valve covers still leaking

[hoghunter]

just changed my valve cover gaskets. still leaking oil bad enough to smoke at stop lights. any ideas of what went wrong or if that is where my leak is

 

[tool88]

the rear gasket is real easy to roll when putting on if you do it again put a litlle silicone on before you put the valve covers back on

 

[SHOtimer]

Which cover is leaking?

Are you sure it isn't a cam or crank seal?

I always check the rear seal with a mirror...to make sure it is seated properly.

Doug

 

[RAYJAY]

could be the oil sending unit leaking

Jeff

 

[hoghunter]

most of the smoke is coming from the back and passenger side. did use rtv on both gaskets. finally got all the oil sucked out of the spark plug tubes.

 

[sperold]

The back valve cover on the passenger side is very hard to install and keep the gasket in place. If you remove some stuff, you can feel back in that area and if the gasket (more like an O-ring) came out on the outside, you can feel it.

 

[shonuffmine]

pull the cam sensor n see if it is has oil in,also mine leaked like a pig at the oil pressure sending unit!

 

[SHO_Gary]

Just a thought for you HogHunter. I had a 1993 with auto trans last year. It was leaking and smoking when stopped at the intersections. My girlfriend was not impressed with the cloud! Put new valve cover gaskets on and thought problem fixed. Drove to California and once I got there still smoking at the intersections. It was a combination of the cam sensor seal leaking and the front seal on the crank. That is what was burning off of the cat. Fixed those two problems.........no more smoke! I did assume it was valve cover gaskets due to the plug wires swimming in oil down the plug tubes. Yes they did need to be done but not to fix the smoke issue. So I am with SHO timer on this one!

 

[revhardSHO]

I've been RTV'ing old valve cover gaskets for years without any trouble. They last about 50,000 miles or so, just as long as a new valve cover gasket set. (Permatex Ultra Black). Its possible the gasket was bumped out of the track the rear valve cover can be a PITA.

 

[hoghunter]

new problem valves clacking really bad and car wont stay running. when it dies wont restart for a while

 

[TwistedMunky]

Needs top 60k and front 60k

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Is the large hose in the back hooked up everything else hooked up?

Could be the rear valve cover leaking.

As for the clanking could be rod bearing or the chain tensioner going bad. I would suggest locating the source of the sound or pulling valve covers.

 

[shonuffmine]

pull codes,sounds like the cam sensor took a dump.

 

[hoghunter]

i feel supid forgot that i change the thermostat and i put it in backwards the car was over heating and shut off until it cooled down. the valves only chatter between 1400-1600 rpm now. anything higher or lower in rpm and it stops

 

[vortex2450]

Common gaskets that leak in that area and drip onto the y-pipe are as follows:

Cam Sensor Seal
Oil sending unit
Rear VC gasket
Front Main Seal
Oil Pan Gasket

I've never had a problem with the VC gasket seating wrong and i've pulled my covers off more than I care to admit. I'm willing to bet your problem is the Cam Sensor Seal, this is a super common issue and the one that fails the most is pretty easy to get to.

Order a seal from a dealership and see if that fixes your issue.

-Josh

 

[hoghunter]

are all the cam seals the same size and where can i find them

 

[revhardSHO]

i feel supid forgot that i change the thermostat and i put it in backwards the car was over heating and shut off until it cooled down. the valves only chatter between 1400-1600 rpm now. anything higher or lower in rpm and it stops

Yikes. That little mistake might be a very expensive one.

 

[hoghunter]

so far no signs of a blown head gasket or any other major issues

 

[vortex2450]

so far no signs of a blown head gasket or any other major issues

How long did you drive it with the thermostat in backwards? Did you pay attention to the Temp gauge at all? Notice any the oil light flickering a lot?

Hopefully the valve-train didn't expand too much. Just be sure not to do that again. How loud is the chatter? Obnoxiously loud, or just a slight tick ?

I've been prone to have these issues, like I said before, hopefully your luck is better.

Anyways, if you don't wanna do all three seals at least to the one on the rear pass side of the engine, mine is leaking and although it's not bad it's still a leak, but considering I've replaced both main seals, the oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets, and some other gaskets this on will be easy.


Good Luck

-Josh

 

[hoghunter]

about 4 miles temp gauge was reading fine and no flickering oil light its pretty loud but stops when the rpms get above or below 1400-1600 rpm