Oil leak, valve cover or heads/head gasket or neither?

[69ChevyRazorback]

My old 69 is drinkin about 1 quart of oil every 2 weeks. I have a rear main seal and a front main seal i believe, along with a leak somewhere on top of the motor. After running my truck, oil pools up on top of the intake manifold on the left side of the carb . the oil pools up around where the bolt on top of the manifold is. Also I just changed spark plugs and the third spark plug back on the left side was completely fouled and it looked like oil ran down on it which fouled it. Without looking, do any of you guys think u know what this is or have had similar problems??? im just not sure how to make the oil stop leaking without a complete rebuild. i also use lucas stop leak very often.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

Have you made sure the PCV system is functioning properly?

My suggestion would be to check the compression, if ok, I would change the valve seals. Valve cover gaskets are prone to leak and the bolt on the manifold can be sealed with Permatex or silicone.

Otherwise the motor may be due for an overhaul.

Jim

[69ChevyRazorback]

ok sorry to be motor ignorant, but how would I check PCV system/ compression??

and also the bolt on the manifold is rock hard tight, and i dont think it is leaking from there.... I have oil leaking down the front of my motor (slowly) and also in the back (it will run down and drip off my oil filter and also the transfer case)

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

Have you made sure the PCV system is functioning properly?

My suggestion would be to check the compression, if ok, I would change the valve seals. Valve cover gaskets are prone to leak and the bolt on the manifold can be sealed with Permatex or silicone.

Otherwise the motor may be due for an overhaul.

Jim

[cdowns]

oil on manifold is from improper installatin // service manuals and tech sheets have the instructions clearly in them to use thread sealer on the bolts to prevent this type leakage//BUT who reads a tech sheet or service manual ti install intakes???

as far as the other usage problems if you have a PVC on the cheaper custom aaftermarket type valve covers that dont have baffles //it sucks the oil right into the carb

[cdowns]

tighten those bolts as"rock hard"as you like but NO THREAD SEALANT=LEAK

[Stocker]

^^ Yup -- it's happened to me....

[vectorit]

Could be the rear intake seal, if it sucked in it will leak like SOB. The PCV is simple on these old engines, just pop it out of the seal on the valve cover. Then shake it, you should hear it rattle. If it doesn't replace it, or try just spraying some carb cleaner into it to get it to rattle again. Better yet, just replace it. They are cheap enough...

[69ChevyRazorback]

ok thanks guys. i guess i just need to find a friend who is more experienced with motors and just look it over....i guess i am just going to have to find a good mechanic that i can pay to just tune it up and look it over. im so skeptical of taking it to a mechanic i dont know because im afraid im going to get hosed and pay for things i didn't need to begin with...

[cdowns]

go to the library and get books to learn more about stuff// you'd b surprised how many auto related books are on the shelf at a normoal library//i

[spinning wheels]

Originally Posted by 69ChevyRazorback

ok thanks guys. i guess i just need to find a friend who is more experienced with motors and just look it over....i guess i am just going to have to find a good mechanic that i can pay to just tune it up and look it over. im so skeptical of taking it to a mechanic i dont know because im afraid im going to get hosed and pay for things i didn't need to begin with...

No mechanic would ever rip you off

Compared to some of the newer cars, with confusers and fuel injection, and tons of smog equipment, these trucks are very simple and easy to work on. You can find a lot of info on these trucks and the engines, on the web or truck magazines. Don't worry if you don't know much about the trucks or engines now, in a few months you will be spitting 20w/50 and have bloody knuckles like a true gear head.

Good luck.

[special-K]

Sounds like the intake is leaking.A leaking valve cover wouldn`t effect the plugs and it`s rare to leak up top.Clean up and observe.
A clogged PCV will prevent proper venting and cause leaks that otherwise wouldn`t occur.But,yiou`d likely see smoke if it`s that clogged and causing leaks.Pull it from the valve cover and shake it.It should rattle like a marble is in there.

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by cdowns

go to the library and get books to learn more about stuff// you'd b surprised how many auto related books are on the shelf at a normoal library//i

Or go get a Haynes or Chilton manual. These trucks are fairly easy to work on. Also this board is a great source of info, if the guys on this board can't figure it out, it can't be figured out.

[69ChevyRazorback]

thanks for all the help guys !