What the...

[69clone]

Hey guys,
I have a quick question.
I was just out trying to tune my carb and noticed smoke coming off my headers so i look under and see oil is dripping so i turn to the quest of figuring what the heck is going on. I found a few problems, Looks like something is leaking from the top of where the trans and motor meet and running down and dripping on the passenger side header. I'll have to lift the car and see if any of the bolts are lose. Next things where the heads meet the engine block on the driver side you can see it's wet and seeping out around it. Also noticed alot of dried oil around the back two driver side spark plugs (Might need new head gaskets as i've noticed some milky white in my oil here and there.) The next problem is the water neck? is leaking antifreeze. I notice all these have one thing in common the seals... Think the gaskets will expand back out now that they're wet again? Or is there no getting better?
The car hasn't been driven more then around the block for the past month.

 

[detmatt1]

I would start looking at the back of the valley pan, that is a common area for leaks and could explane most of the evidence you have found.

 

[YY1]

Isn't there an oil pressure sender back there sometimes? I think I remember one of those leaking on me before.

 

[69clone]

I would start looking at the back of the valley pan, that is a common area for leaks and could explane most of the evidence you have found.

Thanks i appreciate the help. How do i check to see if it's the valley pan?

 

[1badgtx]

I had the same problem...I changed the valley pan (used lots of rtv)took care of the problem.The water neck is another problem that i chased for a while...I even used double seals to try to fix the seapage...Ended buying a billet housing from summit with an o ring seal...Fixed the problem..To check the valley pan ,clean the back really good...Run the engine for a while at a higher rpm...Then check with white rag for leaks.
Petty blue 67 GTX

 

[69clone]

I had the same problem...I changed the valley pan (used lots of rtv)took care of the problem.The water neck is another problem that i chased for a while...I even used double seals to try to fix the seapage...Ended buying a billet housing from summit with an o ring seal...Fixed the problem..To check the valley pan ,clean the back really good...Run the engine for a while at a higher rpm...Then check with white rag for leaks.
Petty blue 67 GTX

Thanks gtx,
Didn't know this would be common. Yea the water neck confused me at first i though maybe the hose had ice frozen in it or something but it's not (squeezed it) I have a feeling both of these things have been happening for awhile but with the cold it just isn't evaporating like it probably was in the summer. So if the valley pan is leaking do i need to change it or what can be done?

 

[Meep-Meep]

Oil leaks can be sneaky. As mentioned above, check valley pan, pressure sender and even valve cover gaskets. What you see coming from the head might be oil from another source that has found it's way into the gap between the block and head.

 

[DMR440]

I would also check the rocker cover gaskets too as i've had a similar problem where oil has been leaking onto the plugs, also found engine oil leaking down back of head, onto engine then dripping off the trans where engine/trans meet as you had described.

Once I replaced both rocker cover gaskets that solved the problem for me. The gaskets were the cork type which tend to become brittle over time and shrink causing leaks.

I used Felpro gaskets which are rubber and do not require adhesive or RTV of any kind. There can be a risk of adhesive comming off and getting into the engine when used on rocker covers, (not the desired result) . Adhesive around the valley pan should be fine as long as it's applied externally.

 

[Cranky]

Is the thermostat housing (water neck) chrome? Those will usually leak unless they are grooved for an o-ring.