Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) EDM's in, and now a problem...

[snowracer69]

Hey all,



Just put my Mach 3 EDM's in that I got from Rip today. Anyway, I took her out for a test drive, let her warm up, thermostat opened once, oil pressure was down to normal, so I decided she needed a run. 5x5 and put her to the floor and all was good (well, EGT's were a little out of control, but man does she pull hard!) Oh, I think the EGT's could be attributed somewhat to my winter front not letting enough air across the intercooler.



Anyway, once I backed out of it, something didn't smell right... smelled like burnt oil kind of. I did spill some oil on the exhaust manifold when removing valve cover, but I didn't think that was it, so... .



climb underneath, and from the passenger side, looking up from behind the engine I can see the back of the block/the head gasket. There is fresh oil from the head gasket down, but also from the head gasket up like it's dripping down from the valve cover. It's not a lot (there is enough there to notice it though), I didn't lose any boost during the pull, but I can't see where I think it's leaking out of the back of the valve cover from on top of the engine.



Do y'all think I blew my head gasket? What are the signs? Do I just need to remove/replace the valve cover again to get that gasket to seat better? Don't have time now, but will take some pics tomorrow of what I can see.



Josh



EDITED TO ADD PICTURE: I know it's hard to see, but that's the best I can do right now... better tomorrow. That is the #6 exhaust on the right, and the back of the block/where I think the head gasket is w/ all the oil on it. What do you guys think?

#ad

 

[Cummins4Life]

How much boost did ya make on the 5x5 run? Is the truck making any off color smoke? Check the antifreeze for oil? Check your oil level? I dont know what could have pushed oil over the back of the engine when the valve cover was off but its possible.

 

[SMorneau]

Give the area a cleaning and take it for a very short drive or maybe even let it idle first. Inspect frequently with a good light and a mirror and maybe you will find the leak before the oil migrates all over confusting the issue. Hope its not the headgasket.



LOL,

Scott

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Looks like the valve cover gasket is leaking. There is no oil passage back there.

 

[Sticks]

Hope it's a valve cover gasket. Ditto the above, do a real good cleaning and start her up and look to see.



You might want to check to see that the cover bolts are all tight, and that the valve cover gasket did not squeeze out (read - bulge out in the offending area)

 

[Bob Wagner]

be careful

Don M's EDM really produce torque and horsepower. like they say "just be carefull out there"



Josh, I have inlaws in Prescott Valley and he drive a pstroke

 

[DEZLPWR]

Re: be careful

Originally posted by Bob Wagner

Don M's EDM really produce torque and horsepower. like they say "just be carefull out there"



Josh, I have inlaws in Prescott Valley and he drive a pstroke

I agree... My Don M 3. 4's are insane! :--) I am afraid to put my Comp on 5-5, for fear of breaking something... . Oo. The Comp off or on 1x5 is plenty for me!

 

[jwilliams3]

If your headgasket is not blown, which I dont think it is at the moment.

I think you just spilled some oil or you have a leaky valve cover gasket.



I would suggest that you atleast look into torqueing your head bolts to factory specs.

After all those mods your oem bolts have relaxed.



--Justin

 

[Old Smoky]

I'll betcha a cold one on a warm day that it's just the valve cover gasket. Of all the 24v injector swaps I've done the gasket has only leaked once. I noticed a small drip of oil just after a dyno run and it was coming from the same spot. I just took the cover back off, cleaned everything up, and made sure it was lined up perfectly before I tightened it down. No more leak. Good luck.



Mike

 

[snowracer69]

Ok, have had to drive her twice since I noticed this problem, both times was to school and back. No new major leakage, but am going to eat lunch then head out and clean it up, take the valve cover back off, clean/align everything and tighten her back down.



Thanks for all the help guys. Am gonna take off my winter fronts too so I can run her hard and see what the EGT's are gonna run w/ the new injectors in there.



EDM's good Oo.

 

[snowracer69]

Ok, cleaned up the back of the block w/ some Simple Green, took the valve cover back off, cleaned it (it looked ok) and then cleaned up the gasket where it would have been leaking.



So far everything looks ok... think I might have had the valve cover "tweaked" towards the front or something, causing it to blow oil out the back while it was still at pretty high pressure.



Sure glad it doesn't appear to be the head gasket... that would have sucked!



Josh