Oil leak conundrum???

[bcoats]

Hello fellow Pelicans, seeking advice on another oil leak thread, I've searched all the oil leak threads and still not sure what is going on.

Car is '79 911SC, under 1,000 miles on top end rebuild (car sat for about 4-years as well since rebuild), triple Weber carb conversion, hotter cams, runs like a champ and no smoke. However, it is leaking a little oil at the engine oil cooler, as well as a "mystery leak" from the top of the motor onto the heat exchangers. Here's what I know thus far:

Triangle of Death: Thermostat o-ring, switch and breather are dry.

Oil Cooler: leaks a little, more seepage, probably could use new seals as it sat for a while

Valve Cover gaskets: brand new with silicone gaskets, both top and bottom. Worth noting that when I got the car, leak on driver's side was pretty bad. Replaced gaskets, still have the leak but not nearly as bad, and was noted that the nuts on upper valve covers were really loose.

Has upgraded 930 lower valve covers, wondering if uppers are warped? Checked last night around uppers and feel dry. When the valve cover gaskets were done, head studs where checked and not loose, and the galley's in the cam housing area (not sure what technical term is for these) were dry, so assuming the rocker seals are good?

When I take a hard right hand turn with the heat on, there is much more of a burnt oil smell as well in the cabin, which again lead me to believe leaky valve cover. . .hmmm

I am at a total loss with this, could it be a cylinder head leak or could my leaky engine oil cooler be making its way over the the driver's side heat exchanger? Or just live with it?? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, I just bought the car a month ago and want to resolve this as I get smoked out in the cabin with the heat on. . .thanks. Bryce

[T77911S]

check where the oil lines attach to the cam towers. i thought it was valve covers for quite a while, includint the upper. never seen a probelm with the uppers. had a 77s and never changed the upper gaskets. they just dont leak.

[bcoats]

will do thanks T77911S. . .I have a bra from my 930 if you want it by the way I don't need it and found it in my garage last night

[Bob Kontak]

Throw it up on some jack stands and get under there.

As soon as I give you a thought, you know, it will be the other thing so I am just thinking out loud here.

I suspect if oil gets in the exchanger it will be hot enough to smoke. Thinking you have pooling either on top of or in some "remote" place in the exchanger. When you do the hard right hand turn the pooled oil flattens out to the left getting closer to the exhaust pipes.

Doubt the cylinders are leaking. More of a 964 thing. Not so much with the 930 case.

Oil return tubes could drip down on top?

If you do have to remove your exhaust get Maap gas instead of propane and heat the nuts up as red as you can get them. Bruce Anderson says cherry red but don't know if maap gas can do that. A nice orange at least. :-)

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by T77911S

check where the oil lines attach to the cam towers.

+1 - you can probably just tighten those up if seeping.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by bcoats

will do thanks T77911S. . .I have a bra from my 930 if you want it by the way I don't need it and found it in my garage last night

thats funny you mentioned that.
the other day i was thinking about the red 72 karman ghia i had back in high school/military back in the late 80's. i had a bra on that car and was thinking how 80's that look was and that you dont see them anymore.
i need something to protect th front from chips but i was thinking about the clear stuff that goes on. my brother has it on his and does a good job of protecting.

oh, i also had a 77 280z with the black loovers on the back. wish i still had both of those cars.

i dont know if i would use it or not. i will have to look at some to see how they look. thanks, i willl let you know.

[tomdeg]

:/
'77 280Z... I had one of those too....I loved that car!