Theory about oil smell from vents after oil change - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ron123 · 10-30-2015, 08:35 AM

Read some posts by others in the forum about an oil smell coming through the air vents right after an oil change. The reports all say the owner looks everywhere but sees no sign of oil drips.

After doing my first two oil changes on my Camaro SS there was no oil smell from the air vents. However, on the 3rd oil change, last weekend I did notice an oil smell for a couple of days. (1st change at 1,000 miles, 2nd 4,000 miles, and 3rd 9,000 miles on odometer ... I over maintain). So now I am trying to figure out what I did differently in the oil change procedure this last time.

The only difference is that this last time I made a big funnel out of a gallon water jug that had a built in handle. And since my son was helping me by holding the funnel in place I poured the oil in at a VERY high rate in to the filler neck from 5 quart jug. And then I transferred 3 more quarts in to the empty 5 quart jug and dumped the last 3 quarts in. Reason I did a fast fill was I knew my son would be bored just standing there holding the funnel if I slowly filled like I usually do.

I'm thinking maybe the oil backed up inside the valve cover and entered the port for the PCV plastic pipe that runs on the dry side of the system over toward the air intake tube. I really did dump alot in at a high rate and that PVC port is real close to the oil filler neck. Some pics:

Black PVC pipe is shown here on left side of pic at front where it comes out from under the engine cover.

.

Here is a picture I borrowed from internet showing LS3 type of valve cover with PVC port right-angle fitting adjacent to the oil filler opening.

Here is the factory supplied oil separator for 1LE that is used when the car is tracked to prevent oil ingestion overflow in to the PVC tube when cornering.
Note when this device is in use the PVC port fitting in the valve cover is blocked off and instead the port is relocated up much higher on to the plastic oil separator bowl.

I'm thinking I caused my PVC system to backup in a similar fasion by dumping in oil too fast on the refill from oil change. I noticed the oil smell for a few days after this oil change mostly when I was backing the car down the driveway ... I think the oil fumes flowed out the exhaust pipe and then as I backed up they were pulled through ventilation system in to the car.

Guess I can try to disconnect the PVC lines, etc. and see if any oil appears. Or wait until my next oil change, dump the oil in fast again, then look.
Think I am on the right track?
Ron

christianchevell · 10-30-2015, 08:44 AM

Having dumped Gallons of oil into the engine instead of quarts you will be smelling the oil forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I was not aware morel made oil also or units of measurement....lol And holding that 5 gallon jug up must be a chore ...LOL I would clean up your post a little...lol good luck and yes it does sound like you filled it a little too fast....

ron123 · 10-30-2015, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianchevell

Having dumped Gallons of oil I would clean up your post a little...lol good luck and yes it does sound like you filled it a little too fast....

I was editing gallons to quarts in my original post as you were reading it and did not hit save fast enough (sorry, the funnel was made from gallon jug), haha --- original post is all corrected now.
Do others that noticed the oil smell through vents right after an oil change also pour in oil real fast? Think my theory/scenario described above is a likely cause?
Ron

Red Jewel RS · 10-30-2015, 10:57 PM

Ron, you may be on to something. I just changed oil and I remember pouring the oil in pretty fast. I thought the other day when I was backing into the garage, that everytime I do that I smell oil, now that makes sense. Next time I change oil I'm pour it in slow and see what happens. Thanks

erickangulo · 10-31-2015, 12:04 AM

Same here. Thanks guys!

PalmerGA · 10-31-2015, 05:04 AM

Yeah... sounds like there was some sort of overflow somewhere. This is a good lesson for your young son (and you too, apparently): Always take your time and do things right the first time.

This fast-paced world we live in still often requires that we slow down a little... the video games can wait an extra 2 minutes.

sdynak · 10-31-2015, 07:17 AM

Maybe this is why some folks find the catch cans so useful

sehovarter · 01-12-2017, 03:32 PM

All - having had the same issue after my first 2 oil changes, I searched this forum and got feedback that said basically, 8 quarts is too much and for some reason, when you put in the full 8 you get the small, but if you put in 7 1/2 - no smell. My plan is to try that my next change - while keeping an eye on the dipstick to be sure the 7 1/2 quarts stays within the "acceptable level" range! FYI - I found this somewhere on the forum - can't recall where. Good Luck!!

JerTM · 01-12-2017, 04:42 PM

Remove your engine cover, it's more likely that it came out of the fill hole and ran down the valve cover onto the exhaust manifold. I see the new oil change kids here do that all the time. The interface between your home made funnel and the fill hole are less than perfect. When you pour oil into it too fast it backs up in the head/valve cover and will leak out of the fill hole. There are quite a few passages designed into the bottom of the valve cover/pcv system to collect oil before it makes out the tube you see on the valve cover. Any oil that gets into the pcv system will drain back into the engine after a minute or two.

ron123 · 01-13-2017, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerTM

Remove your engine cover, it's more likely that it came out of the fill hole and ran down the valve cover onto the exhaust manifold. I see the new oil change kids here do that all the time. The interface between your home made funnel and the fill hole are less than perfect. When you pour oil into it too fast it backs up in the head/valve cover and will leak out of the fill hole. There are quite a few passages designed into the bottom of the valve cover/pcv system to collect oil before it makes out the tube you see on the valve cover. Any oil that gets into the pcv system will drain back into the engine after a minute or two.

That did not happen in my case. The engine cover was off at re-fill time. None of the oil spilled out on to the engine/manifold. There were two of us (mentioned in first post) watching during and after the oil pour. It did go in at a very high rate with big funnel I made.
Ron

deweyg63 · 01-13-2017, 12:52 PM

I'm in the oil on the manifold or header camp. It doesn't take much. We need a chevy engineer to answer the pouring oil to fast question

nosmr2 · 01-14-2017, 01:42 AM

Hmmm, very interesting.

When I bought mine used Chevy did an oil change and it had that smell. It lasted for a couple hundred miles then wore off.
I changed the oil and no smell.
Took it to Chevy to fix the window and change and got that damn smell again.

lawdog · 01-14-2017, 09:09 AM

Yes I have noticed this as well and always thought to look and cant see any spill anywhere. Drives me crazy ! I did not think about too much oil being the problem, you may be on to something there.

Zezima · 01-14-2017, 02:39 PM

how can you admit to "over maintaining" and still not have an idea of what the problem is

10-30-2015, 08:35 AM	#1
ron123 Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,053	Theory about oil smell from vents after oil change Read some posts by others in the forum about an oil smell coming through the air vents right after an oil change. The reports all say the owner looks everywhere but sees no sign of oil drips. After doing my first two oil changes on my Camaro SS there was no oil smell from the air vents. However, on the 3rd oil change, last weekend I did notice an oil smell for a couple of days. (1st change at 1,000 miles, 2nd 4,000 miles, and 3rd 9,000 miles on odometer ... I over maintain). So now I am trying to figure out what I did differently in the oil change procedure this last time. The only difference is that this last time I made a big funnel out of a gallon water jug that had a built in handle. And since my son was helping me by holding the funnel in place I poured the oil in at a VERY high rate in to the filler neck from 5 quart jug. And then I transferred 3 more quarts in to the empty 5 quart jug and dumped the last 3 quarts in. Reason I did a fast fill was I knew my son would be bored just standing there holding the funnel if I slowly filled like I usually do. I'm thinking maybe the oil backed up inside the valve cover and entered the port for the PCV plastic pipe that runs on the dry side of the system over toward the air intake tube. I really did dump alot in at a high rate and that PVC port is real close to the oil filler neck. Some pics: Black PVC pipe is shown here on left side of pic at front where it comes out from under the engine cover. . Here is a picture I borrowed from internet showing LS3 type of valve cover with PVC port right-angle fitting adjacent to the oil filler opening. Here is the factory supplied oil separator for 1LE that is used when the car is tracked to prevent oil ingestion overflow in to the PVC tube when cornering. Note when this device is in use the PVC port fitting in the valve cover is blocked off and instead the port is relocated up much higher on to the plastic oil separator bowl. I'm thinking I caused my PVC system to backup in a similar fasion by dumping in oil too fast on the refill from oil change. I noticed the oil smell for a few days after this oil change mostly when I was backing the car down the driveway ... I think the oil fumes flowed out the exhaust pipe and then as I backed up they were pulled through ventilation system in to the car. Guess I can try to disconnect the PVC lines, etc. and see if any oil appears. Or wait until my next oil change, dump the oil in fast again, then look. Think I am on the right track? Ron Last edited by ron123; 01-13-2017 at 07:50 AM.

10-30-2015, 08:44 AM	#2
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	Having dumped Gallons of oil into the engine instead of quarts you will be smelling the oil forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I was not aware morel made oil also or units of measurement....lol And holding that 5 gallon jug up must be a chore ...LOL I would clean up your post a little...lol good luck and yes it does sound like you filled it a little too fast.... __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc

10-31-2015, 05:04 AM	#6
PalmerGA Drives: 2013 SIM 1SS/RS L99 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southwest GA Posts: 8,754 View My Garage	Yeah... sounds like there was some sort of overflow somewhere. This is a good lesson for your young son (and you too, apparently): Always take your time and do things right the first time. This fast-paced world we live in still often requires that we slow down a little... the video games can wait an extra 2 minutes. __________________ 2013 1SS/RS Coupe L99, Stainless Power Works LT Headers, SCT X4 Custom Tune from RDP, CAI Inc. Air Intake w/ Apex Scoop, VMAX CNC Ported Throttle Body, Solo Axle-Back Exhaust w/ J-pipes, Apex Catch Can, Husky Splash Guards, Heritage Grille, 3D Carbon Rear Spoiler, Oracle Chrome Turn Signal Bulbs, GM Reverse Light Trim Billets, Gorilla Black Locking Lugs, Emblem Pros Retro SS Badges/Custom Retro SS Kickplates/Under-hood Bowtie, 35% window Tint, Nitto Motivo Tires (6-8-18)

10-31-2015, 07:17 AM	#7
sdynak Drives: 2010 1SS Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Bayville, NJ Posts: 936	Maybe this is why some folks find the catch cans so useful __________________ 2010 1SS LS3, Black, 235/250, .621/.615, 114 + 4, Kooks Stepped Headers, 3.91's, Bo White PTB, Flowmaster Mufflers, Cold Air Industries CAI, Apex Scoop & Windshield Washer Relocate, SLP Wheels, Skip Shift Eliminate, Barton Flat Stick, OEM HID/Halos, Dyno Tuned by ECS

01-12-2017, 03:32 PM	#8
sehovarter HomezSS Drives: 2014 SS/RS Camaro, 2011 Silverado Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 96	All - having had the same issue after my first 2 oil changes, I searched this forum and got feedback that said basically, 8 quarts is too much and for some reason, when you put in the full 8 you get the small, but if you put in 7 1/2 - no smell. My plan is to try that my next change - while keeping an eye on the dipstick to be sure the 7 1/2 quarts stays within the "acceptable level" range! FYI - I found this somewhere on the forum - can't recall where. Good Luck!! __________________ HOMEZSS 2014 SS/RS, FR Style 41's, 20x10x4, Borla CatBack with Touring Mufflers w/Magnaflow Glasspacks, Cold Air Inductions Intake, Diablo 91 Octane Tune, Firm Shift, AFM off, BMR cradle inserts, trailing arms and toe links, 1LE/ZL1 Rear Sway Bar, Jannetty Custom Tune for mods noted above (noticable change to how the car drives!!), JL Audio XD700/5 amp and 10 inch Sub, Focal PS 165K's, special wiring kit and amp board, and lots of dynamat (Amazon version) - Sounds GREAT, Runs Even Better!

10-30-2015, 10:57 PM	#4
Red Jewel RS Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Billings, MT Posts: 891 View My Garage	Ron, you may be on to something. I just changed oil and I remember pouring the oil in pretty fast. I thought the other day when I was backing into the garage, that everytime I do that I smell oil, now that makes sense. Next time I change oil I'm pour it in slow and see what happens. Thanks

10-31-2015, 12:04 AM	#5
erickangulo Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Valley Center Posts: 186	Same here. Thanks guys!

01-12-2017, 04:42 PM	#9
JerTM Drives: 2011 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Utah Posts: 1,940	Remove your engine cover, it's more likely that it came out of the fill hole and ran down the valve cover onto the exhaust manifold. I see the new oil change kids here do that all the time. The interface between your home made funnel and the fill hole are less than perfect. When you pour oil into it too fast it backs up in the head/valve cover and will leak out of the fill hole. There are quite a few passages designed into the bottom of the valve cover/pcv system to collect oil before it makes out the tube you see on the valve cover. Any oil that gets into the pcv system will drain back into the engine after a minute or two.

01-13-2017, 12:52 PM	#11
deweyg63 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS 500+ h.p. monster Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Charleston IL Posts: 272	I'm in the oil on the manifold or header camp. It doesn't take much. We need a chevy engineer to answer the pouring oil to fast question

01-14-2017, 01:42 AM	#12
nosmr2 Drives: 2011 L99 SS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 500	Hmmm, very interesting. When I bought mine used Chevy did an oil change and it had that smell. It lasted for a couple hundred miles then wore off. I changed the oil and no smell. Took it to Chevy to fix the window and change and got that damn smell again. __________________ 2011 SS ADM LSA Conversion

01-14-2017, 09:09 AM	#13
lawdog Drives: 2010 SSII w RS & Sunroof Yellow Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: West Suburbs of Chicago, in a Courthouse Somewhere Posts: 953	Yes I have noticed this as well and always thought to look and cant see any spill anywhere. Drives me crazy ! I did not think about too much oil being the problem, you may be on to something there.

01-14-2017, 02:39 PM	#14
Zezima Drives: 2014 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 347 View My Garage	how can you admit to "over maintaining" and still not have an idea of what the problem is