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My car has recently started to have this really bad burning smell which gets worse when I drive faster. After realizing it was oil I cleaned the oil off a couple of times to try to see what the source of the leak is but this is beyond my knowledge. All I know is that the oil is coming from the passenger side of the valve cover and leaking onto other parts of the engine. Do you think this will be an expensive fix? From what I've read I'm hoping it is just the valve cover gasket or some loose bolts but it probably isn't.
The oil is leaking out and pooling at the bottom.
Second Picture (Are those two holes supposed to have bolts in them?)
Lastly the oil is leaking onto other engine components on the passenger side and burning when the engine heats up.
Let me know if you need better pictures and thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. I'm going to take it to a mechanic by the end of the week tho.
Last edited by Tallgeese; 03-26-18 at 04:46 PM.
Reason: Better Formatting...
The valve cover gaskets more than likely need to be changed. Not a very difficult job but you may want to do plugs and coilpack connectors while in there.
And also....I would remove the 6 allen bolts holding the top timing belt cover and see if the cam seals are leaking as well. How long did it take to get that oily?
And also....I would remove the 6 allen bolts holding the top timing belt cover and see if the cam seals are leaking as well. How long did it take to get that oily?
Let's just say I've been driving it longer than I'd like to admit because I was low on cash and didn't know what to do or how much fixing it might cost. I think I'm capable enough to do some car work (changing front/rear brakes, changing my own oil). Do I need any special tools or will a ratchet set do? Is there a tutorial on this site I should look for or should I just go to Youtube? It doesn't look like the valve cover gaskets are that expensive and I'll definitely look into the oil possibly leaking on to the spark plugs. I certainly hope the cam seals aren't leaking.
That is almost a fire hazard waiting to happen with that small pool of oil on a hot exhaust manifold. Get those valve cover gaskets changed asap.
It is a good time to change the spark plugs, spark plug wires, PCV valve, the 3 coil pack connectors as well as clean out the throttle body since you will have it all dissembled if you have not done so. Just a extra tip be careful when removing every electrical connectors as they are usually very brittle and locking tabs like to break off.
I'm having this EXACT same problem. The oil is NOT coming from the valve cover gaskets. It is coming from in between the head and exhaust manifold. Tallgeese what was the fix for you?
The oil is NOT coming from the valve cover gaskets. I just changed them and the area directly below the valve cover gaskets is dry. I can see the oil leaking out from between the head and exhaust manifold.
Also make sure you use two small dabs of RTV to the top corners, I didnt do this once and I couldnt figure out why it was still leaking, but ya just two small dabs at the half circle of the cams int he front should work.
The valve cover gaskets more than likely need to be changed. Not a very difficult job but you may want to do plugs and coilpack connectors while in there.
It's not hard but definitely time consuming. I think mine took about 5 hours. I would also recommend changing the heater core hose that runs from between the valve covers to the firewall. Mine started leaking a few months after I did the VCs and it was a ***** to change with the valve covers in the way.
The oil is NOT coming from the valve cover gaskets. I just changed them and the area directly below the valve cover gaskets is dry. I can see the oil leaking out from between the head and exhaust manifold.
If you are seeing oil leaking out between the head and your exhaust manifold then you have some serious blow by. you would see plenty of oil in your exhaust manifold, which means your rings or your valves are letting oil into the cylinder(s)
03-26-18, 04:44 PM
Oil Leak on passenger side. (Pics included)
