Okay, this is not a question of how, or what to use, but more.. what to clean. My engine leaks oil [not burns oil].. about a quart every 3 months. Now, my thoughts are the PCV valve is clogged, causing the oil to come out wherever it can.. but I am not 100% sure of this. I am pretty sure the proper way of doing this, would be to remove the whole intake [plenum, tb, maf sensor], and the heads, and get them all cleaned up real pretty. But, as I was telling drifter, I don't exactly trust my mechanics stills right now, I don't have the money for new gaskets [at the moment], and I am unsure if I have all the tools required to do this [my service manual doesn't mention needing a universal joint or not, because I am lacking there, and in the long sockets]. So, basically my question is, how can I do this, hopefully without removing any key compenents.. I am in the process of removing the rear valve cover to clean it up [it doesn't have a single drop of oil, just dirt and such], so that is really the only thing I was planning on removing. I have attached a picture of where the oil is sitting under the intake plenum, and of the engine as a whole [with the 3800 cover, and front valve cover removed]

Where the oil is sitting


Engine as a whole



-justin

that orange smelling stuff that comes in a bottle is good stuff to use

I said what not how.. dooood.


-justin

the only place that it could really be leaking is from the throttle body area I think? Err. It'* so hard to think back to how my 88 LeSabre was setup. Isn't there a line running from the valve cover to the throttle body that can sometimes have oil in it at times? I think it'* for ventilatiotn maybe? Or, like you said, the PCV valve could be leaking. they're a bitcht to change on the Series I 3800 though. No need to take your intake plenum off, it'* not leaking from there. It'* somewhere higher up and is pooling down there. That is one huge oil leak BTW.

yes, this I know. There is a pipe that goes from my valve cover to my throttle body, and I was thinking that may be a place of leak, and was planning to put some silicone on that already. I am still trying to get a paper towel under the plenum to soak up the oil.. since its just standing there, hasn't burned, or anything, which to me simbolizes it was leaking recently. As far as changing the PCV valve.. do I just need the valve, or the gaskets, or tubing? because rock auto has the valve, gaskets, and tubing I believe.. and its all only a few bucks.. and I know it hasn't been changed in the past 5 years [I have all the mechanic reciepts of what was all done, and he charges her for EVERYTHING, even things that don't look replaced ]. as long as changing out the pcv valve only takes time and a few hand tools, then I can do it, because i've got nothing but time this week, however next week is a different story :rool:

-justin

Wow.. you don't have roller rockers...

Anyway, they make these little dye kits, you put some dye in the oil, use a blacklight to see it an it will point directly to the leak.

hmm.. that'* right! they do.. If the leak continues, I need to get me some of that. I must say though.. I am really leaning towards the PCV valve.. and that breather tube. because the breather tube points right at the intake plenum.. This afternoon, I am going to go out and take out the PCV valve, and do the shake trick, if it doesn't rattle, I know why its is most likely the culprit.


-justin