I have a 1988 Camaro IROC with the 5.7 L engine that has an oil leak. The oil leak only is present when the engine is running. At first I thought it was the valve cover gaskets, so I just replaced both of those, but the leak is still present and maybe even a tiny bit worse. I went under the car and saw that it is running down the plastic insulation around a bundle of electrical wires at the back of the engine on the driver's side. The leak appears to be coming from the level of the valve covers or higher, but it is not from the valve covers as I ran a cloth around both and neither is leaking. What else is at the very back of the engine at the level of the valve covers that could be leaking oil only when the engine is running? Thanks in advance

 

Back when I had my old 305 TPI motor it had an oil leak once. it was very hard to trace the source since it only leaked when it was running and it was almost a mist and it ran down wires like you were saying. It turned out to be a bolt for where the mechanical fuel pump would be in the block had backed out. I know that's in the front of the engine but Id still check there.

 

probably a leakey oil pressure sender-it is in that area and will only leak when engine running.

 

Good idea. That one slipped my mind somehow lol .

 

Just so those like me who are just starting to learn, is the oil pressure sending unit that is mentioned as the possible culprit another name for oil pump?

Where is it located and can it be serviced without an engine pull?

I have an oil leak also and I have already changed the valve cover gasket and it still leaks..

Been told that it could be coming from a bad dipstick .... Is that serviceable without an engine pull also?

 

the oil pump is entirely different and internal to the engine

the sending unit is external and easily accessed

the dipstick could be leaking and all you need to do is get underneath to determine that

there are many places from where oil could be leaking. It requires your eyes and hands to find the exact location.

In my experience as a hobbyist (not a pro) over several decades the valve cover gaskets as being the culprit of oil leaks tend to place right on the bottom of the list yet many replace them first because it's an easy job.

 

Thanks! I will try what you mentioned when I get a chance