tbennett017

Its also possible that there is a very slow leak that is ending up on your exhaust somewhere. Oil smell is pretty subjective. Let us know how you do on your drive to work. That should either clear it up, or make it worse... (How's that for advice?)

hawk911

I'll look for one on the visible spots of the car; should be somewhat easy to see, right?

Rocket Rob

Yes, the wetness is very visible, depending on how clean the bottom of the engine and car is. Dirt, mud or oily dirt will make it harder to spot the source.

hawk911

was talking more about the top of the exhaust, if that's where it's leaking...

tbennett017

Sometimes its hard to spot. The engine can leak from all kinds of places. Oil can even travel a ways in a crack and come out somewhere much lower than you'd think. Finally, I've seen oil drip on the secondary muffler but travel behind the heat shielding (it has 2 layers in some spots) and then cause smoke later.... What is your exhaust configuration? Does the smell happen right at startup or later after some high-oil-pressure activity?

I'd check the cam chain covers, and there is also the oil feed plumbing that creates oil pressure for the cam chain tensioners. Hard to describe, but it looks like an aluminum tube that has 90 deg. elbows at each end. (Lots of opportunity for leaks there) All near the cam chains themselves. You'll notice that the chain tensioners are at different locations on each side (the trailing side of the chain) so its at the top on the passenger side, and the bottom on the driver's (IIRC).

Either way, its easier to find leaks on a clean engine too.

Rocket Rob

Bennett - How did the burlesque show go? Did you get any good pictures for us?

hawk911

i have a G-pipe in place, no secondary. Primary intact as is the cat.

tbennett017

I wasn't allowed to take pix, which I was bummed about. The show was fantastic. To be clear, it's authentic old-time Burlesque, which means its got elements of Vaudeville and some music acts in as well, interspersed with some women, and men (Portland is a progressive town) doing their act. This means down to Pasties etc, which is not actually required in PDX (they go all the way here in the brass-pole bars)

The acts were super, and very entertaining. One especially... a woman came out in a star-spangled dress and stripped to a portrait of Obama.. very very camp. That's where I wish I had the camera, as the dress in the lights was amazing... smoky atmosphere etc. It would have made a great set of photos, but for atmosphere, not really for the prurient aspect of it.

My wife is really into the performance/dancing aspect. The nudity is secondary, as usually you don't "show" it all during an act like that. We'll see if she continues with the idea. I will keep you posted.

hawk911

I wanna party with you Bennett

tbennett017

Come on out for a road-trip :-)

hawk911

i'd love to get up that way it's on my list. Road trip wise, it's like a 4 month drive, isn't it?

frankvan

Speaking of oil leaks and monday mornings - just got back from 2 wks vacation. Open the garage to park the trailer and my P-car had bled all over the garage floor while I was away . (a trail of oil about 2 feet long from the right front of the engine - PS seal?)

Must have really missed me while i was gone. Hoping it's just a simple fix (like everything else on this car is, right! )

tbennett017

If you're going to stop and take pix, it will be a few months.

tbennett017

Did you check the PS fluid level afterwards?

dfinnegan

Your car loves you! What better place to bleed out . . . right where you can get it fixed. No fuss. No muss. No tow.

I count you as lucky.

Now, is it oil, brake fluid or power steering fluid. Can you see where the drip (drain) occured?