New and some questions.. oil leaks

[pocket-rocket]

Are you kidding me?? I wouldn't trade my burned off tires for a V-tec LOL... now, the new GM 3.6 direct injection V6 with variable valve timing, that is a whole other story

Word. Or a brand new Z06. Either way, I wouldn't be picky. :P

[crash93ssei]

Are you kidding me?? I wouldn't trade my burned off tires for a V-tec LOL... now, the new GM 3.6 direct injection V6 with variable valve timing, that is a whole other story

[pocket-rocket]

Welcome to the world of owning a DOHC, lol. I like mine though, I wouldn't trade them for a VTEC, even with the high gas prices coming soon.

[crash93ssei]

Well, it looks like it will go to the wash and get the crap sprayed out of it, much easier said then done on these huge top end engines

Fun times here I come

[Juglenaut]

I didn't use a dist. gasket on my repair of the oil plug deal, I did use a rather stiff phat viton ring that would barely stretch over the end cap. notched the end cap top and slipped the pia to stretch ring over the end cap and retorqued it down never leaked again.

If the dist. plug ring is leaking pools of oil will be in the valley around the int. cover plate however other things can cause this pooling to, but ussally the end cap top is dry if it is leaking. More common is the dist plug issue. Also if it is leaking you may want to inspect other oil seals this somehow serves as a maintance flag.

[RedZMonte]

Thanks for the help guys, good to know about the O rings for the spark plug holes, I didn't think of that.

I will probably tear into them both and do the distributor gasket fix. Before I do though, is there any way to know 100% sure that the O ring is the source of the leak? There is oil all over the block, front and back.

ALOT of degreaser and a pressure wash. Get the oil off the engine, heads, Block, top of trans. once all clean add some oil leak dye (from parts store) and use a UV light it should GLOW nice and bright. Best way to find leaks.

The Dist. O-Ring is a BITCH. but the valve covers and plug o rings are a snap.

S

[pocket-rocket]

The O ring in the valve covers isn't the typical O ring like it is on the dist plug. It's more of a rubber like valve cover gaskets anymore. In fact, if you do those, just buy the valve cover gaskets from Fel-Pro, as they come with those "O rings", and Fel-Pro makes good gaskets IMHO.

[Schurkey]

is there any way to know 100% sure that the O ring is the source of the leak? There is oil all over the block, front and back.

No. Nothing is 100%.

Take the car to a car wash, blast the oil off with the high-pressure, soapy water. Run the engine and see where the oil comes back first. The leak will be close by.

[crash93ssei]

Thanks for the help guys, good to know about the O rings for the spark plug holes, I didn't think of that.

I will probably tear into them both and do the distributor gasket fix. Before I do though, is there any way to know 100% sure that the O ring is the source of the leak? There is oil all over the block, front and back.

[RedZMonte]

Hi everyone!
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.

mine was leaking from the O ring. Very common on GM V6/V8's. It was also leaking from the lower intake gasket from the oil valley if i remember correctly. you should be able to see that on the heads where the LIM bolts to the head.

The plug holes filled with oil is also common esp. if they have miles on them. The valve cover gaskets need replaced. The valve cover has O rings that go around the spark plug holes and when they get old and dry it drain into the spark plug holes. the front valve cover gasket is a snap (if you remove it you will see what i mean) the rear requires removing the upper intake manifold to replace, easy job just takes a few min to do.

[bve32k]

GM did upgrade the material that the O-Ring is made of.... Don't know what it's made of tho.... What you gotta look for is the newer style is BROWN in color,,, where as the older/inferior one is BLACK.... I might have a number,,, somewhere,,,, if I find it I'll post it.....
Hope this helps,
Tom

You just go to any GM dealership and ask for them. They all have them in stock and they are only like $2.

[pocket-rocket]

Homeslice above me said Viton, and I didn't know for sure, so I assumed (yes, I know what that does to us :P) that it was indeed Viton. The ones I have used were not brown, but normal black ones. But hey, I don't mind spending a day and a half tearing the heads off my car and putting them back on. But then again not everyone is as comfortable with that as I am.

[walterdude]

GM did upgrade the material that the O-Ring is made of.... Don't know what it's made of tho.... What you gotta look for is the newer style is BROWN in color,,, where as the older/inferior one is BLACK.... I might have a number,,, somewhere,,,, if I find it I'll post it.....
Hope this helps,
Tom

[Schurkey]

I did not get a Viton one from GM

IS the GM O-ring made from Viton? Viton is known for resistance to high temperature, resistance to compression set, and resistance to many common automotive chemicals--so--as many of those O-rings go bad, I figured GM was making them from inferior material.

Viton was going to be my "secret weapon" in the fight against oil leaks...


Bummer.

[pocket-rocket]

I've had oil start coming from the cam carrier to head gasket, but that one was obvious because it was on the front head and exposed. I've fixed 3 of these little pains in the backside. 2 on my 2 cars, and 1 on someones van that I tore down to a bare block because they didn't realize the intake gaskets let go until it read 2 gallons over on the dip stick... Anyways, in all 3 cases, I used the Chevy dist. gasket, and RTV. The 91 has been this way since.... wow, 2003? It still has yet to leak a drop. But on another note, I had the heads off, and bought a new o ring from the local hardware store, I did not get a Viton one from GM, and I used it along with the dist. gasket and what seemed like 1/4 tube of black RTV.