Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'81 Pontiac Grand Prix, Oil Leak After Repairs
Q:
I just replaced the
valve cover gaskets on my 81 Pontiac Grand Prix. I have it running
now but I smell and see burning oil coming up on the passenger side behind
the engine. When I look under the vehicle all I see is oil coming down
the exhaust pipes. What can be causing this?
- Richard
A:
Practice makes perfect,
and from your description I would say that you may have to practice changing
the valve cover gasket again. If oil is leaking down onto the exhaust
manifolds in your engine configuration its likey from the valve
cover gasket. You would not be the first and will not be the last to have
this type of problem after performing a repair. Valve cover gaskets, as
simple as they seem, only have to shift or move ¼ even less
in some cases to have a problem. This movement creates a loss of sealing
that often makes the repair leak worse than the old gasket before it was
replaced. Get yourself another gasket and remove the valve cover on the
side that is leaking. Just a little practice will seal that oil leak.
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