Yeah, it's a mess...where to start?
 

Hi Pelicans:

'83SC, 158K on the clock.

I'd like to get serious about the oil leaks on my car. I've done a quick check around the oil temp and pressure senders, and snugged up the nut to the pressure sender, cleaned up a bit of the oil that was laying above them, and I don't see any oil there after going out for a spirited drive...also, I am told the top side of the motor is bone dry, Charlie Murphy at Intersport has been all over my CIS and air leaks.

Below is another story. I'd like to do what I can to even get to a 80-90% solution. You are looking at the mess dripping onto the passenger side heat exchanger, seems like mostly under cylinder #4. Can I safely snug up the exposed bolts a bit and see what that brings? I've done a little clean up, so I can go for another drive and see what the petroleum fairy brings. Any suggestions/advice that come out of the pics are welcome, and I'm up for more suggestions as well...

Thanks, Pelicans!


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For cyl 4 i would check chain o ring and roker shaft for leak but you have to clean this engine before.

+1 Chain cover seal rings for the cam shafts. Mine are leaking in driver front and passenger rear. Oh the joy.

Are you attempting at least the rear fix on your own? Probably the front is inaccessible without removing the engine?

In my experience "snugging up" bolts usually isn't helping. A working gasket between two hard metal surfaces is under slight compression at all times and seals well. Once it ages and hardens it won't be able to follow the small dimensional changes as the metals expand and contract with heat cycles.

More tightening will only further compress the gasket and damage it more. Further, you might deform the metal (e.g. valve cover) and do more damage. I'd do what others suggest and de-grease and clean the engine and then try to pin-point the source of the leak.

Cheers,
Ingo