Oil leak!!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 616
Likes: 1
From: Cocoa Beach FL
Oil leak!!!!
I replaced the head gasket a few weeks ago and now I have this small oil leak somewhere and can not find it. I have taken the valve covers off and retorqued the heads again and all the intake bolts, water pump etc... It seems to be coming from the front of the engine. It is not bad just after a few days builds up and leaves little puddles on my garage floors where it has dripped off of the exhaust,frame etc. I have put it on ramps got a light and rags whiped it all down like 3 times and can not find the source of it. Like I said it isnt bad.you can not even see a diff on the dip stick until a week has passed. After I replaced the head gasket I put some cheap 5w30 in it long enough to start it put a few miles on it then change it back to 10w30. I would appreciate any help this is driving me nuts.
Thanks for the help
Thanks for the help
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
Could be that the "China wall" is not fully sealed- this is where the plenum meets the block, front and rear, normally sealed with silicone when the plenum is installed. This is finicky to get right, and if the old sealant was not fully cleaned off, or there is a nick in one of the mating surfaces, it will leak.
Some, myself included, believe in making a row of small dimples along these mating edges of the plenum with a ***** punch, it seems to help the sealant stay tight.
Some, myself included, believe in making a row of small dimples along these mating edges of the plenum with a ***** punch, it seems to help the sealant stay tight.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
If it is from there (most likely), the area can be accessed by taking all the crap off the front of the motor and cleaning the area with laquor thinner. You should be able to see where the leak is coming from. If it is a small hole in the silicone, you can apply another layer over the defect. You might have to cut a chunk out with a box cutter if it is a larger area. Fortunately, you can look right at the area. Better than taking the whole manifold off.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 616
Likes: 1
From: Cocoa Beach FL
Yeah I read about making the dimples and did that before I put it back together and I do not see any oil coming from that area at all. Grrrrr but Thanks for your help, Ill tear it apart again in a week or so and check it out.
