need help finding a oil leak

[nismo300zx1990]

Ok I'm trying to locate an oil leak. Most of the oil is driping off the starter and pools up on the right side of the car. It also leaks more with the higher the motor revs. I also notices that the back of my vlave cover where the cam sensor is. Could that be leaking that much to leave a pool on the ground?

[nismo300zx1990]

Oh yeah my car also got really hot two times due to a bad electrical fan

[nismo300zx1990]

Ok i found my leak i think. I was looking from the top of my motor by the firewall and noticed that i was dripping off where the right side head is. Looks to me like a big threaded plug. Can anyone confirm that oil can leak from that? And if so how would i fix this?

[t.mcginley.jr]

Oil can be leaking from the valve cover itself, the VTC solenoid in back of the intake cam, the halfmoon gasket on the back of the exhaust cam, or from any of the threaded plugs like you mentioned. Oil leaking out of the valve cover, VTC solenoid, or halfmoon gasket is not uncommon. Over time I supposed oil could leak out of those threaded plugs, not really sure what tool you need to get them out. If you could somehow get them out you would just need to put some RTV on the threads and put it back in. If you can, wipe away the oil from the back of the head and then have someone rev the engine and see where the oil comes out.

[nismo300zx1990]

I am sure its leaking from the right side valve solenoid. I see some oil coming out there but it doesnt seem to be a lot. It it is leaking there would that acount for a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of oil. It leak bad when i rev the motor? Then when i shut the car off and go look it weeps at the valve cover spot. But it also seems to drain where that head plug is. I am almost wondering if when i over heated my car twice do to a bad thermostatic switch and which i fixed that the over heated it may have expanded that plug and broke the seal. What do u think. I have to pull the plenum anyway but dont really wànt to pull the head off do to time belt is a b**** with one person

[t.mcginley.jr]

If its leaking out from around the VTC solenoid, it could be dripping down on the head plug and making it look like its coming out of there too. The solenoid is circular and held in with 2 bolts. From the factory they are just sealed with RTV. If you're pulling the plenum already then taking off the valve cover and VTC solenoid is not a big deal. There's no need to remove the head. With the plenum off, you might as well reseal all 4 valve covers, RTV both VTC solenoids, and replace the exhaust halfmoon gaskets while your there.

[nismo300zx1990]

I am worried that i may have warped the right side head. It is making a ticking sound now. It hasnt gotten louder and i havent let the oil get to low i check it daily. The odd thing is i only really hear the ticking or faint knocking when i put it in to gear and have a load on the motot. I dont think its a main bearing they are new. Maybe a exhaust leak by the heads? Whats the easiest way to know if my head is warped? I have bigger cams in it too. Do you know if the knocking is normal with bigger cams?

[t.mcginley.jr]

Ticking/tapping and knocking are different sounds. Ticking is the spring inside the lifters getting stuck, so instead of cushioning it drops and makes that noise. Some have said they cleared this up by running that seafoam stuff in the oil for ~100 miles and then changing it out for fresh synthetic oil. Ticking shouldn't happen just because you have bigger cams, usually it happens because the lifters just get old and need to be cleaned. Knocking is much more pronounced and is alot harder to fix. It will make a very noticeable thud/clunk every time the crank rotates.

For the head, you can do a leak-down test to see if its warped. You could also try a compression test which is easier, but a warped head could still have good compression.

[nismo300zx1990]

Well when i am driving the car i hear a quite knocking sound and only when its in drive and i am applying gas. But when i put the car in park and i open the hood i dont hear a knocking just ticking. That is the strange thing. I had my head recondition when i got new cam. Z1 motor sports did the head work. When i first put the engine together there was some knocking from the heads then after the oil pressure got to the lifter it stopped. Now after my car overheated i now only hear a quite knowing when i accelerate. Then again when i park it ans listen with it runing i can hear the knocking. I am wondering it i warped the head and my exhaust i making the noise out of my head.

[nismo300zx1990]

Ok im thinking i either warped my head or blew a head gasket. Im loosing water and im also getting a kinda knock sound but more like a exhasts leak because i get the knock sound when i have a load on the motot. Any thoughts would be appreciated thank you