I am starting to pull off parts to do a tune up and replace my top radiator hose, knock sensor and found what looks to be a sizable oil leak coming from somewhere under the intake manifold and running down the side of the engine and pooling on the transmission. Is there anything other then the valve cover gaskets that could cause that big of an oil leak?

I have attached a pic.

 

A PCV leak could load the intake up, but you'd know about that by the poor running engine and blue smoke. I lay odds on the valve cover gasket

 

I had that on one of my x types. It was the valve cover. Minor issue. Easy fix.


Good luck,
The Dr!

 

Good deal. That's what I thought it was but just wanted to make sure there was nothing else I should check.

 

Okay so I got the upper and lower intake off and it doesn't look like the oil is coming from the valve cover. It looks like its coming from the base of the cylinder head. Also if it makes any difference the upper and lower intake had a lot of oil in them that came out when I removed them.

 

foxteca, I would start with simply applying a little bit of grease remover (Simple Green is a good product that is cheap to use) and then use a hose to wash everything off. From there, drive the car and see where the oil is starting to pool. From there you can get a better idea of where the problem lies. If it is still looking like it is coming from the base of the cylinder head, then you are looking at a bad head gasket where the problem lies with the oil channels, not with the cylinder compression or coolant channels. This can happen.

Oil in the upper and lower plenums is not uncommon, especially if your PCV valve is bad and it is allow too much oil by. Replace the PCV Valve and clean up the plenum too to keep things as clean as you can.

 

That's what I'll do. I went ahead and ordered a new pcv value and a set of value cover gaskets because when I went to do the spark plugs after cleaning the intake valley they were full of oil.

 

Figured it out. IIt was definitely the valve cover gaskets, the previous owner decided It was easier to just pull the old gaskets out and replace them with black silicone.

 

Sometimes the DR! is right. Well good job on the find, and remember if you need anything just ask.
Ps if you need any parts just pm me what is needed and I will help where I can,


Good luck,
The Dr!