Leaking?

[MarX]

I have an 84 regal with the 305ci and lately it's been having an issue with oil leaking. However it's not your general leak. The fluid that's leaking out doesn't quite have the consistency of oil It's very thin but still slippery. What I'm thinking the problem is would be the fuel pump is going and leaking fuel into the crankcase thereby thinning out the oil and causing it to leak out all over the place.
Am I even remotely close on this assumption or is it something far more sinister?
Any help would be appreciated because as it sits driving the car anywhere is risky as I can hear the engine not liking having bad oil (clicking changing with rpm,low power,rough idle)
Thanks in advance.

 

[megaladon6]

where is the oil leaking from? is it high on the dipstick? it does sound like the fuel pump. one way to tell is to pull the dipstick and try to light the oil. if it ignites, it has fuel in it. technically fuel could come from an overly rich condition but this shouldn't be enough to raise the oil level. also check the dipstick, oil cap, and PCV valve for a white yogurt looking fluid. this would indicate coolant in the oil.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Have you tried smelling your oil to see if you smell gas? I had the internal leak problem when I had the V6 and I think that was how I figured it out.

 

[MarX]

Not sure exactly where the oil is leaking from but it's not the dipstick area(the fluid on the ground always ends up just behind the engine bay on the drivers side. I tried lighting it(albeit the oil has been sitting all night in the engine) and it didn't light so that's worrying. I've not noticed any coolant in the oil though so I'm not sure exactly where it stands.

edit:smelled the oil and it smelled faintly of gasoline. Not overpowering but it's still there

 

[megaladon6]

what is the oil level? check around the rear of the intake and D/S valve cover for the leak. also check your spark plugs (if you can, post a pic) if they are black then you're running rich or misfiring.

 

[R/T kota]

First thing before you do anything else, change your oil. You dont want that gas in there.
Then go and wash the engine good. It will make it easier to spot the leak.

Did you flood this engine recently? That will cause some gas to get past the rings and into your oil.

 

[MarX]

what is the oil level? check around the rear of the intake and D/S valve cover for the leak. also check your spark plugs (if you can, post a pic) if they are black then you're running rich or misfiring.

they're fouled for sure so that'll be on my to do list for things to fix
I'm planning on an oil change very soon as well, I just didn't want to change the oil and have the new stuff get trashed right away.

 

[megaladon6]

do the plugs and oil change before you go any farther! the plugs are all but useless right now so all that unburnt fuel is washing out the cylinder and getting into the oil. check your other tune up items while you're at it--PCV, car, rotor. you're getting oil in the cylinder, very common from a plugged pcv system. can also be from bad valve seals. clean out the PCV lines with the new valve.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Yeah, change the oil. Even if all you do is get that cheap supertech stuff at Wal Mart, ( around $10 with filter) you won't risk the bearings. I use that stuff as an occasional flush change on my 273,000 mile daily driven Nissan and run it for a day before it gets changed just to clean out the engine.

 

[MarX]

Alright, here's what I'm planning to do as soon as I get the money.
Seafoam the engine(1/3 in gas tank, 1/3 in carb, 1/3 in crankcase) let it sit for an hour and drain the oil.
Replace the oil and replace the plugs
wash the engine up to check where the pain leak is coming from.(It seems to be coming from just in front of the bellhousing.
I'm hoping it's not the rear main seal.
Thanks for the advice 🙂