Oil Leak - 440 help

[67SniperHockey]

Hey guys - 440 and what I thought (and guess still could be) was an oil leak stemming from the rear passenger valve cover - now has me wondering. Drivers side is completely dry and no sweating on the head/block area.

Passenger side - wet on head and block by 6 and 8. What I noticed when I shut car off was bubbling - literally - of what I would presume to be oil - between the header flange and header pipe itself on number 8. Also header flange seems stained.

I just installed new header gaskets as well. The bubbling between the flange and tube has me wondering if this is the source of my oil leak? Thanks in advance!

 

[pnora]

Something wrong on the valve cover flange. I would pull the cover and I would bet you will see oil between the gasket and sealing surface. There are a lot of ways to try to get the covers to seal.

 

[67SniperHockey]

Something wrong on the valve cover flange. I would pull the cover and I would bet you will see oil between the gasket and sealing surface. There are a lot of ways to try to get the covers to seal.

Thanks. I should mention - I just put on new gaskets as well. Used Indian head, permatex, etc.

I suppose top of cylinder head could be potentially warped at the back - however this oil between my flange and header pipe has me wondering if my new gaskets are fine - hasn’t been an issue the previous heat cycles after the new valve cover gaskets were installed.

 

[pnora]

Thanks. I should mention - I just put on new gaskets as well. Used Indian head, permatex, etc.

I suppose top of cylinder head could be potentially warped at the back - however this oil between my flange and header pipe has me wondering if my new gaskets are fine - hasn’t been an issue the previous heat cycles after the new valve cover gaskets were installed.

The oil when hot is wicking down from the valve cover area. Clean and blow it dry with brake clean. Get a clean rag wrapped over a tip of a putty knife. Run it and stick the rag to the head just above the valve cover area and see what gets on it. Or run a dye and watch very close in that area.

 

[R413]

I want to ask a silly question. Are you sure it’s not a coolant leak from the exhaust studs? They go to coolant. When you say you just did header gaskets and it’s literally bubbly out of the header fling makes me ask this question about coolant.

oil doesn’t bubble, it smokes then lights on fire.

 

[67SniperHockey]

I mean it’s possible - I obviously went through all of that with replacing the gaskets and extracting the header bolts.

Temps are always great. The wetness I’ve picked up before is dirty like oil and there is white smoke as it is dripping onto the headers.

My thinking with oil was potential crankcase pressure finding somewhere to go....? Not sure.

 

[pnora]

I want to ask a silly question. Are you sure it’s not a coolant leak from the exhaust studs? They go to coolant. When you say you just did header gaskets and it’s literally bubbly out of the header fling makes me ask this question about coolant.

oil doesn’t bubble, it smokes then lights on fire.

I will disagree on the hot oil. Many times I have seen it come to rest on the manifold to gasket area and see it sizzle which looks like bubbles as it burns off usually with a trace of smoke. Coolant leak at the studs should stay below the stud and not rise to the head area below the valve cover area.

 

[pnora]

I mean it’s possible - I obviously went through all of that with replacing the gaskets and extracting the header bolts.

Temps are always great. The wetness I’ve picked up before is dirty like oil and there is white smoke as it is dripping onto the headers.

My thinking with oil was potential crankcase pressure finding somewhere to go....? Not sure.

Make sure your venting and pcv is working correctly. Crankcase pressure if excessive will find the easiest place to escape.

 

[Mick56]

You should be able to easily smell the difference between oil or antifreeze burning off.

 

[R413]

You should be able to easily smell the difference between oil or antifreeze burning off.

Not to everyone. It may just smell like chemicals.

I suggested coolant due to the area and recent header gasket. And he wasn’t sure it was oil.

It could be anything, and he is looking for help.

 

[Jc cooper]

Make sure your venting and pcv is working correctly. Crankcase pressure if excessive will find the easiest place to escape.

Yes , very good suggestion, to much internal pressure as stated will cause oil leaks , went through this with inexpensive pcv from parts store , I corrected my leakage after installing premium VC gaskets, spent the money for an adjustable Wagner , no more oil leakage , zero! No guarantee, but a suggestion only !

 

[67SniperHockey]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. Will try a few things and see if it works. Contacted M/E Wagner as well - but will try simple things first (double check sealant on header bolts, valve cover gasket again) - then move to pvc route.

Vacuum gauge question - just remove hose attached to front of my 1411 eddy from my breather and see what reading I get at idle? Thanks guys.

 

[Jc cooper]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. Will try a few things and see if it works. Contacted M/E Wagner as well - but will try simple things first (double check sealant on header bolts, valve cover gasket again) - then move to pvc route.

Vacuum gauge question - just remove hose attached to front of my 1411 eddy from my breather and see what reading I get at idle? Thanks guys.

 

[Jc cooper]

Not clear on your question

 

[moparedtn]

On this pcv stuff - if you have a factory breather in the other valve cover (and it's functional, of course)
that should take care of most any crankcase pressure issues, no?

 

[Jc cooper]

Not manifold vacuum but the necessary vacuum from your VC breather thru your pcv , that’s what makes the Wagner work so well , if you have a nos (oem) pcv that make work also , Chrysler was heads up on their engineering, but in my class , I did not have one so the Wagner worked very well , sometimes you may find a deal in them , but I wasn’t that lucky just bit the bullet and along with a premier set of gaskets, got my leakage under control! Let me correct myself here it is manifold vacuum we’re dealing with but it’s the pcv that plays the major part ! Dealing with internal pressures ! If I am making myself clear ! In my case , I needed a much better valve! Hope this helps and didn’t confuse the issue!

 

[Babyblue66]

Use cork gaskets, no goop.

 

[67SniperHockey]

I’ve used cork on this side valve cover (which has the pcv) and no luck. This is the 3rd time I’ve done the gaskets on the valve cover and no leaks ever on drivers side, but leak on passenger side directly under where the pcv breather is located. Which is why I’m starting to look beyond gasket and look at pcv. Contacted Wagner and may go that route and see if that helps.

 

[Jc cooper]

Just follow the instructions to set it up , they are a two step pcv

 

[Andy Davenport]

I have never used any gasket goop on my valve covers and works fine if properly torqued down, the
Leak is probably gasket goop