THETANK Posted July 5, 2005 Report Share Posted July 5, 2005 I have been losing oil im my 3.4 l cutlass for about 1 month now. I did not see it burning and I did not see any on the ground. The other day i finally found out what was happening it was leaking onto the exhaust manifold and burning off before ever getting onto the ground. It appears to becoming from around the front cylinder head. the leak is comming from directly behind the black tube that run across the front of the engine ( the leak is about 1.5 - 2inches to the right of the dipstick). I tried to attach a pic so you could see the area it is comming from. There is no oil in the coolant and the coolant level is good and does not appear to be leaking). http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fnripped/album?.dir=6815&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted July 5, 2005 Report Share Posted July 5, 2005 Well I'm no engine expert but I'm gonna guess it's either a cracked/warped head or probably bad headgasket.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted July 5, 2005 Report Share Posted July 5, 2005 Umm, that tube carries coolant from the W-pump to the intake manifold, its the t-stat bypass. About the oil unless you can see some from the frame, these motors use alot of oil through the PCV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THETANK Posted July 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2005 I can see the oil dripping onto the exhaust manifold that is why I ruled out pcv valve. I just don't understand why if it is a head gasket . My coolant wouldn't leak or have oil in it. the oil itself also does not have coolant in it either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted July 5, 2005 Report Share Posted July 5, 2005 looks like the cam carrier gasket, or the cam carrier itself is what's actually leakin' on there, but without better pic's it's kinda hard to tell... --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharged400sbc Posted July 5, 2005 Report Share Posted July 5, 2005 It's probably the cam carrier gasket (metal/silicone embosed gasket) that mounts between the head and the cam housing/carrier. I have replaced more than a couple and most recently i replaced on that the metal gasket had been broken and slpit apart on Al's brother's 93 3.4l someone had dont the head removal to replace the oil pump drive oring (supprizing that there are still people who think it is neccesary) and had reused the gasket (not an issue in most cases) but when they set the cam carrier down it had gouged and snapped the gasket (OOOPS!) it pissed like a racehorse! and that area isnt under oil pressure but it let us get the car for 2300$ instaead of the 3100 they were asking....prob hoping we wouldnt notice...(one reason to have a mechanic along when shopping lol) there is one spot on each gasket where it is under oil sstem pressure, it seals a passage for the oil to pressure lube tha cam bearings/journals, it looks like that is close to the area but i cant be sure without better pics (use a 6 inch mirror (steal from mom,siste,GF) and snapo a picture from under the coolant tube.... I wont be at my puter till this weeking so i cant post pics of the cam carrier gasket but you can look at new ones from a part store and you may be able to determin the oiling passage location. oil is cheap compared to the labor$$$ for the carier gasket job.... I gave Al and his brother a deal and did it fer 300$ + beer and Za.... man i've done too many of em... good luck! James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THETANK Posted July 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2005 I'll try to get a better picture with the digital camera probabbly won't get it up here until the weekend though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gp90se Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 cheap/quick fix if it is the cam carrier, little red RTV will prevent oil from coming out. It is by no means a permanent fix, but it will save ya a couple bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharged400sbc Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 if the oil is leaking from the area of the gasket that the high pressure oil passes through to lub the cam bearings smearing RTV will not stop it, the oil will just travel along the inside of the rtv and leak out at the ends of the smear.... if it is leaking from the non pressurized area (oil drainback) it might work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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