duowing

Well this kinda sucks it looks like I have a little bit of an oil leak around where the head meets the block. Looks like it's in between the #3 and #4 cylinder. It seems odd that oil would leak out through the head gasket, but I suppose it's possible. Really the only fix would probably be to pull the head and replace the gasket? I wiped down the whole area and then I was driving around to make sure my new valve cover gasket wasn't leaking, and it was starting to look wet right around that spot again after the drive.

NismoPick

Is oil running down the block? Post some pics!

duowing

Here's some pics I took. I wiped it down some, and took some pictures:



Down where the oil filter attached is all oily around that.


Then I went and drove the car a bit.







It's a little hard to tell in the pics, but it was definitely wet around that area, although I should probably leave it go and see if it does start running down the block. Also one thing I noticed is that my Z seems to actually pull a slight bit better when cold, I wonder if it's related to the fact that it advances the timing a bunch when cold?

mikeatrpi

I believe I have the same problem on my 82 - leaking from the same spot. At first I thought it was the sending unit leaking and the fan was blowing the oil up the side of the block.

I'm interested to hear how it works out for you.

KasbeKZ

before i went through the trouble of changing the head gasket, i might try one of those cheap generic oil additives that claims to stop oil leaks and restore pressure. I actuall have had those work, and have never seen any harm come from them.

duowing

It might be worth a try. How does anyone else feel on this, are those ok to run through your engine? Oh and then I thought to check my 76' 280Z and it looks like it does the same thing. This is a weird thing to happen.

I mean if it gets worse I may just pull the head and redo the gasket, I'm sure it can be done easily enough over the course of a weekend, otherwise I'm thinking if I can I may just wait and let it go for now until I eventually plan to swap the engine.

Luckily in a worst case scenario the head looks like the heads can probably be pulled in about an hour or so. The biggest concern I have about pulling the head is the whole not messing up the timing chain. I'm also debating if it comes to pulling the head if I should just go ahead and have any work done to it? Maybe have it cleaned up? Any recommendations on what's good to do for the turbo head while leaving the stock bottom end?

hoov100

have you checked the torque of the head bolts?

duowing

Actually I haven't. I need to get myself a torque wrench.

n00blar

That's exactly the same problem I'm having with my newly rebuilt engine. The leak I have is on the right side of the engine, right by the intake header between 5th and 6th cylinder.

I have yet to check the torque on the bolts.

NismoPick

And you call yourselves mechanics! You can get a basic torque wrench from AutoZone / Checker / NAPA for $15-$30.

duowing

Apparently this sort of leak isn't as uncommon as I thought it was. Looks like I may just end up pulling the head, at least after I check the torque. I'm going to start buying valve cover gaskets in bulk...

Ahh the wonders of a 24 year old car. Although I have to admit, other than this and my slight miss at idle the thing runs really well. Fires up super quick whether hot or cold, temp runs fine, even with this leak barely goes through oil, and does well. I can't complain too much.

NismoPick

Did you just install this new headgasket? Make sure you spray headgaskets w/ a thin coat of Copper Gasket stuff before installing. It will fill any small gaps in the gasket.

duowing

No, I didn't install the head gasket. This as far as I know is the original gasket. I hope it's just that maybe I can re-torque the bolts, otherwise I will just end up pulling the head sometime soon and redoing the gasket.

NismoPick

Send the head to a machine shop to be checked out... no reason to do all that work, and not make sure it's 100% good.

duowing

Yeah, when I do pull the head, I plan to have it all checked and everything. Probably have it cleaned up and what not while it's there. That's why I'm wondering if I should just look into having any head work done when I'd pull it. Just get it all done at once.