Oil Leak, What to do to fix?

[Kaiser Pontiac]

So, I'm working on changing my valve cover gaskets and with some of the stuff off I could see a bit better...





Wondering what I got leaking there and what it takes to fix it? I get oil under the car if it sits for a few days, I knew the VC gaskets were leaking and probably something else, figured while I got stuff apart should fix any other leaky spots.

[SgtMarshal]

you need to change your coolant elbows and probably your intake manifold gaskets. get the aluminium coolant elbows and the metal manifold gaskets.

probably should change the valve cover grommets since you are changing your valve cover gaskets.

[SubwayGuy]

Sarge nailed it right on the head. Replace your LIM gasket.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

He already has metal intake gaskets, you guys must be blind.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

Soak the spots in some purple power or whatever you wish and clean the spots off, then drive it for a few days and see if it's really leaking or just a super minor seep thats taken forever to build up to that point.

[Scottydoggs]

that elbow is soaking wet. 10 bucks and its fixed.

looks like silver gaskets to me too. but could be the flash or the lighting.

[SubwayGuy]

Well he'll have to change the little rubber side pieces anyway so he'll have to take everything apart anyway. Do they sell those side gaskets separate?

[Scottydoggs]

Well he'll have to change the little rubber side pieces anyway so he'll have to take everything apart anyway. Do they sell those side gaskets separate?

wtf are you talking about now?

[SgtMarshal]

I couldn't tell for sure if it had the metal intake manifold gaskets, that's why I said probably.

[SubwayGuy]

wtf are you talking about now?

Those blue side gaskets that seal the gap between the two heads. You apply 4 dabs of RTV without them, and them 4 more dabs with them on. Those things. That's only thing that would cause it to leak oil from the LIM.

They are orange from the factory.

[Scottydoggs]

i knew what you meant, and wrong....... the possibility of it leaking oil from the rubbers is so slim to none. and the upgraded gasket kits come with blue and orange side rubbers, you use what ever one works for you. orange has locating pins, blue does not.

[SubwayGuy]

i knew what you meant, and wrong....... the possibility of it leaking oil from the rubbers is so slim to none. and the upgraded gasket kits come with blue and orange side rubbers, you use what ever one works for you. orange has locating pins, blue does not.

My blue ones had the locating tabs. And yes, the probability of those side gaskets leaking is very slim unless someone didn't use enough RTV. But that is the only place on the LIM oil can escape from. Unlikely, but possible. Unless there is somewhere else that causes it to look that way.

[Scottydoggs]

arrrgghhhhhh........please do your best to tell me how oils gonna leak out the rubber....please, entertain me more....

[bonerjamz03]

I get the feeling Scotty is being semi-trolled

[Scottydoggs]

not at all, he dont know a whole lot yet.


technically i think i was trolling him at the end lol

[BillBoost37]

Let's clear this up.

The coolant elblow is leaking based on the picture. The moisture on it, says so to me. Directly under that leaking elbow is the end seal of the lifter valley aka part of the LIM gasket set. The end seal is extremely unlikely to leak unless there is pressure in the crankcase. Pressure in the crankcase would typically blow out a valve cover gasket before the end seal. The dabs of RTV SG (SubwayGirl) is talking about form the gasket at the corner of the head to block, this is not a common area of leaking.

Say someone left out the end seal or it fell inside during a LIM job, very little oil will splash around and seep out the space left from having no gasket in place. Jared... ask me how I know this. Jared, search on my name and "Eas y" w/o the space and figure out how it happened to me and how i know based on how I know about first and second design end seal gaskets.

SubwayGirl is new to 3800's and learning fast, yet his is quite incorrect on his diagnosis of this leak. Sorry Jared, you are doing well with trying to help out, you don't have the years of experience yet.

[Kaiser Pontiac]

Wow, a lot of replies.

Anyhow, I got grommets for the VC and aluminum coolant elbows already. So, once I get the VC and coolant elbows done I should be good? Of course clean all that up too... Thanks guys, especially Bill for all the great info!

[Scottydoggs]

de grease it first, top and bottom of the engine. the day before or so, then have at it.

di you also get v/c gaskets?

[SubwayGuy]

Let's clear this up.

The coolant elblow is leaking based on the picture. The moisture on it, says so to me. Directly under that leaking elbow is the end seal of the lifter valley aka part of the LIM gasket set. The end seal is extremely unlikely to leak unless there is pressure in the crankcase. Pressure in the crankcase would typically blow out a valve cover gasket before the end seal. The dabs of RTV SG (SubwayGirl) is talking about form the gasket at the corner of the head to block, this is not a common area of leaking.

Say someone left out the end seal or it fell inside during a LIM job, very little oil will splash around and seep out the space left from having no gasket in place. Jared... ask me how I know this. Jared, search on my name and "Eas y" w/o the space and figure out how it happened to me and how i know based on how I know about first and second design end seal gaskets.

SubwayGirl is new to 3800's and learning fast, yet his is quite incorrect on his diagnosis of this leak. Sorry Jared, you are doing well with trying to help out, you don't have the years of experience yet.

Thanks Bill. I guess this was a big eye opener. I don't want to give people false advice or anything, I'm just doing my best to think of probable areas for this leak.

[BillBoost37]

Keep reading everything Jared, you are learning.

Plus..as you read more and more, you catch guys like Scott and I going through stuff too fast and goofing up.