Liquid pooling on lower intake

[2000ltd]

I have a oil burning odor in my car at stop lights. I think it's coming from this pool of liquid here in the photos. Is this coming from the valve covers, upper plenum, injector or lower intake gasket? There are also similar pooling area of n the rear Bank of engine too. But not as much liquid. Is it coolant, gas or oil?

 

[RD_Atlanta]

Gas, oil & coolant have fairly distinct-able odors. My guess is if your smelling oil then it likely is oil. You could also reach down there with something to get a small sample and wipe it on a white piece of paper to obtain an accurate color of the liquid. You may need to hose it off and watch the area close over the next few driving days to see where the source is. My first suspicion would be one or both valve covers. I find those fiber optic endoscopes or borescopes that connect to your phone to be especially helpful for gaining visibility into hidden areas.

Waterproof HD Endoscope Borescope Inspection Snake Camera for Android / PC MAC | eBay

For Android Endoscope Scan the QR code and install APP, Then used endoscope connected cellphone and open the APP, it will shows picture. You can use this endoscpoe with Android smartphone/ Windows PC/ MAC PC by these 3 interface.

www.ebay.com

 

[2000ltd]

Gas, oil & coolant have fairly distinct-able odors. My guess is if your smelling oil then it likely is oil. You could also reach down there with something to get a small sample and wipe it on a white piece of paper to obtain an accurate color of the liquid. You may need to hose it off and watch the area close over the next few driving days to see where the source is. My first suspicion would be one or both valve covers. I find those fiber optic endoscopes or borescopes that connect to your phone to be especially helpful for gaining visibility into hidden areas.

Waterproof HD Endoscope Borescope Inspection Snake Camera for Android / PC MAC | eBay

For Android Endoscope Scan the QR code and install APP, Then used endoscope connected cellphone and open the APP, it will shows picture. You can use this endoscpoe with Android smartphone/ Windows PC/ MAC PC by these 3 interface.

www.ebay.com

I will replace the valve cover gaskets then. It smells like oil burning not like gas or coolant thanks, I'm just happy it's not the plenum or lim most likely. Would I be able to see the leak with that endoscope if I clean it really good down there? Or should I just replace the valve cover gaskets. I already have them btw I have the blue fel pro ones with grommets

 

[RD_Atlanta]

I will replace the valve cover gaskets then. It smells like oil burning not like gas or coolant thanks, I'm just happy it's not the plenum or lim most likely. Would I be able to see the leak with that endoscope if I clean it really good down there? Or should I just replace the valve cover gaskets. I already have them btw I have the blue fel pro ones with grommets

It's a judgement call on if you should replace them or first investigate. I personally find the endoscopes to be really helpful.

 

[2000ltd]

It's a judgement call on if you should replace them or first investigate. I personally find the endoscopes to be really helpful.

I just ordered one and will clean that area and then investigate. I'm reading now the fsm on replacing valve rocker arm cover replacement and it says to use thread locker when reinstalling that's new to me I'm glad I read the procedure first

 

[RD_Atlanta]

It's a judgement call on if you should replace them or first investigate. I personally find the endoscopes to be really helpful.

One additional thought, which is really quick. Open the oil fill cap with the engine idling just to make sure that you don't have a lot of blow by pressure in the crankcase. I wouldn't expect that there would be because the 3.8L is such a good engine, but it's good to check before doing anything else. If there is hardly any noticable blow by in the crankcase then it's a judgement call on deciding to replace the valve cover gaskets or to continue to investigate.

 

[2000ltd]

One additional thought, which is really quick. Open the oil fill cap with the engine idling just to make sure that you don't have a lot of blow by pressure in the crankcase. I wouldn't expect that there would be because the 3.8L is such a good engine, but it's good to check before doing anything else. If there is hardly any noticable blow by in the crankcase then it's a judgement call on deciding to replace the valve cover gaskets or to continue to investigate.

What do I do put a glove over the hole and if it fills up then I have blow by?

 

[RD_Atlanta]

One additional thought, which is really quick. Open the oil fill cap with the engine idling just to make sure that you don't have a lot of blow by pressure in the crankcase. I wouldn't expect that there would be because the 3.8L is such a good engine, but it's good to check before doing anything else. If there is hardly any noticable blow by in the crankcase then it's a judgement call on deciding to replace the valve cover gaskets or to continue to investigate

What do I do put a glove over the hole and if it fills up then I have blow by?

You'll always have some, you'll know without the glove if it's major enough to be concerned with.

 

[2000ltd]

You'll always have some, you'll know without the glove if it's major enough to be concerned with.

It will probably blow the filler cap out of the hole if I set it there unscrewed if it's blow by. I only have 87k on it and the oil looks clean so I doubt it's blow by but I'll check it. I checked the oil level today and it's about a quarter quart low and it was filled to the top line 1k ago. Is it possible that much is leaking from the valve covers?

 

[02LTD2.0]

If you can smell it burning off then you're losing some. I need to do my rear valve cover gasket myself. I did the front one a while back because it was easy. The rear is a bit more involved for me because my car has secondary air injection.

 

[2000ltd]

If you can smell it burning off then you're losing some. I need to do my rear valve cover gasket myself. I did the front one a while back because it was easy. The rear is a bit more involved for me because my car has secondary air injection.

Is it a lesabre?

 

[02LTD2.0]

I have a 2002 LeSabre Limited with the Gran touring package like yours.

 

[2000ltd]

I have a 2002 LeSabre Limited with the Gran touring package like yours.

What is secondary air injection I don't know. I have the fsm instructions and didn't mention anything about that

 

[02LTD2.0]

It's an additional set of emissions controls usually found in California.

 

[02LTD2.0]

It's just more stuff that I have to move out of the way in order to remove the rear valve cover.

 

[2000ltd]

It's just more stuff that I have to move out of the way in order to remove the rear valve cover.

Yes I'm not looking forward to the rear one. I think I have to remove the alternator to do it but I have been losing oil at a rate of a quart every 4k and it smells bad so I'm gonna do it december 4th when I have some garage time

 

[RD_Atlanta]

Yes I'm not looking forward to the rear one. I think I have to remove the alternator to do it but I have been losing oil at a rate of a quart every 4k and it smells bad so I'm gonna do it december 4th when I have some garage time

That reminds me. It was just after the GM keys fiasco that GM came up with the 3.8L valve cover recall (maybe 13 or so years ago). The recall intent effectively rerouted any oil leaking from a valve cover away from the exhaust manifold reducing the risk of smell & it flaming up.

A family member had the recall done & I stopped by to have a look. It was so crudely done (in my view) that they could no longer install the plastic engine cover, so it was left off as part of the recall. I decided to pass on the recall and instead I replaced the valve cover gaskets. That's likely why you'll see cars with 3.8L engines for sale with the plastic engine cover missing.

 

[2000ltd]

That reminds me. It was just after the GM keys fiasco that GM came up with the 3.8L valve cover recall (maybe 13 or so years ago). The recall intent effectively rerouted any oil leaking from a valve cover away from the exhaust manifold reducing the risk of smell & it flaming up.

A family member had the recall done & I stopped by to have a look. It was so crudely done (in my view) that they could no longer install the plastic engine cover, so it was left off as part of the recall. I decided to pass on the recall and instead I replaced the valve cover gaskets. That's likely why you'll see cars with 3.8L engines for sale with the plastic engine cover missing.

I wonder why they don't just use better gaskets instead of those orange ones

 

[02LTD2.0]

That's likely why you'll see cars with 3.8L engines for sale with the plastic engine cover missing.
[/QUOTE]
A lot of us leave the engine cover off for entirely different reasons. One of those reasons is ease of service. Another reason is that it makes a nice little house for rodents to gather under.

 

[2000ltd]

That's likely why you'll see cars with 3.8L engines for sale with the plastic engine cover missing.

A lot of us leave the engine cover off for entirely different reasons. One of those reasons is ease of service. Another reason is that it makes a nice little house for rodents to gather under.
[/QUOTE]
I heard about a tsb about leaving the cover off and throwing it away I can't remember what the tsb solved though