gas or oil leak

[rev2red]

i was doing some work on my 2004 grand prix gt (70,000km) yesterday and noticed that there was some fluid right under two of the injectors, but not sure if its from the head gasket or injectors o ring...maybe? I don't know where its coming from...i haven't noticed a change in performance and there's no white smoke or anything funky going on, just a few little puddles of gas or oil near the injectors, is this normal? wat can i do?

[richtazz]

You should try to figure out what the fluid is. If it's oil, you could have a bad valve cover gasket or LIM/supercharger mount gasket. If it's fuel, you need to get that fixed ASAP, as it's a fire hazard.

[rev2red]

Originally Posted by richtazz

You should try to figure out what the fluid is. If it's oil, you could have a bad valve cover gasket or LIM/supercharger mount gasket. If it's fuel, you need to get that fixed ASAP, as it's a fire hazard.

dipped a cloth on it and it was a dark brown colour and didnt really smell like gas, i think u are right about the valve cover gasket. Is this hard to do yourself? I cleaned it up and gonna see where exactly it is coming from , hopefully, although it could be gas just got dirty from dipping down.

[richtazz]

the front gasket is fairly simple. There's one bolt on the torque strut mount that's a bear to get to due to clearance issues (especially on a non-supercharged engine because it's so close to the fuel injector) but other than that it's easy. The rear cover is more difficult because you have to remove the belt tensioner assembly (which has coolant running through it) and a bracket on the back of the engine, but it's still not a technically difficult job.

[rev2red]

Originally Posted by richtazz

the front gasket is fairly simple. There's one bolt on the torque strut mount that's a bear to get to due to clearance issues (especially on a non-supercharged engine because it's so close to the fuel injector) but other than that it's easy. The rear cover is more difficult because you have to remove the belt tensioner assembly (which has coolant running through it) and a bracket on the back of the engine, but it's still not a technically difficult job.

This is where the fluid has been building up...

[rev2red]

Originally Posted by richtazz

the front gasket is fairly simple. There's one bolt on the torque strut mount that's a bear to get to due to clearance issues (especially on a non-supercharged engine because it's so close to the fuel injector) but other than that it's easy. The rear cover is more difficult because you have to remove the belt tensioner assembly (which has coolant running through it) and a bracket on the back of the engine, but it's still not a technically difficult job.

[richtazz]

From the pics, that looks like an LIM gasket leak, and the oil is coming out around the LIM bolt. Since the GTP's have the injectors mounted in the cylinder head, you won't have the clearance issue I had on my GT, but that torque strut bracket bolt is still a to get to.

[tblake]

I was going to suggest LIM gaskets right when I heard fluid was pooling around the injectors. Thats right where mine was leaking. Mine even got so bad that it was dripping down the passenger side of the motor, pooling up on top of the waterpump/front cover area. Take a look down there.

What is your coolant level?

[rev2red]

so both of u agree that it is LIM and yes it seems to be right by the bolts...BTW it is a GT ...is there anyway i can get a step by step instruction on this lol like the bolt tightening sequence and torque specs...dont tell me i need a torque wrench?! I don't really have too much experience on stuff like this

[tblake]

you will need a torque wrench or you'll be doing it over. How many miles are on your motor? It could be valve cover gaskets still. Keep an eye on your coolan level.

[rev2red]

Originally Posted by tblake

you will need a torque wrench or you'll be doing it over. How many miles are on your motor? It could be valve cover gaskets still. Keep an eye on your coolan level.

it only has 70,000km on her, i soaked up the fluid and it was a dark colour, looks like oil. Im wondering how much this would be to get done by the shop? seems like a lot of know how

[richtazz]

Originally Posted by rev2red

so both of u agree that it is LIM and yes it seems to be right by the bolts...BTW it is a GT ...is there anyway i can get a step by step instruction on this lol like the bolt tightening sequence and torque specs...dont tell me i need a torque wrench?! I don't really have too much experience on stuff like this

Shoulda looked closer at the pics duh.... damn getting old sucks...

Now as I look, I see the injector is in the LIM, not the head. Trust me, that bolt where the passenger side torque strut bracket bolts to the engine is a PITA. You can't get a socket on it, you can only get a small turn with a wrench (1 flat at a time or 1/6 of a turn), and the bolt is twice as long as it needs to be. Still though, including cleaning everything I had the front valve cover done in about a 1/2 hour. The rear took longer because of draining the coolant and removing the belt tensioner. I'd say it took about an hour or so.

If it's an LIM gasket (which it appears to be), that's more work, but still within the abilities of a decent DIY mechanic. Even though the valve covers don't technically need to be removed to do the LIM job, replace them now while you have the engine torn down to avoid doing them later. You really do need a torque wrench to do an LIM job properly, otherwise you'll most likely be doing it again real soon. There's a guy here on AF that may chime in that would disagree as he claims he never uses a torque wrench, but that's really bad advice unless you like doing things over and over.

[rev2red]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Shoulda looked closer at the pics duh.... damn getting old sucks...

Now as I look, I see the injector is in the LIM, not the head. Trust me, that bolt where the passenger side torque strut bracket bolts to the engine is a PITA. You can't get a socket on it, you can only get a small turn with a wrench (1 flat at a time or 1/6 of a turn), and the bolt is twice as long as it needs to be. Still though, including cleaning everything I had the front valve cover done in about a 1/2 hour. The rear took longer because of draining the coolant and removing the belt tensioner. I'd say it took about an hour or so.

If it's an LIM gasket (which it appears to be), that's more work, but still within the abilities of a decent DIY mechanic. Even though the valve covers don't technically need to be removed to do the LIM job, replace them now while you have the engine torn down to avoid doing them later. You really do need a torque wrench to do an LIM job properly, otherwise you'll most likely be doing it again real soon. There's a guy here on AF that may chime in that would disagree as he claims he never uses a torque wrench, but that's really bad advice unless you like doing things over and over.

oh boy, looks like im in for some fun! I think ill buy the wrench it will still be cheaper then going to a shop...i hope lol...but if u say its not that hard to do, you live once, i gotta start somewhere lol

[tblake]

Thats what I usually do.... Buy a new too after I get done saving myself a $hit ton of cash after doing my own repairs. Last summer I got a new snap-on 3/8's torque wrench when I replaced my valve covers.

[rev2red]

Originally Posted by tblake

Thats what I usually do.... Buy a new too after I get done saving myself a $hit ton of cash after doing my own repairs. Last summer I got a new snap-on 3/8's torque wrench when I replaced my valve covers.

yeah its always well worth getting new tools !
well ill let ya'll know if the leak appear to be back, so far so good and coolant level is solid