Hey All,

OK, so just added to my list of repairs for the SSEi, is doing something about the oil leaking.

I have not driven the car much at all this winter. Finally took it out last Friday for a quick trip to the store, and noticed a significant amount of smoke coming from under the hood. Inspection (and smell) told me that there was oil burning off from the exhaust headers. Very visible amounts of smoke coming off the front exhaust. When the car is moving you can't see much, but at stoplights, etc, it will smoke enough to be seen.

It has been leaving a puddle of oil for some time, but checking the dipstick doesn't usually show enough of a loss to read, at least. Whne I had the car in for some other service, which I can't recall, they mentioned a 'significant oil leak' coming from somewhere, but did not do any diagnostic to locate.

by my understanding of gravity, and the layout of this engine, it makes me think that my valve cover gaskets could be the source of the leak. Its obviously higher than the exhaust headers/manifolds.

Does that make sense to anyone? Could there be somethign else that I'm missing? Since it'* leaked for a while, there is a fair amount of oil on many of the engine parts. But from what I've gathered after searching 'oil leaks', is that the valve cover gaskets on these cars are not too difficult to change, and knowing that I've got struts and a wheel speed sensor to do as well, and some light body work if I can find the funds, I'm hoping I can maybe attempt something to remedy the oil leak on my own.

I'd love to hear your theories, or if you think I'm looking in the right direction. Thanks!

You need to clean the engine and trace it back when it starts again. It could also be the LIM gaskets in the corners where the heads, LIM, and block meet.

It'* up to you at this point to determine which it is.

I had the same problem...mine came from the LIM gaskets. Replaced LIM gaskets and Valve Cover gaskets....no more smoke or puddles

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to re-check my records, but I'm pretty sure I've had the LIM gaskets redone already. Do those tend to leak a LOT when they are bad?

Not saying that the leak couldn't still be there, though. I'll try and do some cleaning and diagnostic one of these days, now that I've got a couple ideas. Thanks.

If they weren't done correctly......

You have to put a dab of RTV in the corners during LIM gasket installation. Who did the work?

Local Pontiac dealership.

But for what it'* worth, it was leaking oil similar to this before that work was done too, as I recall. But I never let the car sit long enough that it built up on the exhaust, it was daily-driven, which i would guess burnt off the oil on a regular basis, most likely.

Any other symptoms of bad LIM gasket that I might notice, that would point me towards there versus the valve covers, if the oil leak is not indicative enough?