I have an oil leak on my LG4 and can't for the life of me find where it is coming from. I thought it was my valve covers, so i bought new gaskets and some good RTV and sealed 'em up real nice. I have triple checked and those are not leaking. My oil pressure line is solid and has no leak either. When I had the motor out a few months ago, I sealed the intake with a nice big line of RTV on the valley and then a nice, smoothed line on the outside of the joint as well. I can run my finger along any of these surfaces and don't have any residue. However, my driver's side exhaust is completely coated in oil. My #5 and 7 plug wires are coated at the boot on the plug and it kind of looks like it sprays from between the block and head on to my exhaust? Is that possible? I've never dealt with something like this before. It seems to be most noticeable at higher RPMs and smokes if I "get on it", most likely from increased heat in exhaust system. But is there any suggestions on where this might be coming from? I have a new oil pan gasket, but could it have a leak from in when my oil pressure goes up with RPM? I'm quite lost on where to continue my search from. Any help would be appreciated

 

Sounds like you have a block w driver's side dipstick provision, but no dipstick.

Look in the block deck; below the exh manifold, right below the #5 plug. Where the head meets the block.

Nothing to do with "oil pressure". That's entirely contained within passages internal to the block.

 

Thanks for the input, I dont think I have a dipstick provision on the drivers side. Mine is in the pass and is there. I took a picture of the problem area. I did notice this bolt hole behind the manifold when I took this pic/looked for the dipstick provision. Most likely nothing, but it caught my attention so I thought I'd mention it. As you can see, the black on my Y-pipe is oil. I did just spend time cleaning it up, but its just caked on there.

 

Nope, that hole is for a clutch pivot ball.

However you do have one of the late 70s/early 80s blocks that has provisions for BOTH dipstick configurations. Not the block that came in the car. You can see, plain as day, the "feature" in the oil pan rail, as well as the lump in the side of the block, for the driver's side dipstick.

LOOK AT the place in question, instead of "think", or above all, arguing about it. Just below and to the rear of that plug wire boot in your pic.

 

I did see the "lump" but I didn't notice a hole like on the other side where the dipstick actually is. I assumed if it wasn't there, I needn't worry. So, say that is the leaking spot, how would one fix it?

 

The leaking spot is in the block deck, below and behind the #1 spark plug.

The reason whoever swapped whatever motor into your car didn't put a dipstick in there, is because a stock dipstick won't clear the manifold. Not even close.

To fix it, one would plug the hole. An appropriate size freeze plug type thing for example, or a bolt with A BUNCH of silicone on the threads, or a piece of sheet metal down at the oil pan rail if you ever drop the pan. Necessity is the mother of invention; native intelligence is the father.

The hole is about 3/8", maybe a bit bigger, can't recall the exact size.

 

Thank you very much. I will go take a look at it and find a way to plug it.