OK, I have a 1978 Bronco custom with a 400 cu in V8. I went and had the oil changed and almost immediately noticed that the Oil pressure was dropping when the truck was running. Now the starter is being coated in oil. There is a light puff of white smoke just when I start up the truck and the fumes are really bad. I have been told that it is a cracked Head, or a head gasket, or a bad oil filture. Any ideas or help that I can check on??

 

Have you checked the oil filter to see if it's tight? If it's loose, it may be leaking onto the block and/or starter.

Pull the dipstick and examine the oil on the end. Is it milky or does it look like good motor oil? If it looks milky, then you may have a blown head hasket or cracked head. This usually occurs when the engine overheats though.

 

First locate the starter then work your way straight up and look for any oil trail,sounds like an oil sending unit or a valve cover gaskett.It has to be above if the starter is getting covered in oil.

 

thanks that gives me something I can start looking for

 

isnt the oil filter and starter on opposite sides of the motor.

 

Yup they are, starter on the passenger side, oil filter on the drivers.

I'll echo the possibilty of the valve cover.

Its been a while since I had my 79 with a 351M (identical to the 400M, just less displacement), but I think the oil sender is on the drivers side as well... opposite side from the starter, but I may be wrong, or thinking of a differant sender I replaced

 

Got 79 bronc 400 intakes are good about blowing out on that side

 

[I][QUOTE]meant intake gasket