Two oil related questions

[skid542]

Okay, the first question is I'm trying to figure out where I'm leaking oil. When I get to the top of the mountains I drive, dirt roads so I drive a little hard but still keep the revs below 4k, I see smoke coming out from under the hood when I stop. I've traced the source to the connection between the exhaust pipe and the exhaust headers. It's coming out in crimped connection. I don't have to add oil but about every 250 mi or so. Any ideas valve, piston rings, etc?

Now if you'll bear with me for the second question. I changed my oil and air filter today and when I got done I realized that I had accidently picked up a quart of Valvoline's new 10W-30 synthetic for vehicles over 75k when I was picking up Valvoline's High Milage 10W-40 dino. Do you all see any potential problems with having a quart of this oil mixed in with the rest of my oil? If I have to change it out so be it but I'd prefere not to have to. Thanks guys.

Lee

[mTk]

Synthetic is compatible with dyno, i don't see any reason why you would have any problems,

MK

[vrg3]

Is it possible the oil is leaking from the engine and dripping onto the exhaust, where it burns? If you don't see smoke coming out the tailpipe, I don't think the smoke is actually in your exhaust gases.

Having a quart of synthetic with more than three quarts of dino ought to be okay until your next oil change...

[petridish38]

I would guess that it is the valve cover gaskets. Its a common problem. The front crank seal could also be leaking, along with the cam seals. When was the last time you did a timing belt job on the car? If it needs to be done, then you could do that and the seals while you are in there.

I would guess that a large portion of it is coming from the valve cover gaskets.... They are pretty easy to change...

Andrew

[NICO]

well race your motor agian and then open the hood, where does the smoke come from left side right side back side front side turbo where is it comeing from closest spot.

[skid542]

Nico, the smoke comes up around both sides of the engine and it comes up both infront and behind (between the firewall and the engine). Looking down from the top doesn't show anything and the only way to see where it is coming from is by looking under. When I look under I can definately see smoke coming out of that connection with the exhaust pipe and the exhaust manifolds/headers.

How entailing is the valve covers? I don't really want to have to do any more work than neccesary and if it isn't anything that is critical it'll get put to the waiting list of things to do. However, if the valve covers is pretty easy I might go ahead and do them. The timing belt was done about 40k ago or so I think and I also have no desire to mess with the front of my engine anymore than I have to after all the work I did with the crank pulley. Thanks for the help guys and for confirming my feelings about my oil mixup.

[vrg3]

They're pretty easy. Do a search on it for more info, but you basically just undo a few bolts to remove each valve cover, and replace the gasket as well as the grommets around the bolts. You can do it with the engine still in the car.

[skid542]

I finally got around to doing the valve cover gaskets this weekend. Wow, do I feel like a lazy bastard for waiting this long to do something so quick and easy. It seems to be making a significant difference. I have a feeling I'm still leaking some somwhere but not near as bad I think. Thanks to all for the answers to the questions I've been asking for the past year on this .

[greg donovan]

other leak sources are the cam seals and the oil filler neck and the rear main seal front crank seal the oil pump and the oil seperator plate on the back of the engine.