The smell of oil on the manifold!!!

[webman]

I had this problem with my old V6 Aurora. Is there any other fix than changing the valve cover gaskets?

[RCA1186]

Most likely is the gaskets that are causing it. Only fix would be washing down the manifolds before you drive the car every time haha

[webman]

I guess this will be a project in the new year to change the valve cover gaskets.

[rocket]

After putting up with a quart of oil loss per week and constant smell of burning oil, and after NO results from changing the valve cover gaskets, I bit the bullet and had my local Cadillac dealer pull the engine and do a complete re-seal of the lower to upper block gasket set. It cost a GRUNCH of $$ but in the process, found the reason for hard shifting (oil saturated engine mounts allowing engine to move when the gearbox torqued up) and solved both problems. The V8 now shifts smoothly and no longer burns or loses oil.

BTW, as soon as I drove in the Service Manager knew what the problem was and told me that the Northstars were notorious for oil leaks.

[RCA1186]

They are very notorious for leaks. Probably coming from the half case and dripping onto the crossover. Mind if I ask how much it ran you for the job? I've been thinking of doing the same for mine.

[guy48065]

Dec 14, 2018 7:17:21 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

They are very notorious for leaks. Probably coming from the half case and dripping onto the crossover. Mind if I ask how much it ran you for the job? I've been thinking of doing the same for mine.

I'm unfamiliar with this description. Could you elaborate where this is?

This summer I removed the plenum to replace O-rings & throttle body boot in order to seal vac leaks. I was hoping the burning oil smell would also disappear but no such luck. I lose a quart in 3K miles, so not bad except for the little oil spots all over my driveway. I know SOME of it is blow-by.

[tigger]

Dec 14, 2018 10:47:29 GMT -6 guy48065 said:

Dec 14, 2018 7:17:21 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

Probably coming from the half case and dripping onto the crossover.

I'm unfamiliar with this description. Could you elaborate where this is?

The engine block (crankcase) is cast in two pieces, upper half and lower half, so half case. The seal is known to leak.

The crossover, technically, should be called the "crossunder", I guess. It's where the front bank exhaust goes under the oil pan to connect to the rear.

So any half case or oil pan leak in the vicinity of the exhaust will produce the burning oil smell...

[RCA1186]

Good explanation haha

[rocket]

Dec 14, 2018 7:17:21 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

They are very notorious for leaks. Probably coming from the half case and dripping onto the crossover. Mind if I ask how much it ran you for the job? I've been thinking of doing the same for mine.

$1900 plus the cost of the engine mounts and a leaky PS hose/fitting, also contributing to the smell of burning oil. At $3/quart all i have to do is keep the car for 633 weeks to recover the cost of the repair!

[RCA1186]

That's around where I would think it would be (minus the mounts as I just did those)

[rocket]

Dec 14, 2018 7:17:21 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

They are very notorious for leaks. Probably coming from the half case and dripping onto the crossover. Mind if I ask how much it ran you for the job? I've been thinking of doing the same for mine.

$1,900 less a broken PS hose and 2 motor mounts. But hey, I got a free car wash!

[arthurpendragon]

if the gaskets are rubber you might try putting an 8 oz can of brake fluid in the oil about 2 days before changing it.

I have done this to every new (to me) car I have bought over the last 40 years. It rejuvenates the valve seals and all rubber stuff in the motor. It has yet to cause any damage or trouble.