Headgasket leaking?

[66clow]

I was having a small leak of oil running down at my starter nuts. Pulled starter and it appears a small leak running down from the head gasket. Is this typical at times? How hard on the difficulty scale? I've replaced a engine in a Mustang and have down numerous other bolt on stuff on cars. So I'm pretty handy. Looks like it would be pretty straight forward pulling carb, intake, exhaust and head. Would I do both gaskets since I'm in there? CHEVY 350 anything else to do while I'm in there? Or actually do I just try to tighten the head bolts? Just thought about that.

Thanks

[Mike C]

No, it's not typically. Usually blown head gaskets are between cylinders and not externally.

Is that oil or water? There are no oil passages through the head gasket. If it's oil, most likely a valve cover leak or rear of the intake manifold and it is wicking into the joint between head and block.

Check intake manifold, valve cover, and heater/cooling fittings for leaks first.

[66clow]

Originally Posted by Mike C

No, it's not typically. Usually blown head gaskets are between cylinders and not externally.

Is that oil or water? There are no oil passages through the head gasket. If it's oil, most likely a valve cover leak or rear of the intake manifold and it is wicking into the joint between head and block.

Check intake manifold, valve cover, and heater/cooling fittings for leaks first.

Well I feel better hearing that. It is definitely oil. I felt behind the valve cover before so may be intake. Thought it was the head since you could see oil lightly between the head and the block and a little trickle down the side to the starter. Leaves a little amount of oil after the truck sits after driving. Just bugs the mess out of me since I just fixed my trans pan gasket leak. So should I just be able to tighten the intake? Looks like the po had replaced it. So maybe needs retorqued

Thanks

[geezer#99]

Spray or sprinkle a little baby powder back there on the intake and the valve cover. Your oil leak will show up easily.

[hugger6933]

A retorque isn't gonna help. Most likely it is the pan rail gasket is starting to fail. The last person to work on it may have used the rail end gaskets[don't do that] or didn't put the needed daubs on the ends to stop the chance of a leak. Sounds like the intake may have to come off to fix the leak.

[garyd1961]

Make sure you know where it's coming from before you do anything. Don't just assume it's not this so it must be that. The valve covers are known for leaking on these motors.

[Mike C]

THe leak has to be from the top. The oil pan is WAY below the joint between the head and the block.

Valve covers are easiest but the intake rear seal is just as likely. If you used the rubber end seals on the intake and it is leaking, get a new gasket set and tube of Permatex. Throw end seals in trash. Re-do intake using Permatex on the ends of the block.

[66clow]

Put my phone behind the intake and took a photo. Appears it is my intake seal. Fingers were wet also when I reached back there. No sealant must of been put back there on the corners.

Thanks for the pointers.