Hissing engine bay? oil everywhere? uughhh..PLEASE HELP

[atilla_the_fun]

I had a valve cover gasket (NAPA auto parts Set for -$50, with all plug gaskets) that needed to be changed, on the right side. There was a time when smoke came out of the engine bay on the highway during a cross country drive (1.5K miles). I really didn't have to add much oil, but the gasket was leaking towards the back (driver's side gasket) and oozing oil onto the red-hot exhaust.

A good way to see if you need new valve cover gaskets on the VX is to look at the bolts that hold the covers down. If you see oil buildup around a few of them or around the side of the cover, where it mates - you should replace those gaskets when you get a chance.

You should also get under the VX and look for oil on the back of the oilpan or on the transmission. Between the two there is a little metal plate that is held on by four bolts. Remove this window and you can see the flywheel/pressure-plate and torque converter. Looking inside this tiny window with a flashlight, you may be able to spot oil droplets. In this case it would be your rear-main seal.

There aren't that many places for oil to leak out: Valve cover, rear-main, into antifreeze, around oil-filter, around oil-filter-adapter, or around oil pan.

[Y33TREKker]

Have you determined where the leaking oil may have been coming from?

[LittleBeast]

Hissing also might be the Exhaust flange about to break loose from the connection with the header, this has happened to me twice now. Need a welder to fix that one.

[Ldub]

The clogged pcv (positive crankcase VENTILATION) valve caused a buildup of excess pressure in the crank case.

The hissing is coming from the grommet around the pcv, &/or the dipstick, relieving crank case pressure at the path of least resistance.

The oil is pumping up out of the dipstick &/or a valve cover gasket &/or coil pack O rings, & dripping on the exhaust manifold...