Leaking Head?

A while back I noticed a bad oil leak that was spilling down on the passenger-side axle boot. I took it in and the shop said it was the valve cover gasket, so I had the valve cover gaskets replaced. The problem is that the oil leak doesn't appear to have stopped.
On Saturday I was changing the PCV valve and topping off the S/C'er oil so I tried to poke around back there to see if I could find where the leak might be coming from. I found some gunk around the base of the rear head and it looked like I had a leak coming from there. It didn't look too horrible so I'm not sure if this is the main culprit, but just the same, what would I expect to pay for a head gasket job (parts + labor)? I saw another thread that was about the same question, but didn't want to thread jack. Thanks!

Lower intake gaskets and oil filter adapter to timing cover gaskets would be the two things I would focus on.

Lower intake gaskets and oil filter adapter to timing cover gaskets would be the two things I would focus on.

Took the GP to the shop today and I asked them to inspect the items you listed there. We'll see what they say....

1) Is your auxiliary coolant tank contaminated with oil?
2) Do you see any Blow-by bubbles in your coolant tank?
3) How does your engine oil look?
4) Doe's your exhaust look like a steam engine?

1) Is your auxiliary coolant tank contaminated with oil?

No
2) Do you see any Blow-by bubbles in your coolant tank?

Please explain.
3) How does your engine oil look?

Engine oil looks completely fine. No foam, no chocolate milk.
4) Doe's your exhaust look like a steam engine?

Exhaust is colorless and odorless. Tail pipes have no soot deposits.

Nothing leads me to believe the head is leaking other than what appears to be slight seepage around the base of the head.

When a head gasket go's bad, exhaust blow-by, can cause bubbles in radiator and
auxiliary coolant tank.
Instead of a sweet (green) smell, it will smell like exhaust gases.

I would use a spray brake cleaner to clean your head off, and monitor your oil consumption.

I wonder if this stuff works?
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=948130

Could your oil leak be an LIM valley gasket?

Head gasket job on these car's isn't bad. If you have replaced the LIM Gaskets, you can do head gaskets.

Could your oil leak be an LIM valley gasket?

Head gasket job on these car's isn't bad. If you have replaced the LIM Gaskets, you can do head gaskets.

:lol: Well I've had them replaced. I didn't the the replacing. :tongue:

If you can do body work, you can do LIM and Head Gaskets! I have no patience for body work. My jobs always end up looking worse than when I start!

If you replace a head gasket, don't you have to have the head resurfaced?

Got the GP back from the shop. They said that the entire back half of the engine was completely saturated with oil which made it hard to tell where the leak was coming from. They said that the oil seemed the freshest around the oil sending unit and suggested that I replace it. So i went for it and will be spraying off the engine as back as I can to see if that takes care of it. The oil level was really dropping frequently so if that stops too, that's a good sign. Hopefully that's all it was.

Ah, or else the oil filter adapter gasket. (common problem and relatively easy repair).

I'm all about the easy repairs! :)

Just some more info to add to the discussion.

The oil-side in a classic V- pushrod engine has no oil pressure to the overhead. It is simply splash lube thru the pushrods. The head gasket also has to seal up ~70psi max from the cooling jacket and ~1000psi from each combustion event. So the chances of leakage on the oil side is lower....

The rocker cover gaskets are a unique animal because the material isn't suitable (long-term) for being above the exhaust ports and the phenolic rocker covers don't help dissipate the heat.