I've done some reading on the topic, and I just wanted to check-in here and see if understand the repair I have ahead of me. 1995 Camaro, 3.4 V6. Almost 173k. I have an oil leak in the back of the engine. I took off the converter cover and have oil leaking from that area, and all around the bolts for that. Some oil leaking on the starter and front and "tabs" of the transmission pan.

From what I've read, it's probably at worst the rear main seal, or it could be from the top at the valve cover gaskets, intake gaskets, or the oil pump drive O-ring. I'm getting an inspection mirror today to try and look behind there. Looking up from under the car it seems like there is oil up higher than the main seal, but I'll see about that. From what I gather, the rear main seal is a real job. But as far as it goes with the easiest possibility, the pump drive, it's so inaccessible you would have to still remove stuff from the top of the engine anyway. So if anything up there is the leak, shouldn't I just do all of it (upper engine gaskets/pump drive o-ring)?

 

It's probably all the above,you might want to pressure wash the motor and then check with it running to try and see fresh oil dripping.

 

That's a good idea. I thought about getting a UV additive, but I don't know if that's really worth it. Should be fairly obvious where it's coming from. I've had the car almost 20 years, and was a teenager when I bought it. Back then a local shop down the road did work on it for me, and I believe the rear main seal was done about 15 years ago (or only 25k ago). Back then I didn't know a lot, but I believe they fixed an oil leak where the transmission had to come out first. So maybe the seal.

 

Assuming I'm going to do the upper engine gaskets, what should I buy? Someone said in an earlier thread that the pump drive O-ring came with the sets, but this is the only one I've seen with an O-ring: Intake Gasket Set. Would that be the right O-ring? Also, valve cover gaskets come in either original style cork, rubber, or the newer "PermaDry" Fel-Pros. Are the PermaDry ones way better considering the cost? Would they be worth the extra $? I did use that new line of Fel Pros on my oil pan gasket.
I'm also trying to figure out what gasket this is: Plenum Gasket. Says upper plenum, but I don't see where this even goes on the engine diagram. Edit: It seems like maybe this gasket set is including gaskets that aren't actually used on the 3.4L, and are used on the previous 3.1L etc.?

 

I looked better today with the mirror, and there is definitely a buildup of dried oil around the former distributor/oil pump drive shaft hole. Looking up the engine from underneath I have oil leaking down the transmission dipstick tube, on top of the transmission bellhousing, back of the engine, etc. I don't see anything lower around the rear main seal, nor do I have any oil coming down the back of the oil pan...I would think you would if the seal right above that was also leaking. We'll see.

 

Well hopefully the rear main is ok then.
Probably intake and valve covers although I chased a leak on the '77 Nova 305 V8 I had and finally found it was the oil pressure sending unit coming apart.

Take care of that top end and go from there,it was years ago but I found a complete engine overhaul gasket set for less money than valve cover and intake gaskets separately so shop around.

 

USB inspection cameras are cheap. I think I paid $25 for mine years ago.

https://camaroforums.com/forum/tools...omputer-68104/

 

I've gotten a lot of this broken down and I've been cleaning areas/parts. I haven't been able to get the oil pump drive out yet. The hold down bolt/clip is off and I've cleaned and degreased around it, but it's pretty stuck in there.

 

I have that leak also on my 94 3.4. I have been milking it. It does not look fun trying to get that cap off. From my research it has an o-ring. If you have some tips accessing it please share.

 

I got the oil pump drive out. Took some light and careful prying to lift it up a bit so I could pull it all the way out by hand. I've since cleaned it up and reinstalled it, with a new o-ring. I also did what some have suggested and bought a distributor gasket (Fel-Pro 70194) and with a light coat of RTV put that on the thing as well.

It seems it would be very hard to get to this without pulling the upper intake (at least). I have the upper/lower intake and the valve covers off, so it was easy to get to then