Slight amount of oil atop 350 engine

[prginocx]

'94 Chevy 4X4, 5.7L V8, Short bed, k2500, AT. 109k miles

I see a tiny amount of oil accumulating atop the engine just adjacent to the valve covers, especially on the driver side. This engine has the large round air filter, so you can see it a lot better when that is removed. I thought the valve cover gaskets were leaking, so I replaced them. I used rubber gaskets and blueseal silicone high temp. I did let the blueseal "set up" for 2 hrs before I tightened it down.

We are talking about a very small amount of oil, maybe a half teaspoon or so...But I am anal, plus I don't like the small when it evaporates when the manifold gets hot...

Where is it coming from if not the valve cover gaskets ? Why didn't replacing the valve cover gaskets solve the problem ? Is this a common issue with 350 engines ?

[rdharley3]

check your PCV valve?

RDH

[67malibu]

Wipe the area clean and check it daily to better see the offender. It really depends on exactly where the spot is. My first thought is an intake bolt. I've had it happen on some older V8s. Take out the one bolt, clean it, squirt some RTV around under the head and put it back.

[prginocx]

I didn't think of oil seeping up through the intake bolts. I do clean the area, but it is very sunken in with little ridges and valleys, makes it hard to get the gunk out. The sunken areas where it accumulates are really adjacent to the intake manifold bolts, though...

This engine is fairly new at only 109k miles and very clean. Compression is bettween 125 / 135 on all cylinders. The PCB comes up from the valve cover on the passenger side, then another tube comes up from the valve cover from the rear valve manifold. Either of these might be leaking, but I can't seem to nail it down...

[Riche]

I would put money on the bolts. But anything can happen...

[bderoulet]

Sorry I'm posting this a little late but I had the same problem when I first got one of my old pickups. I had an '88 with the same motor. If you keep the 4 center bolts on the intake torqued this will take care of it. The two on the drivers side usually come loose first but the two on the passenger side will also loosen eventually. I used to check them when I changed the air filter. Never had the problem again. I was pretty anal about keeping the engine clean also.