Steve, I can tell you that leaky valve covers are not nearly as likely as the lower LIM seals. The seals underneath your LIM ( the big thing under your SC) and the block (main part of the motor). The oil leak will typically come from the ends of these seals where the heads, LIM, and block all meet in the corners. I have pics of that.


See the two gaskets with the orange traces in them? Look where they meet with the lower black seals on the far right and the far left. The two black seals on each end that are oriented up and down in the pic? With thin ribs on them? At the ends of those seals.

Can you use this pic to identify the leaks?

thats the pic and i started to use yours as a reference yesterday but just wanted to make sure. Do you all have faith in me if I get the gasket and read the Chiltons manual thoroughly that i can do this job myslef? Id it realy easy or going to be hard because i have to take the supercharger off?


BTW.....do you all see the long vacuum hose on teh right side and underneath the metal with the righting on it with GM and some numbers? hard to tell, but that is were the oil is coming out. Not like its gushing out or anything but that is the visible spot. I did clean my motor 3 weeks ago and i am positive now that the gsket need chacning. Is this another reason for low oil pressure?

That would be the black seal (gasket) directly above the GM castings. Those are the casting marks on the block. My suspicions on your leak are confirmed.

The oil won't GUSH out of there, as it'* not a pressure leak. The oil is just spattering around in there off the lifters, pushrods, and balance shaft. It kindof wicks out past those seals when the ends start to erode from head heat.

This isn't a SIMPLE job by any means, Steve. I suggest a helper that'* done it before.

Valve covers are less common than LIM'*? Maybe on the early 90'*, my experience while limited seems to point toward more common than LIM'*.

I have to wait to get paid before I can get my oil changed. I noticed today after dropping my brother off at the airport that my temp gage was at 240* again and the oil pressure was at 12psi. Im getting scared now. Is the oil change all I have to worry about? I will get the gasket replaced soon but will teh oil chage and filter build my pressure up? The oil is still at the half mark on the dipstick and its thin.

bump

You're making me nervous here.

Please park the damned car until you find out what the problem is, and before you toast an egine over a piddly little oil leak.

Low oil pressure and increased coolant temperature is an ominous set of signs. Oil is a coolant, too.

i did mine before

I had posting problems and all my comments apparently didn't make it in here, so I'm adding them back now:

Steve, if you drive that car one more time in it'* current condition, and I find out about it, I will no longer help you work on your own car. This would be the 4th Bonneville you've destroyed, and you already have from your first major problem a month ago. That motor ALREADY isn't right from overheating. I gaurantee you have bottom end damage. You're making it worse now.

Park that car until someone PROFESSIONAL can deal with it.

Your oil is thin, low, and pressure is dangerously low. You're running insane temps again. The damage you started 2 months ago or so is now worse. And will continue to get there. My suggestion is to get the car fixed, and try to sell it immediately. But not on this forum. It will continue to get worse.