Hi everyone.

I just had the valve seals replaced not too long ago on my 88 GTA, and it totally fixed my smoke at start up problem, but then I went to college and my car sat for a good week. Ever since I fired it up after the week it was sitting, its been smoking again. Also I've been seeing a nasty bit of oil dripping from the oil filter while it's running. I went to a thicker oil this past weekend and a new filter, but it still seems to be dripping bad off of the filter in steady big drops. Any info on these problems would be a huge help. I can't seem to find a good answer anywhere. Thank you all very much!

 

Is it leaking from somewhere above the oil filter and running down and dripping off of it? There shouldn't be anything dripping out of the filter cuz the gasket should seal it up.

 

Yes. My bad. It's leaking out from around the gasket. Maybe the gasket is bad, but that'd be 2 filters in a row that its happened with, and I know I have it at the right tightness. Or at least I think I do.

 

Don't tighten the hell out of it. Get it all the way down and then do about 1/4 - 1/2 turn. A lot of people make the mistake of really cranking them on. This causes the gasket to get smashed and then it doesn't seal correctly. Did you notice if the filter adapter is loose or anything unusual?

 

I didnt even think to check the adapter. It didnt seem loose when i was tightening the filter on, but maybe that's it. I'll have to check. It just puts me through a loop that all of a sudden this has happened even after changing the oil and filter last week and the time before.

 

Check to see that an old gasket isn't stuck up there and you're not installing the new filter over it.

 

Also make sure that you're using the right filter. Use some lube on the filter gasket before installing it and do the 1/4 - 1/2 turn as mentioned before. If it still leaks, start looking for something else leaking above it.

 

Will do. Thanks a ton.

 

Look at the oil pressure sending unit, right immediately above the filter.

 

Since the leak started a while after the valve seal job, my money's on the driver's side rocker cover gasket.

 

I'll check that gasket too. You think that can really cause it to drip at the filter?

 

Yes. It can run down the block and off the filter.

 

Ok. Im going to check my gaskets today, and change the oil again and make sure I didnt leave the old gasket on there. Im also going to look at my sending unit. Hopefully that'll do the trick.

 

You don't need to dump the oil in your pan. Just remove the filter (yes have your catch pan underneath) and check to see if you have a bad gasket or an extra one left behind. Wipe that down and look to see if the adapter is loose or any other problem there. Then wipe a clean finger around the oil sending unit to see if that's leaking, then up the block as far as you can go to see if there is a trail of oil coming from the valve cover or back of the intake. Even if I found the leak from higher on the engine, I'd still put a new filter on and add a quart of oil. Good luck

 

I have the same problem with my 88 firebird formula 305 where could it be coming from?

 

Read the above posts. That should be your starting point.

 

Could it be the distributor o ring? Ive heard that ftom some a few people