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I have a 72 LT-1 that is mostly leak free with one exception. After a 10 mile drive I get a few oil spots on the passenger side heat shield. I have replaced the valve cover gaskets and they show no evidence of leaking and I recently replaced the fuel pump and both gaskets associated with it. I also checked the bolt on the front of the engine I removed and
replaced to hold the fuel pump rod up when I replaced it. I initially thought it was antifreeze leaking from the heater hose at the heater core but I have ruled that out. Any ideas would be appreciated.
My 73 SB does the same thing? Oil acculates on the passenger side vertical heat shield. New valve cover gaskets, dip stick on drivers side. Oil gauge line connection is clean/dry along with distributor. any help would be appreciated. No evidence of oil leaking from Edelbrock intake manifold. No oil leaking from PCV hoses.
I've never owned a small block but big blocks have several oil journal plugs in each side of the block.
They are plugged with about 1/4" allen plugs that screw in each journal just above the pan.
Like I said, I don't know if a sbc has these or not.
Could it be a leak at the timing cover that is blowing oil up onto the heat shield while driving?
Are you positive it's engine oil?
I've never owned a small block but big blocks have several oil journal plugs in each side of the block.
They are plugged with about 1/4" allen plugs that screw in each journal just above the pan.
Like I said, I don't know if a sbc has these or not.
Could it be a leak at the timing cover that is blowing oil up onto the heat shield while driving?
Are you positive it's engine oil?
Yes, I’m sure it’s engine oil. I thought about a timing cover leak too but all is dry there. Thanks for the ideas.
Looks like big drops and the location pattern is from being blown back.
Very curious.
The rest looks quite clean.
No drops on the ground?
Could it be power steering fluid?
Maybe a certain position on the steering ram
and some big drops form?
It sometimes leaves one drip after a drive that looks like it may be from the rear main seal. The other things you mention are on the other side of the car.
Oh, and I'll add, the drips being that far towards the passenger side, I'd be looking for something that is carrying it away from the engine block itself before being blown back. Like, for example, look at the low spot of a heater or a/c hose where the oil has followed along before finding the low spot and dripping off. Or, even a plug wire.
There was another oil leak thread a while back were the owner traced the leak from the valve cover, down the gasket between the intake and the head, then along between the head and block, along the bell housing to the starter, then dripping onto the floor.
I hate oil leaks.
I’m running conventional oil, and have checked the valve cover and intake manifold gaskets for any seepage. I hate oil leaks too and will continue to search for the cause. Thanks to all that replied and I’ll post updates if I figure it out.
What would cause oil to be accumulating around the starter? The oil pan looks ok, and I don’t see any oil on the bottom of the engine. The top of the bell housing is clean, also the manual transmission was refurbished last year and it seems ok. I do have one quarter size oil spots on the garage floor when the car sits for a few days, but I haven’t been able to identify where it’s coming from.
Strange Oil Leak
