Small amounts of oil near upper intake

DWIGHT BRYANT

MEMBER
1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
3.8L
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
165,123 MILES

I have noticed that there is what looks/seems to be small amounts of oil, on the engine just below the upper intake manifold gasket, and it is sitting in the little pocket crevices, I usually get a rag and use my pinky to absorb it. Help! But, the car starts right up though, I usually have to turn on A/C fans to keep temperature stable.

4 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,755 POSTS

Have you checked to see if the valve cover gaskets are leaking? Also, does the engine heat up if the cooling fans are not running? If so, does it also overheat when driving at highway speeds with the fans off?

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Monday, December 26th, 2016 AT 6:06 PM

DWIGHT BRYANT

MEMBER
6 POSTS

Yes, I notice the temperature gauge goes toward 200 within fifteen to twenty minutes of driving in the city, but once I turn on the A/C fans, the temperature stays at around 150-170 and it will remain in that area of temperature as long as the fans are on.

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Tuesday, December 27th, 2016 AT 10:34 AM

DWIGHT BRYANT

MEMBER
6 POSTS

I sent some pictures, and if you look at the middle towards the bottom of each photo, you can see the two oil spots/miniature puddles.

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Tuesday, December 27th, 2016 AT 11:21 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,643 POSTS

Hey DWIGHT,

That is definitely an valve cover gasket leak, here is a guide on how to change it. Once competed clean up the oil and the problem should be gone.

Here are to guides to help fix both problems.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-valve-cover-gasket

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken

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Friday, December 30th, 2016 AT 5:28 PM