Ever since I switched over to synthetic, I've been having a few problems. The first time I used it, ~3000 miles my check engine oil level light came on. I took it back to where I get my oil changed and the guy said that 90% of the newer vortec engines have to be topped off in between each oil change. So, they topped it off (for free of course) and no more problems. This last time I had it changed, ~2500 miles later the light comes on again. They topped it off. But the last few days, when I punch it and let off, I smelled something like oil burning almost every time. Today when I smelled it, I pulled over and opened my hood. It looks kinda like the oil is barely being burned out between the heads and the valve cover. Its like black dust around it and more on my passanger side than the driver side.

Does anybody else's truck have this problem?

I plan on having my other set of heads worked on and installed this summer, will it be okay until then?

Thanks.

 

I had a problem similar with oil consumption and it was a faulty pcv valve. Pretty cheap fix in the big picture of things!

 

If it's just between the valve covers/heads (valve cover gaskets) I wouldn't worry too much about it. Actually if you wanted to fix it yourself you could probably get a new set for under $20. I'd say what has happened (depending on how many miles, etc. on your truck) is that dino oil formed a varnish over the gaskets, giving them a false seal, and due to the superior cleaning qualities of the synthetics, the synthetic cleaned off the varninsh and now you have a leak.

As far as will it hurt anything, No, not really, as long as you keep a check on your oil level you should be fine. I would try to change them if I were you though, because they make everything messy. Oil will drip all down the sides of your engine and burn on your exhaust manifolds and stuff. It's not that hard to fix either. No reason not to do it for a set of 15 dollar gaskets and about a half to an hours worth of work depending on how experienced you are and how cleanly your old gaskets come off. Some could probably do it quicker than that, and some it may take longer. If you fixed them you wouldn't be losing anymore oil from between the valve covers and heads, and everything wouldn't get so grimy and nasty too. Trust me, my mom's cavalier went on a leaky valve cover gasket for about two years, and finally I just bought the gasket and fixed it myself a couple days ago, she never wanted to part with it long enough for me to fix it, lol. Anyways, there was oil all over her engine, even about a half inch deep around one of the spark plugs, so I'm sure when I change plugs it will be fun to clean up.

Sorry this was so long, hope it helps you out a little.