Leaking oil

[LukeZ]

Quick question - didnt want to start a new thread.

Pretty positive the back of the intake is leaking due to not laying the RTV on thick enough.

I let the car sit for 5 days, and the oil went from being full to below the 'add' line on the dipstick. Thats sitting still for 5 days, not being started up, moved, nothing.

If the oil were leaking from the back of the intake, how could it lose that much? The majority of the oil should be in the pan down at the bottom. I can undertsand if it lost that much after being driven, because the oil is being moved around. But sitting stationary?

BTW, im pretty positve its the intake because
1) checked my valve covers; they had the old gaskets on and I just never noticed. Layed down some gasket maker on top of that to be safe
2) I took out the distributor to get a good look at the top of my transmission. It was pretty well coated in oil and sludge. Plus from the bottom, the majority of the oil looks to be dripping off the transmission pan, and even working its way back down the frame of the car on both sides.

 

[bob64]

When you checked your oil before the 5 days sitting , did you check it just after running it ? Sometimes after running an engine an you check the dipstick it can miss read as oil is still flowing down from heads an so on an may drip on the dipstick.
Unless there is a big puddle on the ground from a leaking oil pan( hole) the oil was gone before it sat for 5 days.
It is impossible after shutting engine off to loose a quart any where above the oil pan.

 

[pontiacgp]

It will not leak at the rear of the intake if the engine is not started. If the rear of the intake is leaking then the only way to fix that is tio remove the intake and re-install it. I suggest you dimple the block rails, front and rear and the intake before you install the intake. When you install the intake it is important to look at a the squeeze out of the RTV so you know there is an adequate amount. If not yopu can fix it by reedoing to before you put enverythign back together. Plus if the surfaces were not properly cleaned the RTV cannot bond to the surface which allows the oil to seep through

 

[Texas82GP]

Get another look at it with a telescoping mirror. You want to be sure that its leaking there before you pull it apart. You need to see wet oil. Not sludge. Look carefully at the oil sender that threads into the back of the block just behind the intake on the driver's side.

 

[pontiacgp]

and check the base of the distributor.....if the oil sender is leaking or the distributor you'd most liikey see oil on the intake

 

[LukeZ]

Thanks guys, I'll try and check that when I get home tonight. Sometimes I wish I never even touched this thing, I'd almost rather just have it run right for once. But what fun is that

 

[TURNA]

performance means maintenance

in other words it suxx when its not just right

 

[Texas82GP]

Thanks guys, I'll try and check that when I get home tonight. Sometimes I wish I never even touched this thing, I'd almost rather just have it run right for once. But what fun is that

Don't get discouraged. You'll get it.

 

[MrSony]

My personal rule of thumb, is if there is 1/4 inch or more of a gap between the china rails on the block and the bottom of the intake, I use either the rubber gaskets or cut up my own cork gaskets with a film of black rtv to seal it. Let the RTV skin over first and get a little tacky before you set the intake on. You can buy a sheet of cork from most auto parts (maybe even craft stores) for a few bucks. That and the blue felpro gasket paper have saved my *ss quite a few times. I always keep a roll or two of each around.

 

[pontiacgp]

My personal rule of thumb, is if there is 1/4 inch or more of a gap between the china rails on the block and the bottom of the intake, I use either the rubber gaskets or cut up my own cork gaskets with a film of black rtv to seal it. Let the RTV skin over first and get a little tacky before you set the intake on. You can buy a sheet of cork from most auto parts (maybe even craft stores) for a few bucks. That and the blue felpro gasket paper have saved my *ss quite a few times. I always keep a roll or two of each around.

Your making it more complicated than it needs to be. RTV has been used for decades with no problems when it is installed correctly