New and some questions.. oil leaks

[Schurkey]

Why do you say IF? Is there more places that I could be losing a quart of oil every other week from

Front main seal, rear main seal, engine oil cooler, and the oil pressure sending unit are four that come to mind.

That said, if the leak is dripping off the rear of the engine/front of the trans--and the top of the engine block is oily--you know what the problem is.

[crash93ssei]

Thanks for the reply

Why do you say IF? Is there more places that I could be losing a quart of oil every other week from

I actually do plan on selling one of the DOHC cars, but I refuse to sell them leaking oil, and in bad shape in any way. I am looking to build a reputation for my cars, whether I keep them or sell them, of being good solid reliable VERY nice looking cars. I work with a guy that buys and sells cars and everyone knows not to buy from him because he rigs the crap out of them just to sell them. I don't want that reputation, and right now, a good reputation is worth more to me then the money. If I want to ever sell a car, I want people to want to buy a car from me, rather then shy away from it.

Also, I am a car guy, so I actually enjoy doing the work and love the progress and end result of a job well done.

That being said, I WILL be fixing the leaks on both cars before I even think of selling.

[Schurkey]

IF (big IF) the dreaded oil pump drive O-ring is the source of your oil leak, you have a few choices:

1. Sell the car

2. Pull the upper and lower intake, pull the timing belt and the rear head, pull the oil pump drive and replace the stupid O-ring. Might as well valve job the head, then you might as well valve job the OTHER head, and as long as you have the engine that far apart, might as well ring 'n' bearing it. Then you might as well overhaul the transmission...and the suspension...and the brakes...

3. Pull the manifold, lift the oil pump drive the 1/8" or so that it'll move before hitting the rear head, CAREFULLY split and install a Chevy distributor gasket under the flange for the oil pump drive. Goop it nicely before installation with Permatex gasket sealer or your choice of schlubba paying particular attention to where you've cut the gasket so as to wrap it around the oil pump drive. Some folks prefer RTV. Verify that you've closed up the split in the gasket; and that the split is sealed appropriately with goo. Torque the hold-down bolt and pray that it seals. I line up the split in the gasket so that the hold-down doesn't cover it; I wanted to SEE that the split was still closed up as I tightened the hold-down.

I just did this about three weeks ago. What a pain in the tuckus. For what it's worth, I used the hard-setting Permatex sealer; the next day I began an 1800 mile trip. Last weekend, I drove home. About 3900 miles altogether; and it's not leaking from the oil pump drive.

If I ever install an oil pump drive from scratch, I'm gonna use a genuine Viton O-ring; and I'm gonna install a non-split Chevy distributor gasket "just in case".

[crash93ssei]

Hi everyone!

Ryan here from Michigan checkin in.
I own two 3.4 DOHC engines; '92 Grand Prix SE, and a '95 Monte Carlo Z34. I also own three S/C 3800 engines; '93 Bonneville SSEi, '93 SSEi parts car, and '03 Bonneville SSEi.
Yeah, I gues you can say that I like cars I am fairly knowledgeable about the 3800 and it's great reliability being a member of bonnevilleclub, and I am anxious to learn much about the 3.4's that I have also. Have no fear though, I am not going to ask about a L67 swap into either car

What I am going to ask though is a question I am sure you get all the time.... oil leak on the 3.4 DOHC.


So, I have the oil leak pretty bad on both cars, and I am basically wondering if anyone can point me to a good writeup and some pics of what I will be looking for when I do the repairs on both cars this spring / summer. I am not %100 sure that it is the O ring, but from what I have seen with searching around here, I think it is. Also, the spark plug holes on the rear head of the GP were filled with oil when I pulled the plugs, not sure what that is all about, but I am sure it isn't good.

Both cars have over 180,000 miles on them, and the timing belt on the GP was replaced within the last two years. The Monte's belt I don't know, but it looks to be in good shape, no fraying or cracking.

Thanks for taking the time to read my long winded post.