pooogy

Ok, I installed my new cam and have developed an oil leak.

It seems to only leak after the car is warmed up. When the car sits overnight, it doesn't appear to be leaking. There is oil on the header collectors, o2 sensors/wires, starter, flywheel protection plate thing, and transmission pan.

Before my cam install the car did not leak, but here is where the plot thickens. Before my cam install I had a torque converter put in and only got to drive it a day before it was on jackstands for the cam install. I did not notice any oil leaks, but I was not looking either.

I think I have it narrowed down between rear intake leak and rear main seal leak. I ran my hand across the back of the intake the best I could and did not come up with a difinitive oil leak. My hand was just dirty, not really wet with oil.

FlamingChicken

iTrader: (2)

valve covers can leak the same way. mine is leaking from the back corner on the drivers side and it blows back a decent bit. just too lazy to fix it at the moment.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Another vote for valve covers. Run a finger around just below where the valve cover seats on the head.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Could be Rear Main..if it's not on the backside of the Heads I would pull that metal Convertor Shield off and see if it's all over in there.

Badazz 97 TA

iTrader: (18)

they could of also hit or broke the oil pressure sensor at the back of the intake. cracked it enough to where it leaks but still gives a good oil reading??

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

^^I don't know about that.. if you would break it your Oil Pressure would show that.

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

Clean off the bottom of your engine, theres no way of telling where all that oil is coming from until you can see it dripping (since its all over the place by now).

So clean the underside of your car off with either brakleen or something similar, then fire it up.... Let it get reallll warm, and then check where its dripping from.

gh94z28

I just did my cam install and developed a oil leak as well. Mine was the intake manifold. I didn’t use enough rtv.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Not necessarily true. Oil usually doesn't "drip" unless it's on the edge of a component far from the source. Since in most cases oil leaks in a downward fashion it is best to start from the top of the engine and work your way down. It also helps to be familiar with an engine in knowning where to look and feel...

Fixxer99TA

iTrader: (5)

True, but since he already said he felt the back of the manifold I thought that could be ruled out. Valve covers are the only thing left up that high, and if those were leaking it would be fairly obvious.

What I was working torwards was a possible front cover leak, since I have seen countless "done at home" cam installs come in with front cover leaks. Usually the oil ends up all the way to the rear end even with a small leak, so it can be hard to tell...

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

It's possible it could be on the Front Cover..seeing as how there are 3 places on the Cover itself that Oil can come out without a problem(Water Pump Shaft, OPTI, Crank Hub), or from the Cover seam itself.

It would make a mess all over the Oil Pan.

pooogy

Oil pan is clean. I had my valve covers off last night to readjust my rockers, but I didn't notice any oil really.

It seems to only drip when the car is running and warmed up. There is oil all over the y pipe to indicate this. A few minutes after the car is shut down, the leak appears to either stop completely, or slow down dramatically. Does that indicate anything?

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Rear Main is probably your best bet then.. is it all over in that area? Get that Convertor Shield off and look at the back side of the Block..let us know.