Oil puddling up on top of intake

[WJACKSON11X]

I noticed this the other day while cleaning up the engine. Not sure how long its been there or where it's coming from. Could it be valve cover gaskets leaking? This is on my '91 Suburban with the original motor and 180,000 miles.



closer view

 

[sweetk30]

remove the 2 intake bolts in this area . clean bolts and holes good with brake cleaner .

then coat them with pipe dope sealer and reinstall.

there a threw bolt hole in to the lifter valley area and can wick up oil and do this. if I recall correctly the first and last holes are the only blind non threw holes .

 

[ashman]

What he said.

I had this exact problem and it was indeed coming up from the bolt threads. A little thread sealer solved the problem.

 

[WJACKSON11X]

Thanks fellas! I'll give it a shot

 

[Larry]

Yep, what they said. Very common on small blocks. The TBI 5.7L I just pulled out of my 1989 Suburban was the exact same way and I had just resealed the engine less than 10K before I yanked it.