I have a 2000 Sunfire GT convertible with a 4 cylinder 2.4L. The problem is I smell oil burnt inside the car. The exaust seems clean so it does appear to be burning in the cylinders. However, it seems to be spitting oil and then burns on top of the engine causing fans to blow the smell inside the car. The oil level is not dropping at a significant rate, but the odor is unbearable.

I was trying to replace the top gasket in hope that the easy solution would be the correct one. However, after removing the aluminum cover and unbolting all of the bottom half of the engine bolts. The piece still would not come off. It seems that it is somehow connected to the oil container, maybe?

P.S. The spark plug on the left seems to have oil on it.

Please help in any way you can.

Would pictures help?

There is oil everywhere. I can not seem to get the valve cover off. Is it connected to the thing the oil goes in?

that is not a valve cover. that is a camshaft housing and yes the timing chain cover and all of that must cover off which means you must take the cover off set the camshafts insert bolts in the cam gears to hold the timing take the chain off and all off that which means go to your local parts store and buy a water pump and timing chain tentioner better to replace it now then leave it and 5 miles down the road have to replace it.

edit: I hope you didn't pry on you might have damaged it then.

I gave up and took it to my mechanic. He said that he had to replace all the gaskets and rambled about something and said it would be a 12 hour job costing $1,006. What a random $6 but that is more than I can afford. I am screwed.

wow he aims high. the only gaskets you should need to replace is Timing chain cover and the camshaft housing gasket. unless the heads are leaking but if your sure its coming from the camshaft housing he's just trying to make as much as he can some mechanics are like that.

wow he aims high. the only gaskets you should need to replace is Timing chain cover and the camshaft housing gasket. unless the heads are leaking but if your sure its coming from the camshaft housing he's just trying to make as much as he can some mechanics are like that.

So when the mechanic checked it out he said it takes 12 hours. Here is his "recommendations." "NEEDS INNER TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET, OIL PAN GASKET & CAM CARRIER GASKETS. $1064.60W/TAX AND OIL CHANGE. TECH 03"

Do you think I could buy the maintaince guide and figure out how to do this myself? How much do you think parts would cost? I figure with 12 most of that is labor cost. I hope me and some buddies could figure it out, however, I am not sure about the neccessary tools being an issue.

oil pan gasket: 16.99
timing chain gasket: 54.99
Intake cam gasket: 14.99*
Exhaust cam gasket: 9.99*
total cost: 96.96 plus tax.
(*note they count them as Valve cover gaskets)

now I'm not saying do it. if you think its too much for you let a mechanic do it. just go out buy a repair manual and read what all needs to be done then decided because there is alot to it (too much for me to type here) and some special tools are needed but they can be rented at Autozone, you pay a deposit on it and get it back when you return the tool. the most you should need on hand is a torque wrench which everybody who works on cars needs one even if its just rotating the tires they need to be torque'd to the correct spec or you could lose a bolt or break a stud. good luck.