Rear of engine and trans covered in oil

[BGMachine]

ok so after cleaning the engine and driving around a bit I can see where the big leak is coming from. It's the top back of the engine, maybe even the valve cover. What doesn't make sense to me is that I just replaced that seal. I retorqued the valve cover bolts to see if that will help. I don't understand why the new seal isn't sealing. I cleaned the surfaces and the rest of the cover is clean. It's only the back where it leaks. Any ideas?

bottom of engine

top of the engine

 

[BGMachine]

would putting silicone on it help at all?

 

[PZLCruiser]

I don't think silicone would help. Maybe the valve cover gasket got pinched or fell out of place when it went back on. Its possible...

 

[94SRUNNER]

I don't think silicone would help. Maybe the valve cover gasket got pinched or fell out of place when it went back on. Its possible...

I would agree with PZLCruiser, the valve cover gasket may ver well be pinched. I recommend pulling the valve cover and inspecting the gasket. It may need to be replaced. Silicon is just a bandaid and won't stop the problem.

FWIW, I am just north of you in Dayton and should you need a valve cover gasket I believe I have one. PM me if your interested and we can work out an exchange. I'll be in Mason on Sunday.

 

[94SRUNNER]

Use caution when setting the torque on the valve cover bolts, they can easily break if over torque them.

 

[BGMachine]

I took the cover off and when doing that accidentally broke the gasket. (or it was already broken from a pinch) I got a new one from KOI and used some silicone to hold it in the cover and a bit around the cover because there's no kill like overkill. We'll see how this holds up. Thanks for all the help

 

[94SRUNNER]

Report back!

I hope that helps to eliminate some of the oil leaks.

After cleaning all the residual oil and crud off, did you find any other leaks?

 

[BGMachine]

ok so I went out for a short drive to bring the engine up to temperature and then parked it over night. there wasn't as much oil on the ground but there was still a decent spot about the diameter of a tennis ball. I don't know if that's because redoing the valve cover helped or it's because I just didn't drive for too long so there wasn't a lot of oil spilling down. I removed the exhaust shield to try to get a better look. I wonder if the leak is coming from one of the studs on the manifold. The valve cover is dry but it's wet by the manifold. any ideas?

 

[94SRUNNER]

Are you sure that isn't residual oil that has baked onto the manifold?

And this tennis ball size area where oil has dripped down, is it coming from the back of the engine?

 

[BGMachine]

I'm not 100% sure it's not residual. I pressure washed it again just now with the exhaust shield off to see what happens. I'm might just be over analyzing it.

 

[94SRUNNER]

It's easy to over analyze.

On the exhaust manifold, has it been off recently or have the bolts loosened at all? Perhaps to allow bypass in that area? Just a thought.