Mysterious oil leak

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:16 PM
  #1  
NorthBay72supreme's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 89
From: Bay Area
Mysterious oil leak

I have an oil leak that I believe only occurs when the car isn't running. Tested this a few times and let her run in the garage for up to 20 minutes and at various RPM. The problem is - I can't locate the source of the leak. As you can see on the pictures below, oil is running down and dripping from a header tube. When I look at the top side of the headers in the engine bay, there is no sign of any oil whatsoever. I recently changed the valve covers and thought maybe the gasket got fudged a bit or I under/over torqued the bolts. That's not the case.

Where else should I look? I got under the car with good lighting, a mirror, and even a camera with a bright LED on a 36" flexible tube the thickness of a pencil. I can't see a damn thing.

SOS.



Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:27 PM
  #2  
Sugar Bear's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,088
Which side of the car?

Try to use a phone or a cell phone borescope to picture the back of the intake to block seal.

Good luck!!!

Last edited by Sugar Bear; Oct 26, 2022 at 02:29 PM.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:27 PM
  #3  
deadeyejedi's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,968
From: saratoga springs,n.y
Intake end seal at the rear of the motor? your mirror might help here its tight quarters between the back of the motor and firewall.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:33 PM
  #4  
pav8427's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 174
Trick for some if these is to brake clean area then spray with Right Guard deoderant.
The residue the Right Guard leaves will let you see and trace leak to its source.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:34 PM
  #5  
NorthBay72supreme's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 89
From: Bay Area
Driver's side. Man, looking in that area is tough. I'll give it a go.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:35 PM
  #6  
NorthBay72supreme's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 89
From: Bay Area
Will check it out, thanks.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 02:35 PM
  #7  
NorthBay72supreme's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 89
From: Bay Area
Dude that's brilliant. Appreciate the idea.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 04:23 PM
  #8  
Vintage Chief's Avatar
Running On Empty
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 25,623
From: Earth
IMO, best method is to add a small 4oz bottle of fluorescent leak detection dye to the oil, run engine & visualize with a black light in a garage with all the lights off. Automotive parts supply stores sell dye and small pen light black lights. The leak will show up like an asteroid across the Southern sky.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 04:45 PM
  #9  
joe_padavano's Avatar
Old(s) Fart
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,698
From: Northern VA
What dipstick tube do you have? My money is on that as the leak.
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 07:11 PM
  #10  
gs72's Avatar
72Cutlass S
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,201
From: Bakersfield, CA
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
what dipstick tube do you have? My money is on that as the leak.
word!!!
Old Oct 26, 2022 | 07:36 PM
  #11  
no1oldsfan's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,265
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
what dipstick tube do you have? My money is on that as the leak.
Originally Posted by gs72
word!!!
x3
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Donaldbabineau
General Discussion
16
Jul 23, 2022 02:46 PM
Rilmar
Big Blocks
5
May 6, 2017 08:34 PM
Northern Custom Cruiser
Other
31
Apr 22, 2016 07:07 AM
foreverolds
Big Blocks
29
Dec 1, 2012 07:07 PM
rmoths
Small Blocks
10
Nov 22, 2012 12:07 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:06 AM.