LEAKS! Head gasket?

[bluegrasscharger]

The side of my block is wet with oil.  It's not coming from my valve covers.  It looks like it's coming from the head gasket near the center of the exhaust manifold.  But there is no water leaks or water in my oil.  Is it possible for a head gasket to leak only oil?  Can I just re-torque the heads?  I have a stock 318.  Thanks!

[A383Wing]

oil goes up through the head gasket to the rocker shafts to lube the valve train......and no, you cannot just re-torque the heads...obviously something is warped

[bluegrasscharger]

So it's possible to be only leaking oil?  Seems like water should be leaking too.  You think the heads are warped?  Why can't I try tightening the head bolts?

[Cooter]

The stock head bolts have a "Stretch" value that once they are torqued, that's all you get for maximum clamping force. I'd be more suspect of VALVE COVER gaskets leaking oil than a head gasket..Especially, on a BB Mopar.

[greenpigs]

I would think it is a leaky valve cover gasket also as not water in the oil about eliminates a blown head gasket.

[A383Wing]

The stock head bolts have a "Stretch" value that once they are torqued, that's all you get for maximum clamping force. I'd be more suspect of VALVE COVER gaskets leaking oil than a head gasket..Especially, on a BB Mopar.

I guess I mis-read his first post....thought he said he had a 318

maybe a crack?? guess it could be valve cover....

[resq302]

could it be that oil is getting blown out through the cylinder and out the exhuast causing oil to collect or form at the mating of the exhaust manifold to the cyl head?

[Cooter]

The stock head bolts have a "Stretch" value that once they are torqued, that's all you get for maximum clamping force. I'd be more suspect of VALVE COVER gaskets leaking oil than a head gasket..Especially, on a BB Mopar.

I guess I mis-read his first post....thought he said he had a 318

maybe a crack?? guess it could be valve cover....

He does, I just used the last sentence to clarify..Small Blocks by the time the oil is leaking OUT from the head gasket, you've already seen the evidence of the blown head gasket. I even had one blow from too much oil poressure and pumped one cyilinder full off oil..Watch those high pressure oil pumps on Small blocks with the crappy Fel pro "Blue" head gaskets. I prefer "Cometic/Kometic"...

[440]

If it were me I'd thoroughly clean the area and drive around for a couple of days then inspect to see where the oil is coming from....

On a side note I had a similar problem on a ford and I couldn't figure out where the oil was coming from. Turned out to be at moderate RPM oil was coming out of the fuel pump bleed hole and the fan was spraying it on the engine block giving the appearance of the same thing, a leaking head gasket.... I thought it strange how everything above the deck was dry and everything below was wet.

[bluegrasscharger]

So I have been keeping an eye on this for a few weeks.  Recently it got worse.  I mean the oil was really flowing down the side of the block.  I finally got under the car while it was running and found oil bubbling out of the head gasket.  It's weird because the other side is leaking from the same spot only less.  Still no water in my oil.  Just seems odd that both sides would be leaking and even more odd that is only leaking oil.  I am really dreading replacing the head gaskets.  What a pain in the butt!

[bluegrasscharger]

Any suggestions on a head gasket brand?  The local Advance Auto has Mr.Gasket (flexible graphite core) and a Felpro gasket.  Which one should I go with?

[A383Wing]

I use Felpro on any engines that I have had to replace gaskets

[4aThrill]

there is an dye that you can put in the oil that will show you were the leak is but you have to use a black light and wipe down the area before use.