Oil leak and Low Oil Pressure

[Waffles]

Two problems I thought I would put in one thread.

I dropped a new 4g36 short block with original manifolds in and I have an oil leak on the intake mani side of the block underneath which is drippin on to a hot area and burning pretty plumes of smoke out of my engine bay. Checked and it's not coming from the top, such as valve cover. I was wondering any likely spots this would be coming from before i dove in and spend a couple hours looking again.

Secondly, I have extremely low oil pressure, ie. right at the bottom line during idle, and it only reaches half way up the gauge when at highway speeds. As well I get the low oil light flickering some times, some times not, with it increasing with any power consumption (fan, defrost, wipers). This is of course at full oil, which is why I'm confused. My thoughts were a sensor problem as this is a brand new oil pump, less than 1k miles on it.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Oil pressure gauge, or bad wiring, check that first, oil check the oil cap, it tends to leak there. Once it does it can leak all over the valve cover and on the intake side of the engine as well.

 

[Waffles]

Well as I said it's not coming from the valve cover area as it's all brand new and everything is dry, it's coming from the underside. I'm just hoping I don't have to rip off my manifold...

 

[thetalonator]

could be the oil pan gasket

 

[Jimmyskrew face]

If your new short block has no balance shafts then your oil press would drop I'm not sure how much yours dropped but its a noticable drop. Also depending on who built your motor theres a plug/bolt thats goes in the back of the bottom section of the block that can be mistaken for a misc bolt hole thats looks like its nothing goes there.( Yes it can happen because it happend to me oil leak after new VC gasket, and oil pan gasket) I didnt notice this until the car was on the lift and I seen oil spitting out from the back of the block. Its around where the A/C bracket would be.