Oil leak again...

[tWiStEdBird]

Well I can't figure it out.. At first glance I thought it was the oil pan gasket, but now it's kinda looking like the valve cover gasket on the passenger side. It looks like it starts around the exhaust manifold area. The whole passenger side of the engine from about the headers down seems to be soaked in oil. Smells like ****, and drives me insane. Is there anything else around that area that may be leaking, or is it probably the valvecover gasket? I guess tomorrow I'll tear into it and try to figure it out, but any imput will be much of the helpfull. Is this a common leak area on the 3800's? I'm not 100% rulling out that it could be the rear seal, but would it really be starting that high and only on the passenger side? I would think it would only be around the flywheel area... Thanks.

[dmw319]

did you recently do an oil change, or go to syntehtic oil? it might be the cause, as far as fixing the problem i dont know.

[hockeyman]

I have a small leak on the passenger valve cover, but it's no comparison to yours. Mine has a drop or two every now-n-then, usually after a long ride. Do yourself a favor and buy a good gasket set. Don't get those cheap cork gaskets, they fall apart the second you tighten the bolts down.

[mike h]

i have a leak on my intake manifold, right behind the serpentine belt. :(

[tWiStEdBird]

Originally posted by dmw319:
did you recently do an oil change, or go to syntehtic oil? it might be the cause, as far as fixing the problem i dont know.

:( Yeah, it got worse after I went syn.

[hockeyman]

I never went to full synth, I just use Quaker State Synth Blend 10w30. I've been using it for about 2 years now, & no leaks...yet.

[HBHRacing]

synthetic will not leak any more the conventional oil.. It's a myth that has been disproven.

I would just change the valve cover gaskets, clean everything REALLY well and then see what happens.