I have a 01 MC SS with a 3.8. I know of course my rear valve cover is leaking and I'm thinking it's just dripping down on to the catalytic converter. Look under today and saw it smoking. Common for this car for the oil to leak down that far?

 

Leaking directly onto the cat, no. Leaking onto the rear manifold and dripping down / blowing along once it gets low enough - sure it's possible. Should be able to see either oil drip tracks or oil mist over everything down low.

I'd suggest just fixing the oil leak regardless.

 

You are correct. I most surely need to have that done. I was thinking the catalytic converter might be stopped up because I feel hardly any pressure coming out of the exhaust pipes.

 

 

Called a local shop today, and he said with parts labor and tax to replace the valve cover gaskets would be 300 bucks. Not too bad

 

Not to tough of a job, could save yourself about $260 doing it yourself .

 

Yea, these things are much more intimidating until you start to dive in yourself, then you see how simple these things are..

Id sooner shoot myself in the foot rather than pay someone to work on my car..

However, people overlook this issue and dont realize its a serious fire hazard..

Call a dealership tho, they might still have to do it under warranty..

 

For sure! It's a cheap job.

 

My cat in my 02 SS plugged up so bad the exhaust was blowing through the stove pipe right behind the throttle body and it burned a hole though the plastic intake. I was lucky too as it was right under the fuel line for the rear fuel rail.


Valve cover gaskets aren't hard to do if you have some basic tools and a couple of hours.

 

I'm on vacation next month so I think I will give it a try. Thanks guys