Hi all, just bought a 1971 Buick Skylark Convertible with a 350 4 barrel. The engine is original and in decent shape. I drove it back from the owners place yesterday (about 150 miles) and when I got home I noticed the engine smoking a bit. Upon further investigation there seems to be a small oil leak with oil even in the air cleaner. I'm new to this so need a little help. I'm guessing intake gasket?
Replace the PVC. The hose from the air cleaner to valve cover will have oil in it so if the PVC is plugged or not working properly oil will backtrack into the air cleaner from the valve covers. Should also be a small clip on filter in the air cleaner, would be a good idea to replace that too. I would check or replace most of the vacuum hoses if they look old, you could have a leak in the PVC hose. The valve guides could be leaking a little oil too. See how the plugs look. Not likely the intake gasket is leaking if it has the original intake. You could always do a compression test or a leak down test to see if the rings are leaking some.
Got it! Will check that out. Some of the oil is around the valve covers and dripping down the manifold. Same hose that could be causing that?
Could be you can change the gaskets on that I used the cork style gaskets and only glued them to the valve covers, makes it easy to get them off if you have to. Do not over tighten as this squeezes out the gasket at the bolt hole and will leak again. There are some long flat washers made for this and the Buick does have them on there from factory. I used 3M weather strip adhesive to glue to the valve cover and they are still stuck on there 20 years later. Mine are just now starting to leak a little.
Thanks guys! So I finally had a chance to look, and it appears there isn't even a PCV valve connected to the valve cover! The hose was just stuck in there loosely! I ordered a PCV valve but just looking for guidance on how to install it? Does it just need a clamp on either end?
Pcv isn't in valve cover it's in rear of intake behind carb. The tube on valve cover is a breather for the pcv that's if it's a Buick 350 still in there
Got it. And how does the hose/tube connect to the Valve cover? Right now it's just sitting in the hole. Maybe if I take a picture it will help. Cheers!
The valve cover grommet accepts a metal sleeve. One side of the sleeve accepts the hose with a pinch clamp, the other side of the sleeve pushes into the grommet. Best picture I have.
That's a great picture thanks! So just to confirm, the PCV valve is not part of that assembly? or does it sit on one end of the hose?
That is correct, the PCV valve goes into the REAR of the intake manifold. It inserts into a grommet there. The hose that connects to the PCV valve goes to the front base of the Quadrajet carburetor. That hose I pictured simply connects the valve cover to the breather filter inside the air cleaner. The engine sucks air out of the crankcase through the PCV valve, fresh air is admitted to the crankcase through that hose and small filter in the air cleaner.
Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry for all the newb questions. So I finally had a chance to tinker today. Upon further inspection and smell test, it is not oil in the air filter, it is actually fuel. I pulled the filter out and it was quite penetrated with fuel. What could be causing this? Also, found a coolant leak off of a seal that comes off just to the side/below the water pump. I've attached a picture for reference. What is that part called?
That isn't that unusual. Fuel evaporates in the air cleaner. Was there fuel actually pooled in the air cleaner housing?
