First off, I'm no mechanic. My problem may humor some of you, but hey I gotta know. Ok, now to my problem. I was driving my SC2 and I heard a thud come from the engine. It sounded just like when you run over a piece of rubber or something on the road, only this definately came from under the hood. I thought a belt may have broken. Then the 'ole smell of burning oil and smoke started coming in. I pulled off, looked under the hood and saw oil every where. Luckily, I was only half a mile from the house and the car still ran fine, though the oil was in the process of draining out. So I was able to get it home. I don't really know much about these things so I'll tell you guys what I see and maybe you can tell me if it's junk or salvageable.

The engine runs fine. No skip. No knock. No noticable power loss, though I never tested it. I just limped it home.

I put a quart of oil in it, crunk it up, and noticed oil coming from under the lip of the head where the valve cover connects. It was not coming from where the valve cover sits. Maybe there is a crack in the head, but I could not find anything. This was the only place I could find a leak.

Down in the well of the first spark plug, it is full of oil. The plug is still there, tight and good. I did not notice any holes or cracks, but like I said it was full of oil and I could only feel around.

My guess is maybe the head is cracked. IDK. I don't see any obvious signs. Maybe you guys can help me. Thanks.

 

The oil in the spark plug galley is because the cam cover is leaking not the other way around, meaning it's not coming out of the spark hole into the galley. The cam cover has a seal at each plug as well as around the entire cam cover. Your other leak I have no idea because I am unable to look at your engine to locate that leak. Camcover maybe, but I can't tell from my chair.

 

Would the camcover seal breaking cause a noise and the oil to vacate immediatly? I will reseal it 2morrow and give it a shot. Thanx for your help.

 

A noise ......... who knows ... pump the oil out asap yep it can could and will if a large piece of the seal is gone.

Take it apart carefully, if the seals and gasket are gone do not buy it from JoesCrabShack&AutoParts. Get it from your nearest Saturn Dealer.

 

When I was changing the cover gasket I found the crack in the head. Too bad, it was a great car. The cost of the repair is more than the car is worth unfortunatly. Guess I'll have to sell it for parts. Thanks guys for your help.

 

Sorry your ride has bit the dust. Keep your eyes open, and you may find another one to take it's place ....

 

sorry to hear. what year?

 

Derf, it's a 1997 SC2.