Oil puddle on top of engine after a drive ???

[carmangary]

I went for a drive and when I got home I noticed a little puddle of oil on top of the engine right behind the big hose that goes to the radiator. I didn't see it leaking from anything. I didn't think there was any oil flowing way up there but I guess there is. Think I have a crack? What's the best fix? Welding? Junkyard? Of course, I need to confim what the problem is, though.

 

[CUTLASSJESSE]

most likely a intake leak but need more info what engine atleast.... mine used to leak oil ontop of the intake manifold replaced the intake manifold gasket and it was dry as a bone mine was on a olds 350

 

[carmangary]

Intake manifold huh? Mine is an olds 260 which is basically the same as the olds 350 from what I understand. I guess I will add that to my list of things to do. Thanks for the tip.

 

[CUTLASSJESSE]

mine was leaking towards the rear but it cant leak in the front intake would be my best guess i would also check the top of the valve covers just to be sure before you get into a larger project

 

[2fit661ca]

my 74 chevelle SBC350 had a leak like that... turned out it was a bad oil pressure sensor. leaked oil through a seal inside. my first thought was the intake as well, but it still leaked after i replaced that, so i check it while it was running, and sure enough, the oil was leaking through the sensor.... might be something cheaper for you to check first. i put a plug in mine, but my sensor was never hooked up to begin with. (engine came out of a van that used the sensor, the car did not)

 

[carmangary]

Yea, it is in the area of the sensors but it doesn't look like it is coming from them. But then again, my engine is so dirty it is hard to tell. I am going to clean it up a bit and see if I can tell anything. Thanks for the tip.

 

[carmangary]

Well, I noticed that in addition to the oil puddle on the top of my engine, my antifreeze also dropped about 2" in the overflow tank. That was after about 30 minutes of driving. I don't see any coolant leaks on the ground so I am assuming it is leaking into the engine somehow. I think it is time to just tear off the heads, and intake and exhaust manifolds and put in new gaskets everywhere. The rocker covers are leaking, too. LOL. What a leaky machine.

 

[2fit661ca]

how interested are you in keeping the 260? it might be easier and more fun to drop in a 350/403/ or even a 455 as well as more cost effective...

 

[carmangary]

I have thought about that. I guess once I pull the heads and take a look at the cylinders I'll know what I am going to do. I don't mind changing some gaskets but I don't want to put any money into rebuilding the 260. I'd probably get rid of the car before I'd swap engines, though.

 

[2fit661ca]

what's the car?