Oil pooling on top of engine after valve cover gasket replacement

**void33** · 01-23-2013

Hello,

*my first post on the forum, I apologize in advance for any mistakes...

-2000 Grand Prix GT / 3.8L V6
-I would get smoke every now and then in the summer from my engine (hard to tell exactly where it was coming from but I assume the exhaust manifold) about 6 months ago. I discovered oil pooling in the divots between the valve covers and intake manifold on both the front and rear of the top of the engine so I replaced both valve cover gaskets. I also dried up all the oil and after checking periodically it seemed to have fixed the problem. It is winter now so I haven't noticed the smoke again but I did just notice that these divots are again full of oil. When I say full, I mean roughly .5-1oz of oil per divot.

Any ideas what my next step should be? Removing the valve covers isn't terrible, but it isn't something I want to do again if there could be another reason why this is happening. Any advice is much appreciated.

**Explicit_Spade** · 01-23-2013

Lim Gasket.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-23-2013

you mean pooling up in the lim valley, down by lim bolts? then id say your due for lim gaskets.

**dsmuts** · 01-23-2013

Lim gasket

**FordMan77** · 01-23-2013

Did you replace the valve cover bolt grommets when you did the valve cover gaskets?

**void33** · 01-24-2013

I did replace the valve cover bolt grommets yes.

Please excuse my ignorance, but how does the labor for replacing the lim gaskets compare to the labor for replacing both valve cover gaskets? Just so I know what I am looking at.

**Explicit_Spade** · 01-24-2013

Quite a bit more than valve cover gaskets. You basically have to take the top end of the motor off.

It's not harder per say, just more time consuming.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-24-2013

the truth is, once you get the fuel rail and harness off. its a pretty easy job.

costs around 100 bucks in new parts. and about 3 hrs time maybe a bit more. depends on your skill level.

**nos4blood70** · 01-24-2013

My first time doing LIM gaskets took me about 4 hours. I've done 4 LIM gasket replacements since, and I am by no means mechanically inclined. It truly is easy, there's a how-to I can link you if need be.

**void33** · 01-24-2013

The link would be great thanks nos.

I am going to try to get that done in the next couple of weeks then, thanks for your help everyone!

**Scottydoggs** · 01-24-2013

heres the link. your not changing the lifters so that part wont apply to you. its really a over view vid, not to much up close shots, but it does give the idea of what your getting into.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-24-2013

as you know taking the coil bracket and alt off are so you can get the valve covers off.

to just do the lim gaskets, those parts can stay on. remember hes doing new lifters as well in the vid and you need the valve covers off to do that.

**loopy smurf** · 01-24-2013

Is it different with a supercharger or no? Vid is a SC 3800...just curious...

**TLSheff** · 01-24-2013

A little bit, not much. Instead of a supercharger you have a plastic intake, Lower Intake Manifold will be different. Most of everything else will be identical. The video will give you a basic idea of what you will be doing.

I hate to link off to other sites, but this is a solid how-to with pics to help understand everything needed.
L36 LIM Gasket Replacement (56K) - Grand Prix Net