SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

So I just got done rebuilding my motor and have about 7000 miles on it. It runs great but uses oil, about a quart every 1000 miles. So it has had an oil leak for quite some time and I decided to figure out what it is.

I pulled the tranny thinking it was from the back of the pan or a rear main seal, nope , dry as a bone. So next I pulled the starter and passenger side coil pack. It looks like its coming from the head. I see oil on the bottom of the header flange so it appears to be coming thru the exhaust or the head. Is it common for oil to come out the head or exhaust. I know my car has blowby.

Dont mind the rtv, I had no clue where the oil was coming from so I put it everywhere.

I was thinking of putting dye in the oil to find out where its coming. I am not pulling the motor as its not in the budget.

Tainted

iTrader: (9)

Do you have a catch can? Are ypu sure ypur pcv system is routed right?

mlmedina26

Buy a can of brake clean clean you engine off and do as tainted said and check your crankcase breather system and run it kinda hard for a day and check to see where your oil is coming from

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

Im pretty the pcv is run correctly, followed a thread on here that was posted on how to run all types of pcv's. It would be great to clean the motor off and then run it hard but its all in pieces, no tranny or clutch. Maybe ill try cleaning it off and run it on the lift for a bit letting it idle. Im not sure if that is enough to find a leak.

Tainted

iTrader: (9)

Probably not unless its just that horrible in which case go on and take the motor out too

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

Im going to find some of that dye to put in the oil and see if I can pinpoint the leak. This way I know where its coming from. Worst case, Put the tranny back in and drive it with the dye to find the leak.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

How does the passenger side valve cover seal look?

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

I am going to check this tomorrow. I felt with my finger around the seal and didnt see any oil. I will pull the valve cover and double check it. Its odd to see oil coming from the bottom of the header flange, Hopefully its just a valve cover. Will a head gasket cause oil to come out?

Tainted

iTrader: (9)

It could I suppose in a scenario like maybe its badly torn and oil seeps out from the cylinder. ut you would know if it was something like that.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

How's you exhaust look, any blue/grey smoke ?

Tainted

iTrader: (9)

Could be your valves leaking and that oil is collecting and spewing out around your exhaust..?

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

I am not sure of how my exhaust looks. I have a tinted rear window so its hard to see. I do know that smoke comes out on wide open throttle, just unsure of the color.

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

Just an update, I cleaned the oil off where its leaking and put the dye in the oil. I let it idle for 15 minutes and didnt see any leaks. I just put the tranny back in and am going to put it all back together and drive it and then check with the UV light to see where its coming from.

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

So after some research, I see that when I was putting my rocker bolts on I was supposed to put sealant on them. So the oil is draining into the intake port, this could explain my oily plugs and oil consumption.


Would this caues it to come out the exhaust manifold? I still have to drive the car and see where its coming from but it appears to be exhaust manifold.

Tainted

iTrader: (9)

yup that will do it. lil bit of loctite

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

I was under the impression you use a rtv type sealant, not loctite.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

Get the white thread sealant, not thread locker.
I use Permatex high temperature thread sealant, it comes in a small white tube..

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

Thanks man, ill pick some up tomorrow. Hope this fixes it. If the roads are clear this weekend I will take it out and beat on it abit. Put it up on the lift with the UV light and see if its still coming out.

RAMPANT

iTrader: (17)

Just looking at it, I would check the valve cover seal.

Also if you do not have good crank case ventilation, check the o ring on the dip stick tube into the block. I used some RTV to seal mine better, I had ring issue on my previous build and had a lot of oil come out there.

SteelCityYaga

I doubt that this is causing the amount of oil consumption (ie, a qt/1000 miles). You may want to pull your intake look into the head to make sure that this is the cause.

When I put on my AI 243 Heads, I didn't use any sealant on the intake rocker bolts and I do not have any oil consumption issues.