bender01 Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 This 91 olds cutlass has developed an oil leak that sprays oil under the hood in the center near the firewall. it has been looked at a few times by a friend who is baffled. The throttle body has been off a few times, there was a little oil in there. He said pcv valve checked I think and some Gaskets were changed. Its not the valve cover gasket thats dry once he got there. Heres the kicker. It only does it under a load. It will idle fine and rev up no oil. As soon as its gone a few miles it pushes a few tablespoons up and hits the underside of the hood! Im afraid to take it to a true mechanic as im sure the price will be astronomic. Second owner rust free car with 73k miles. What could be putting oil pressure in gear to blow oil like that? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartbeat1991 Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Are you sure it's oil? Sounds like the trans could be overfilled and blowing up through the dipstick tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabsOlds Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Are you sure it's oil? Sounds like the trans could be overfilled and blowing up through the dipstick tube. That makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartbeat1991 Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 It could also have a failed seal at the base of the dipstick tube that's puking fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender01 Posted March 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 No its oil. Under the car it comes down closer to the passenger side on the engine. What doesnt burn up. I need a lift to get under it and really see. Its a sharp car but im tired of pouring money in it! I did the AC last fall! $$$ about 200 miles ago! Its coming from somewhere behind the throttle body. Thanks for the replies and keep them coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartbeat1991 Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 It's the o ring on the oil pump drive gear. Pull off the throttle body, or even better the whole upper intake, and replace that seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 I'm confused. It sounds like it could be PCV related but Its not like the crankcase is under pressure which would usually rule out that spraying oil unless the PCV hose is totally ruined and its leaking some blow by oil out the back and down that way, but then I'd think the car would have a pretty wicked vacuum leak. I'm kinda going with the oil pump drive seal myself. Get a flashlight and look down under the TB and see how much oil there is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Are you positive it's not power steering fluid? I know it sounds silly, but I can't imagine a leak point that would allow that much to spray out and hit the hood...but a pinhole leak in a power steering hose would, and they're on the passenger's side, before they disappear under the cradle. Heartbeat1991 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabsOlds Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Power steering hoses being hydraulic, DO NOT feel for the leak with your hands!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movielover40 Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Mine was leaking thru seal around where distributor cap used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redgrandprix Posted April 1, 2016 Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 My distributor delete pours oil but its never shot oil to the hood... Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender01 Posted April 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2016 I like the oil pump o-ring thought. Ill see what I can do to get there. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worb4me Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 It's the o ring on the oil pump drive gear. Pull off the throttle body, or even better the whole upper intake, and replace that seal. Right, which is something 3.1s suffer from (or their owners rather). Mine had it, never fixed it. People on this list way back when I had it recommended not only replacing the o ring, but also adding a felpro paper gasket to make sure it should never happen again. As an aside, I can't understand how this could be the problem when you need to take off the plenum to get to it (IIRC). No, I've never done it, so therefore it's clear I guess why I can't imagine it spraying oil on the bottom of the hood. And though I never got into these aspects of repair with my old Lumina, did with my Venture. removing the plenum is a friggin joke. Not recommending it but I didn't even torque the bolts down, just went by feeling (w/the lower manifold, you need to torque). I was skeeeeered of popping off the plenum. But it's so not a heart pumping crisis. I ***ALWAYS*** recommend buying a box w/separate compartments, and LABEL and put the bolts solitary compartments, this way you can feel good about putting exact same bolts where they belong . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Styrofoam egg cartons work well for keeping bolts and small stuff organized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schurkey Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 People on this list way back when I had it recommended not only replacing the o ring, but also adding a felpro paper gasket to make sure it should never happen again. As an aside, I can't understand how this could be the problem when you need to take off the plenum to get to it (IIRC). No, I've never done it, so therefore it's clear I guess why I can't imagine it spraying oil on the bottom of the hood. Agreed. The oil pump drive is a leaker, not a sprayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender01 Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 It is power steering fluid! I put a whole bottle in last fall. Its almost out again. It hits so much spraying on the way up it looks like oil! Til I compared it to my dipstick! Thanks for the help. Ill post back when its fixed. Thanks again Heartbeat1991 and Galaxie500XL 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabsOlds Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Good to know you found the source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1979lee Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 my 1997 3100 is leaking like a mofo too, but mine is Engine oil... see pics.... hope its the oil drive seal but i doubt it this one's gonna be a PIA to feex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender01 Posted April 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Fixed! Lots of noises have gone away! I think it was leaking awhile before it got real bad! Paid $250 parts and labor. Im happy! primergray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Glad it's fixed. At the time, I know it might have sounded a little weird to suggest it could be power steering fluid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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