Where the arrow is, is the small oil spot. The other ones are water after defrosting


Small update with pictures. I don't know that you can see it well enough, but I checked the solenoids after everyone's advice and the o-ring is not fitting properly so it's sitting right where the o-ring would go down. and I feel like that's my issue. The o-ring on the intake is the same part and it fits without an issue. There is nothing blocking the solenoid fitting in except that small piece so I need to find an o-ring that will fit. Even with lubrication it will not go down and I didn't want to force it in there versus just buying another o-ring.

 

Those valves seem to be the same; they are supposed to be different colors. What happened to the missing screws?
I don't see how that much oil could squirt onto the ground without getting oil on a lot of other stuff under the hood.

 

I don't see very much oil on the ground, in fact, I don't even see an arrow. Don's right, if the solenoid valve leaked a lot of oil out, the top of the valve cover would be quite a puddle, but it looks pretty dry.

Did you check the oil level before you started working on the car?

 

I have never removed the valve cover, so I am unsure where the screws are and yes I know that sounds terrible. The mechanics at the dealership maintain that it's been that way and was fine when I asked (definitely concerning so I'll have that looked at).

The solenoids are are different colors. The exhaust is black and intake is gray on the parts currently in there and ones I had replaced.

That small spot of oil on the ground is all that's left, sorry you can't see it. The rest of the oil ran out at the place I was stopped at and then I had it towed home. There is virtually no oil left in it and it seems to have leaked underneath the pan. Dipstick is completely dry after pulling, wiping and reinserting.

I'm hoping since I just picked up AC Delco parts the o-ring will fit because it's the recommended part.

 

There is not any evidence of a major oil leak in the picture you posted of the valve cover. If it is leaking as bad as you say, then you had better start looking elsewhere for the leak source. Based on some of the wet drips I see in the bottom side photo, it could be anything from the front crank seal to the oil pressure sending unit.
I would say top it off with oil, crank it up and look for the leak. If it leaks as bad as you say, then you should see the leak pretty quick.

 

The 2 threaded holes in the center of your pic are for mounting something to the valve cover, not fastening the valve cover to the head. Many cars got the ecotec engine, only some models needed to mount something there.

 

Thanks RJ; I couldn't remember. I think the spark pak from 2006 might connect there.

Oil is not going to run out while the engine is not running from the VVT valve area. There does seem to be some drips on the trans oil pan. You should be able to follow the wet spot up to locate the leak.

 

The front cover harmonic balancer seal can sling oil around pretty good.

 

Thanks to everyone’s advice, I fixed it!! I realized the screw was stripped at the very bottom where the bolt for the exhaust solenoid goes (it tightened but it wasn’t pushed in completely) and it may have been loose which was causing the oil leak. The car would only leak once turned on and running. I was able to push it in just a bit more and tighten it with the AC Delco solenoid replacement part. The codes I had on my dash disappeared as soon as I turned the car on. I had P0171 as well and that makes sense now that I know the exhaust solenoid had been a bit lose. I replaced the oil and so far there are no leaks after running the engine for about 6 minutes

 

Awesome! Glad we could help.