header leak

[hotrod24]

i was moving my truck today and i seen some oil coming out of the left
 header where the exhaust bolts up what could be wrong i have open headers

[VileZambonie]

Is your valve cover gasket leaking?

[TexasRed]

I was pulling bolts out of the exhaust manifold (drivers side) of a 1974 monte carlo in the junkyard some months ago and one was pretty oily, there may have been more like that but I got frustrated and didn't get the manifolds. It was the driver's side. I wouldn't think that the exhaust bolts pass through an oil passage. . . .

[Dragon]

I was pulling bolts out of the exhaust manifold (drivers side) of a 1974 monte carlo in the junkyard some months ago and one was pretty oily, there may have been more like that but I got frustrated and didn't get the manifolds. It was the driver's side. I wouldn't think that the exhaust bolts pass through an oil passage. . . .

That Poor thing had to have been driven into the ground, for it to blow a large amount of oil through the exhaust.....

Dusty, I with Vile on this, check your Valve Cover Gaskets.....  If you don't know how old they are, or weither they should be replaced, I would go ahead and do so.....   You can get Cork Gaskets for $5-12. and Rubber for about $12-20 depending on where you go....  Unless your Valve Covers are warped around the Flange/Bolting surface, any good gasket will seal fine....  Rubber is a bit better, as it doesn't collapse as bad Cork will with age, but it will dryout if you allow it to....   A Tip for you, an Gasket that you use, be sure to lightly coat both sides with Clean Engine Oil, that way you can reuse them each time you remove the cover till a replacement is needed(Be sure to recoat the gaskets each time you remove the covers, and Corks will last a few removals, were as Rubbers can last a few years when maintained)....

[hotrod24]

well i got new rubber Gaskets and new valve covers i dont think it is coming from the valve covers i put my finger up in to the header and there was the oil

[VileZambonie]

Well if it's coming out of the exhaust port then you're obviously consuming oil...

[hotrod24]

what can i do i just put in the 3rd set of spark plugs and it smokes out of the exhaust like crazy

Well if it's coming out of the exhaust port then you're obviously consuming oil...

[TexasRed]

when is the last time you changed the oil and is the carb running rich? You probably have to at least get new rings.

[hotrod24]

i think the oil got changed last year when i got it and the carb runs good

when is the last time you changed the oil and is the carb running rich? You probably have to at least get new rings.

[eventhorizon66]

Maybe the valve seals.  Not hard to change out, just tedious.

[TexasRed]

That much oil is probably the rings. . . Change the oil, although I think the engine may be worn out. . . Don't get synthetic, just a decent regular.