hi there, im new to this site...
I got an 83 Z28, had it for about four years and have also spent absurd amounts of money on it. This morning i noticed a slight knocking noise coming from the engine... pistons i assume 'cause i was low on oil. But my main concern is the amount of oil that accumulated inside the air filter housing. lots of it which scares me. any of your input might help 'cause im lost.

 

The most common way for Oil to collect in the air cleaner is due to blow by at the rings. If the rings are not sealed properly (like when you overheat the engine) combustion pressure escapes past the rings into the crank case. This pressurizes the crank case and then the PCV(Positive Crank-case ventilation) valve does its job and routes the pressurized vapors into the Air breather where it can be sucked in by the carburator and reburned. Not to fear yet though. Fix the reason why it overheated, clean the air filter housing and check it in a couple of weeks. If it is still clean no problemo if not Rings are toast.

 

Thanks for the reply ratchet... just got her back from the shop and they tell me my PCV valve is fine, but my rings are not. Not a very good day, im in the middle of finals and now this. They tell me i need a rebuild, which they also say will cost me about three grand. Seems a little high to me, so hopefully i can get her back to st. kitts in one piece and do it there. Apparently my timing chain is about to snap too. and my transmission is slipping.

-It never rains, but it pours.

 

You can always do it yourself... grab a used engine somewhere and put your intake and crap on there and you're all set. Even crate engines are somewhat cheap these days. What colour is your Z? I am in Welland... maybe I've seen you around

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1988 Pontiac Trans Am GTA L98 5.7L, Black on Black with 114,000kms.

Best ET 14.559 @ 95.25MPH
Custom 3" Stainless Exhaust Y-Pipe back (High flow Cat and Flowmaster Mufler)

 

yea, in know i could do it myself, and i still am thinking about it, but i dont know if its worth it. she's turning 300k, and underneath the car is beginning to show it. I feel like im constantly throwing good money after bad. I've gone through mechanics like crazy, finding it very difficult to find one who isn't rippin me off. I dont quite have the facilities, or anyone else around who knows anything about cars.
I probably have seen you around, especially if you go out to cruise night in the falls, My Z is white, the same white that the 92 Z28 were, got gold cheviot wheels, and flowmaster exhaust. On the back of my car is a saying that says "drive it like you stole it", cant miss it.
Anyway, hope it all works out.