jlklein

Hi all,
My son's 03 Cavalier developed an oil leak the last few months, enough to where we have to add oil every month. The shop previously said they found a loose hose or something, but it didn't do any good. The only place we actually saw oil was around the alternator but couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Here's the weird thing...we're replacing the power steering pump yesterday so I take the air intake hose off and I see a puddle of oil in there. Nothing from the filter down to the manifold area, but around the throttle intake is a rather large puddle. I take the rest of the air housing off the top of the engine and there's oil on the throttle body as well. Looks like it might be coming through that little hose between the air housing and the engine manifold (can't remember what that's called).

Anyone ever seen this or have an idea of what might be going on?

Thanks,
Jeff K.

ChemMan

Sounds like oil is coming up through the oil separator in the valve cover and through that hose. You'll need to pull the valve cover off and inspect the separator.

__________________
1995 Buick Lesabre Custom 73000 miles
2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE 103000 miles
1997 Pontiac Bonneville SE 91106 miles Totaled by attempt to steal the car!!
R.I.P. 1978 Ford Fairmont 83000 miles
FTN

jlklein

Is that a replaceable part? Any "gotchas" I might want to keep in mind before pulling that cover off? I'm somewhat mechanically inclined but no mechanic, so while replacing bolt on parts is familiar, engine internals aren't so warm and fuzzy...

Jeff K.

taillight

You will need a new valve cover gasket. Also check the PCV. They stick open.

ChemMan

2003 engine does not have a pcv.

__________________
1995 Buick Lesabre Custom 73000 miles
2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE 103000 miles
1997 Pontiac Bonneville SE 91106 miles Totaled by attempt to steal the car!!
R.I.P. 1978 Ford Fairmont 83000 miles
FTN

rangerjoe

i have the same problem with mine. how did you fix that?