Oil Leak

[fire120ball]

okay so i'm new to this site but I love my 73 I have been looking around looks to be a great site i hope to become a dedicated member shortly. But anyway, I have a 73 chevy k10 I rebuilt the top half of the motor and it has always had a oil leak from somewhere on the bottom half, What I have replaced, is the Oil pan gasket with a high quality rubber one and the oil pressure sending unit from the back of the block into the dash, it is mainly coming off of the passanger side dripping onto the header,and the starter the worse and it somehow gets on the leaf spring and the tranny it is just everywhere I really need help on this one, it is a crate 350 please anything will help. Thanks in advance

[cowboy5683]

Seems to me the only thing that can drop right on the header from there is the valve cover leaking..I would just do a thorough cleaning and check on it daily from there and see where it comes from...The valve covers leak for many reasons..hopefully thats all it is.

[gchemist]

Yup, upgrade to a nice set of Felpro gaskets. The thick blue rubber ones.

Welcome to the site.

[cowboy5683]

Sorry..welcome to the site also!

[Damien]

Welcome. Is it leaking on the header by the starter or up higher? You might have a leaky end seal on your intake. Did you use RTV or the ruber end seals that came with the intake gaskets?

[fire120ball]

on the intake i just used the rubber seals i believe i might have thrown some RTV on there i would have to check, that didn't even come into my head that it could be a valve cover. Just i guess to obvious but thats how ya gotta think. Thanks for the welcome guys

[cowboy5683]

Ya..i have dealt with a few of those pesky leaks..On the intake I always use RTV to seal the ends..if anything at least some in the corners..Valve covers I use good gaskets..I like the steel core ones..more pricey but worth it..I always clean the snot out of the valve cover and also the edge on the head..Learned to only tighten to the proper torque also..over tightening has caused me many leaks..lol

[fire120ball]

I will actually try replacing the valve cover gaskets cuz i cleaned all the gunk off and that is a deff possibility nd tighten to correct spec. I got some extra gaskets laying around i hope that is what it is. Easier than a rear-main or something

[Damien]

If you are using stock stamped valve covers you need to make sure the gasket flange is straight and not warped form over tighting. Use a hammer and a block of wood. On the intake end seals, I always use The Right Stuff. Its made by Permatex. Its a little spendy, but well worth not having leaks. Throw the rubber end seals away and use a bead of the right stuff.

[SAILOR-ERL]

is the leak covering onto the fuel pump as well? i had a it of the same problem i replaced the valve cover gaskets, which i replaced them recently again, just in case if i put them on incorrectly, they are rubber, and the problem continued. turns out that the main bolt that holds the alternator was a bit strip.on my truck it was leaking by the valve cover on to the fuel pump, a bit on the header, and it reached by the timing chain cover. at first i thought it was the cover. but i looked carefully and there wasnt any oil on the edges of the timing chain cover since i replaced the chain. you should check the main bolt that holds the alternator and see if it has oil on the main shaft of the bolt it may leaked a bit on the the edge of the alternator. just put some teflon or some bolt threader stuff and it should be fine after.

[fire120ball]

Thanks for all the replies guys but i ended up cheating haha. one of my buddys had some of that UV stuff you put into your oil and a UV light so i did that. and well it was comin from the rear intake dripping down the block onto the starter, fuel lines, collecter for the headers, and everywhere else it decided to meander to. So i spent about 4 hours yesterday takin the intake off, then well found that the very end peice of the rubber seal on the back was ripped from not being put on properly the first time.. my bad ha, threw it all back together and BAM seems to be fixed now just gotta give my engine a real good cleaning. New radiator hose, due to the fact that i ripped mine while taking off the intake, then new headers (Bad exhaust leak) and truck should be good as new. Thanks for all the help guys!

[GMC Guy]

no way man! where the heck to you live in livermore?? i've probably seen your truck around town. (i notice them all...haha) and you'll soon become addicted to this site, the guys on here are a tremendous help!