Wheres it from?
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From: Illernois
Wheres it from?
I'm trying to find all my oil leaks and get them fixed so the truck doesnt use any oil. As you can see in the picture below that the oil will build up in this one area. So my guess is that it is the heads leaking? Would this mean a old/bad gasket or what? How hard is it to replace the gasket on the heads? From what i saw it looks like there are just several bolts holding it onto the block and then i must remove the exhaust manifolds? Any and all help is very thankful as always!
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
Doubtful its he head gasket. possible dist gasket or intake. I'd get a can of brake cleaner (it dries totally were eng degreaser leaves an oily film) and clean it up then see what gets wet first
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From: Lost
Oil pooling in that area can come from a couple places. Could be the corner of the intake, the base of the dist, or the timing cover. Those wires are kinda blocking the view just a bit, so it's hard to tell if the oil is coming from the valve cover, and simply draining down there. The green paint is a dead give-away that those have been off at some point, so a leak there is quite possible.
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From: Illernois
I painted and replaced the gaskets on the valve covers last year so that makes me think that its not the problem..
Sorry for the bad picture, when i get time im going to take a better one with wires out of way and such.
In the above picture it appears its leakings from right below the bolt sticking from heads or just to the left of it.
Grab a better picture here in a bit.
Sorry for the bad picture, when i get time im going to take a better one with wires out of way and such.
In the above picture it appears its leakings from right below the bolt sticking from heads or just to the left of it.
Grab a better picture here in a bit.
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From: Illernois
Yeah, im like 99% that its oil. Heres a picture with the wires moved. After looking at it again it still seems like its the most wet right below/left of the bolt end. It does seem like its alittle wet by the intake. How bad is it too replace the intake gasket?
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From: Loganville, WI
Wow that's clean! Usually they are so caked you can't see the bottom of the dist or the top of the timing chain cover.
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From: Illernois
Haha, thats prob why i have the leaks! The caked on dust isnt sealing the leaks!! 
But i trying and keep alot of the grime off the engine so i can see any leaks or such when they start happenin, which unfortunatly is happenin now.
But i trying and keep alot of the grime off the engine so i can see any leaks or such when they start happenin, which unfortunatly is happenin now.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: San Diego
One of the guys at the shop where I was working on my truck said that the intake manifold gasket was a pita because of the multiple pieces that go to it, and if you tighten the bolts too much, you can squeeze the gasket out. They aren't the brightest guys, but they have helped me out. They also highly recommend this black gasket sealer made by permatex that has a little trigger to dispense it. I am not sure which type it was but they swear by it.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I don't believe the intake manifold has any oil passageways associated with it, oil is in the
block & heads only and the intake manifold has either a coolant crossover or exhaust gas
crossover depending on engine. I may be wrong as it's been forever and a day since I was
in a 302 or 351W but I'll bet not.
Something you might do is pressure wash the engine, then add some of that fluorescent
dye (glows under black light) to your oil and then do a black light inspection after it's been
running for a little while (and, presumably, fluids have been accumulating).
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Res...word&Nty=1&N=0
Concerning the intake manifold gasket itself, I was taught to throw away the front & rear
gaskets because of the squishing-out problems and use black RTV in their place. This, at
least, is a common approach seen in the 335 forum.
block & heads only and the intake manifold has either a coolant crossover or exhaust gas
crossover depending on engine. I may be wrong as it's been forever and a day since I was
in a 302 or 351W but I'll bet not.
Something you might do is pressure wash the engine, then add some of that fluorescent
dye (glows under black light) to your oil and then do a black light inspection after it's been
running for a little while (and, presumably, fluids have been accumulating).
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Res...word&Nty=1&N=0
Concerning the intake manifold gasket itself, I was taught to throw away the front & rear
gaskets because of the squishing-out problems and use black RTV in their place. This, at
least, is a common approach seen in the 335 forum.
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From: Illernois
Thanks alot ctu. Ill check out our auto stores too see if they have any of the dye.
Too me it really seems like its coming from the corner of the heads, but i could be wrong. The dye should help. Thanks alot.
Btw, link wouldn't work.
Too me it really seems like its coming from the corner of the heads, but i could be wrong. The dye should help. Thanks alot.
Btw, link wouldn't work.
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Was afraid of that... That link is to search results on NAPA's site, all I did is look
for "fluorescent dye" and it brings back something like 4 pages of results (there
are different formulations for different purposes).
I generally doubt the problem is head gaskets, just a feeling; the usual suspects
are valve cover gaskets and oil pressure sending units.
for "fluorescent dye" and it brings back something like 4 pages of results (there
are different formulations for different purposes).
I generally doubt the problem is head gaskets, just a feeling; the usual suspects
are valve cover gaskets and oil pressure sending units.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
Oil leaks can happen on the end seals of the intake. When you buy an intake gasket it should come with 2 gaskets to seal the intake to the heads (coolant on the ends and air/fuel mix on the runners) and 4 cork gaskets for were the intake seals to the block between the heads. This is were you get an oil leak even thoiugh its not pressurized oil.(I know, you're saying why 4 gaskets for this. There are 2 for a 302 and 2 longer ones for a 351) Take the cork gaskets and throw them away. Clean all the oil off the sealing surface with degreaser (brake cleaner works best as I mentioned earlier) Put about 1/4" bead of good RTV (I prefer permatex ultra black) along the block between the heads, set the intake on and tourqe down.