zone, advance auto all lend out compression tester gauges.

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BigBoss: Black smoke is usually a sign of running rich. Does it spit out the black smoke anytime its revved up high? Does it smell of gas? Get bad MPG?

Also, as for the overheating, there could be a blockage in the cooling system itself that is restricting the coolants flow, causing it to overheat. I have a friend that is an older gentleman named Dan, he has restored tons of old muscle and built some dragsters himself, he once told me how he had a friend bring him his car because of overheating problems, said he threw all kinds of new parts at it and very little difference. Dan started tearing he engine down hunting the problem to find somehow a small rag had got crammed in one of the coolant ports in the head. After removing the rag and rebuilding, the car ran great. Not saying theres a rag in your engine lol, just that its a possibilty theres a restriction somewhere along the way.

Also, depending on how badly it overheats, you might consider going with a lower temp thermostat. While this is more like a "band-aid solution" and doesnt technically "fix" the problem thats causing it, it may keep it from overheating. (or at least help keep it a little cooler)

 

yes it does throw out smoke when revved up high and it does smell of gas alot and it does have really bad MPG what should i do ??????. AS far as the rag thing goes i knocked everything down except for tearing down the block anymore specific advice would be very helpful and extremely appreciated

 

Well theres alot of things that could cause the car to run rich, simple things such as a dirty air filter(s), bad O2 sensor, possibly MAF, or things a bit more difficult to fix such as faulty fuel regulator, fuel pump, clogged fuel lines, etc. A leak in the intake or exhaust could also be the problem (does the exhaust make any puffing or ticking sounds anywhere? anywhere before the tip(s) of course). Is your car carbureted? You could have a carb problem (possibly just in need of a tweaking). Even cracking vacuum lines can cause a car to run rich. Even something dumb like the CTS malfunctioning could cause your car to run rich (the car would be warmed up but the comp would still think its cold, thus running rich). Its really something you just have to make a list and cross things out as you check them until you find the problem.

Is the check engine light on?

 

Umm yes the check engine light is on and yes it carburated and I changed the fuel filter already and rebuilt my carb but the guys I took it to seemed kinda shady

 

you need to pull the codes and see WHY the check engine light is on. most likely thats the cause of your running rich and smoking problem. you can take it to the local auto parts store and have them hook a code scanner on it, or search on here how to use a paperclip to pull the codes. then post the results.

 

I dont blame you for not wanting to take it to them, i know what you mean.

Have you tried adjusting the carbs mixture screws?

Did you personally rebuild the carb? Was that your first one? What size jetting was used?

Definetly go get the codes checked, more than likely that will tell you what your problem is.

 

No I didn't do it it my self and its my second time but do u think the timeing is off that's why its overheating

 

Its possible, does it run poorly? Does it sound different through the exhaust, like its not running right? Does it shake the car, or does the engine shake real bad, or at least more than usual?

Was it timed with a timing light? Or just by ear?

That would explain the poor mpg though.

But, before I went and did that Id just check the codes. Its very possible that they will tell you whats wrong and it would only take a couple minutes. Have you heard of the paperclip trick? Using a paperclip to read your codes?

 

Yes does do all that that u said shaking everything but as far as the timing goes Idk I bought the car this way and no never heard of the paper clip can u explain

 

Also do think that's why it overheats cuz of the timeing and other people are telling me to change the EGR VALVE that causes overheating if pluged