cure for oil on manifold

[William F.]

This may be old news to many but thought I'd share in case it might help someone. After trying several thread sealers on the central intake to heads bolts which are infamous for leaking oil onto SB intake manifolds, used Ultra Black gasket maker on recommendation of long time Corvette buddy. First cleaned bolt with lacquer thinner; cleaned hole best I could with piece of cloth soaked in brake cleaner wrapped around a piece of wire- a gun cleaning brush or small drill bit wrapped with cloth might have worked better yet. Put Ultra Black on bolt threads and up to bolt head. Tightened and let it cure a day. Have driven about 20 miles and been several days since treatment; so far, no more oil on manifold.

[Joe L.]

Re: cure for oil on manifold

This may be old news to many but thought I'd share in case it might help someone. After trying several thread sealers on the central intake to heads bolts which are infamous for leaking oil onto SB intake manifolds, used Ultra Black gasket maker on recommendation of long time Corvette buddy. First cleaned bolt with lacquer thinner; cleaned hole best I could with piece of cloth soaked in brake cleaner wrapped around a piece of wire- a gun cleaning brush or small drill bit wrapped with cloth might have worked better yet. Put Ultra Black on bolt threads and up to bolt head. Tightened and let it cure a day. Have driven about 20 miles and been several days since treatment; so far, no more oil on manifold.

William------

The cure you describe is virtually identical to the one I have long-recommended to cure the oil-on-the-intake syndrome you describe. Ultra Black will work well as you have found. However, I usually use Ultra Copper. Ultra Black is actually a more oil-resistant sealer. However, Ultra Copper has good oil resistance and higher temperature resistance. Some of the offending through bolt holes are in the vicinity of the exhaust cross-over. Temperatures here are consequently very high. So, I prefer the extra heat resistance of the Ultra Copper.

By the way, your careful cleaning of the bolt and bolt hole tapping is, as I have described in previous posts, critical to the success of stopping the oil seepage.