PaulSwany

Hi everyone.... I'm trying to fix my son's 89 Camaro w/ 2.8liter v6. He's away at basic training for the Air Force and I wanted to fix his car as a graduation present.

It's got a serious oil leak at the top rear of the engine. I thought it was the rear main at first, but pulled the trans and found that wasn't leaking. Checked some more and found a pool of oil on the top of the engine block behind the intake manifold next to the distributor. Thought it was the intake manifold, so I changed the gaskets and put a nice bead of silicone at the front and rear of the manifold... Now it leaks worse!

Some folks have said there is an oil pressure switch back there, but I couldn't find it for the life of me... I believe the oil pressure switch on this car is on the filter housing. Anyway, I'm at wits end with this thing and I'm looking for advise. Any help is appreciated.

hilltop530

is there a round cylinder under the distributor on the back of the block below where the block and intake meet up?

Some pictures would help. I'm not so familiar with the 2.8 in the camaro.

PaulSwany

I'll take some more pics tonight... There is a small barrel fitting that connects to the back of the intake manifold with a small tube leading up to the fuel manifold. I'm not sure what this part is. It had an o-ring seal on it that looked good.

hilltop530

I've seen oil leeks come from those at the back of the block. But, if there wasn't noticeable oil in that area that shouldn't be the problem.

How much oil is it loosing?

PaulSwany

It is pouring out of there like a fire hose! Loosing about a quart a week! Just letting it idle in my driveway, it probably dumped a pint.

hilltop530

I'd say it sounds like the distributor O ring. This is a fairly common place to loose oil from the back of the block.

PaulSwany

But is there that much pressure around the distributor to leak that much? The o-ring seal looked okay around the distributor, but I'll certainly change it if you think that might be it.

hilltop530

There is a bit of pressure around the distrib. Spoke to a friend and he said that the valve covers on that engine cover a portion or sit against the intake manifold in an odd manor.
He suggested to use some RTV along those seems on the gasket. When you replaced those did you notice what he might have been talking about?

Also, he had a bad oil leak from one of the flexplate bolts. Said that it was spitting oil everywhere whit the torque converter cover off.

PaulSwany

I know what area under the valve covers your talking about... The intake - head joint looked pretty good, plus I changed the valve cover gaskets. I'm gonna replace the distributor o-ring and see if that helps.