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VC Gasket and buring oil

S

sdriche

Well-Known Member
When I shut the car off I get an excessive amount of smoke (oil) off the exhaust though the engine compartment (drivers side). The headers on the drivers side are wet as are the plug wires. I'm going around the car replacing anything that is leaking, broken or is maintainence related. I started with the top and will work my way down. The VC gaskets went on last night. I bought FelPro PermaDry (rubber). The ones that came off were similar to the new ones (blue gasket on the left and grey on the right oddly enough) but didn't look bad. So I'm wondering if the gaskets were bad at all. What else would cause oil leaking that high? There seems to be an excessive amount of oil on the front of the motor so maybe it's getting thrown by the fan? Any 'common' oil leak areas on the 3.8 (besides the infamous rear main) ?
 
I haven't really driven it that much (less than 40 miles) and have the oil change on the list but haven't done it yet. Are you saying NOT to use synthetic? Thought that was preferred for turbo's. I'm more interested in knowing what the 'common' problem areas are with the 3.8 turbos so I can target the search for the oil leak. There's a lot of oil on the front of the motor and underneath and figured I'd start at the top and work down. VC's are done so I was going to clean it all up and try and see where it's coming form. I know the rear diff is leaking and the trans as well so that'll be next. Just put a big order into RockAuto for shocks, struts, filters, end links, etc.
 
sdriche said:
I haven't really driven it that much (less than 40 miles) and have the oil change on the list but haven't done it yet. Are you saying NOT to use synthetic? Thought that was preferred for turbo's. I'm more interested in knowing what the 'common' problem areas are with the 3.8 turbos so I can target the search for the oil leak. There's a lot of oil on the front of the motor and underneath and figured I'd start at the top and work down. VC's are done so I was going to clean it all up and try and see where it's coming form. I know the rear diff is leaking and the trans as well so that'll be next. Just put a big order into RockAuto for shocks, struts, filters, end links, etc.
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All i ever noticed was some smoke when it sat for 2-3 weeks, it would drip on the crossover pipe and smoke a little for 1-2 min after you start it then no more ( i think it is rear main) other than that no problems, the rear diff. i had changed last yr., maybe they overfilled it? As far as synthetic oil goes that debate will go on to the end of time BUT alot of people alot smarter than me won't use it, 10-30 valvoline racing oil with a half bottle of ZZP is what i would use. how are the SM number's ?
 
Also check the oil feed line for the Turbo as well as the oil drain tube for the Turbo. They are at the front of the engine block. The oil drain tube is a pita, ain't it Robert?
 
TTA984 said:
Also check the oil feed line for the Turbo as well as the oil drain tube for the Turbo. They are at the front of the engine block. The oil drain tube is a pita, ain't it Robert?
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Yeah it is but i can assure you it's not leaking... it's not a pita, its a royal pita....:(
 
4 cans of brakeclean later.....its been running for a while and all I can see is what appears to be a rear main or oil pan gasket just like Robert said.. Oil was everywhere so I'm stumped how is was so widespread. Oil was literally everywhere. I hate leaks so rear main it is.DontKnow:
 
I spoke to Jim Dunn last night. I didn't want to get off the phone with him. We are the same age and grew up with a lot of the same people. It was like catching up with a long lost friend. I'll have him do the rear main and tune the car. I bought #308 from Robert Lee in GA who bought his other TTA from Jim in PA. Wow...its a small world.
 
sdriche said:
I spoke to Jim Dunn last night. I didn't want to get off the phone with him. We are the same age and grew up with a lot of the same people. It was like catching up with a long lost friend. I'll have him do the rear main and tune the car. I bought #308 from Robert Lee in GA who bought his other TTA from Jim in PA. Wow...its a small world.
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Indeed it is a small world, your in good hands with Jim , he is good people (as we say in the south), he know's what he is doing.
 
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