Just a little heads up everybody.

I just finished getting my new 383 (385 actually) up and running and on the street. Went for a little run to the parts store and on the way home stopped at a red light at the corner and smoke started coming out from under the vette. Pulled into the neighborhood and took a look see - oil dripping onto the drivers side header collector. Oil pressure started dropping so shut her down and pushed her home (1 block thankfully).

Checked the oil level - barely touching the end of the dipstick. Added oil and started her up to find the leak. Instant oil pool in the driveway. I swear - 3 quarts in about 30 seconds. I checked and checked and could not pinpoint the leak (no more running the engine). Finally removed the oil pressure switches by the distributor even though they appeared dry. The oil pressure switch (two wire connector) was a little wet by the electrical terminals. I was able to blow air through it with no problem.

A new one at autozone was $5.99. That little switch could have cost me about $5000.00 worth of engine. Thankfully it only seems to have cost me an oil change, some simple green (engine bay and driveway clean up) and $5.99 (and a whole lot of hoping and praying that nothing is damaged internally).

If your hasn't been checked lately it may be worth a look.

 

Switch when I pulled it out:


Run of 30 seconds:

 

WOW......

thanks for the info.....glad that ended much better than it could have.....

 

Nice save, sometimes its the little stuff that fails that costs big.

had a thermostat Oring start seeping on me and didnt know til I got home, cut my cruise short that morning for some reason. Intake was filled up with coolant.

 

HOLY! that could have really sucked. glad it turned out ok in the end for ya. Where is the switch located? need to check mine before i put my new 396 in in a few months

 

I had that oil switch fail on my 87 too 3 years ago.
Starting leaking out of nowhere one day.
NOS GM part installed.
No oil leaks since.

When I do my stroker 410 swap......
I will leave that switch out.

Your recent experience with that switch............You were very lucky.

Brian

 

Glad you caught it. Just wondering, was the switch on the engine when the engine was installed or was it tightened after the motor was in?

 

The oil switch on my 87 leaked around where the steel housing and plastic terminal insulator is crimped together.

 

It is located on the drivers side of the distributor between the distributor and the valve cover. It's on a strange looking "tree" shaped like an "L". There are two pressure devices threaded onto it - the fuel pump/oil pressure switch (the one in question) and the oil pressure sensor for the dash readout (one wire).

It was installed after the engine was set back in - it was pretty tight getting the engine in with those valve covers, the bellhousing, and the motor mounts on and I didn't want to crack that "tree". It was a PITA to put on but I didn't want to break it.

FWIW - I decided to put the distributor hold down on that side when I modified the LT1 intake figuring I would have more space over there. WRONG - This assembly is definately in the way. And in case anyone is wondering - the valve covers clear just fine and come off easily.

I can almost swear that there was no leak this morning it was sudden - thank goodness for the smoke (never thought I would say that).

 

[QUOTE=cgantner5150;1577013807]





For some reason, your switch looks like it's been chain whipped.

 

Those switches, senders also, have never been known as fail proof. Years ago I started swapping them out when I was doing repairs. If it ain't broke don't fix it is a wise practice but some smart change outs makes sense.

 

Same thing happened on my 87 a few years ago. Glad I was near home.

 

good news: bearings are cheap.

bad news: yours may be hurt...might not show till oil pan fails weeks from now.

 

Since it was just idling and not under full load, he should be ok.