Valve seals common on LS3? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

shibbs · 06-13-2016, 12:36 PM

Are valve seals fairly common to go on these cars?
I ask because when I coast to a stop, I smell raw oil. I've verified zero leaks, and it's not because I'm catless. It smells like fresh oil.
Is there any way to test the seals to know for sure?

If they are shot already, I'm a bit disappointed, but not a huge deal, as I'll be doing a cam hopefully this winter and I'd be able to replace them then.

1KillerSS · 06-13-2016, 01:44 PM

At 59k miles, when I pulled the heads off of mine, I had one that was bad. Easy enough to replace, but don't know if I would consider that common. Sorry I cant be of more help.

Bo White · 06-13-2016, 02:01 PM

95K on mine. Still good when I pulled them.

JusticePete · 06-13-2016, 02:27 PM

Are you engine braking when you are coasting?

xc_SS/RS · 06-13-2016, 02:31 PM

I replaced mine when I replaced my valve springs and I think only one or two looked kinda bad. No leaks here though, just replaced them since I was in there already. Even the seal where the valve spring broke looked good.

Have you noticed a drop in the oil level on the dip stick?

BubbaSS · 06-13-2016, 03:05 PM

Yeah definitely replace them and every gasket,seal and cover you come across while doing cam. I had a few ugly looking valve seals at 35k miles, but I blame the S.Florida heat and humidity

shibbs · 06-13-2016, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JusticePete

Are you engine braking when you are coasting?

Yes. Not excessively so, but like 2500 and down I usually do.

shibbs · 06-13-2016, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xc_SS/RS

Have you noticed a drop in the oil level on the dip stick?

That's what's surprising to me. Not much at all showing up in my catch can, and very little if any consumption over 2000 miles.

xc_SS/RS · 06-13-2016, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

That's what's surprising to me. Not much at all showing up in my catch can, and very little if any consumption over 2000 miles.

Weird. Is it consistent with every single time you engine brake or is it only from time to time you smell it?

shibbs · 06-13-2016, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xc_SS/RS

Weird. Is it consistent with every single time you engine brake or is it only from time to time you smell it?

I'd say a good 60% of the time. I'd imagine the wind direction has some say in it.
Engine is strong besides the oil smell. Logged with Torque, nothing out of the ordinary.

insanity213 · 06-13-2016, 06:57 PM

When I had the dealer do my oil pan gasket and oil cooler they dumped oil everywhere under the car. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned some more but the car stank like oil for almost 3 months. Is it possible some oil got spilled somewhere during an oil change or repair?

JusticePete · 06-13-2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shibbs

That's what's surprising to me. Not much at all showing up in my catch can, and very little if any consumption over 2000 miles.

My guess is it is the nature of your cam, the valves being open a bit more.

PapaKlutch · 06-13-2016, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JusticePete

My guess is it is the nature of your cam, the valves being open a bit more.

Says in post #1 he wants to do a cam soon; looks like he is currently on the stock cam.

JusticePete · 06-13-2016, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveZ28

Says in post #1 he wants to do a cam soon; looks like he is currently on the stock cam.

You are correct.

06-13-2016, 01:44 PM	#2
1KillerSS Too much is never enough! Drives: AGP TT SS [COTW] 4/20/15 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 4,149 View My Garage	At 59k miles, when I pulled the heads off of mine, I had one that was bad. Easy enough to replace, but don't know if I would consider that common. Sorry I cant be of more help. __________________ AGP TT kit, 54/57 Forged rotating assembly, Custom grind cam... Dual nozzle meth, ID850's, Livernois dual fuel pumps, ECS BAP, 25% UDP, 3 inch Magnaflow catback with X pipe, Mantic 9000 clutch, DSS 1000hp axles, DSS aluminum driveshaft, ZL1 rear end, solid subframe bushings, HE differential offset bushings, BMR Trailing arm, BMR toe rods, Lingenfelter LNC-2000,SJM Line Lock. 747 whp 714wtq *Build thread* http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...55#post8107855

06-13-2016, 02:01 PM	#3
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,019	95K on mine. Still good when I pulled them. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

06-13-2016, 02:31 PM	#5
xc_SS/RS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: somewhere in MD Posts: 4,883	I replaced mine when I replaced my valve springs and I think only one or two looked kinda bad. No leaks here though, just replaced them since I was in there already. Even the seal where the valve spring broke looked good. Have you noticed a drop in the oil level on the dip stick? __________________ 2010 2SS/RS Z/28 intake, NW, FAST 102, speed engineering LT's, some exhaust, ATI -10% pulley, GM flex fuel injectors, DSX flex fuel sensor, MGW shifter, HP Tuners, some suspension work, stickers and a little weight loss. 12.63 @113.53

06-13-2016, 03:05 PM	#6
BubbaSS WHAT RED LIGHT?! Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,115	Yeah definitely replace them and every gasket,seal and cover you come across while doing cam. I had a few ugly looking valve seals at 35k miles, but I blame the S.Florida heat and humidity __________________ 2011 2SS/RS M6 BLACK - VARARAM NO TUNE INTAKE, MODDED AND PORTED TB, PORTED INTAKE MANIFOLD, VITESSE THROTTLE CONTROLLER, DOUG THORLEY LT'S, CATLESS, X-PIPE, 25" STAINLESS WORKS RETRO CHAMBERED MUFFLERS, CUSTOM 2.5" MANDREL BENT EXHAUST, RICHMOND 4.10 GEARS, CUSTOM CAM (231/242 @ 114LSA), MUSTANG DYNO TUNED BY TORQ, 20% CERAMIC TINTS, EIBACH PROKIT SPRINGS 1" DROP, HAWK PERFORMANCE CERAMIC BRAKES, NITTO INVO TIRES, HYDROCARBON TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BEZELS BY EMBLEMPROS, METRA DASH KIT, JVC KW-AV71BT, PHOENIX GOLD iAMP GM1, PASSPORT QI45 - 450 RWHP 415 RWTQ

06-13-2016, 02:27 PM	#4
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	Are you engine braking when you are coasting?

06-13-2016, 06:57 PM	#11
insanity213 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 114 View My Garage	When I had the dealer do my oil pan gasket and oil cooler they dumped oil everywhere under the car. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned some more but the car stank like oil for almost 3 months. Is it possible some oil got spilled somewhere during an oil change or repair?