Boy do I wish I had good news! Get a drink, long story...
Headed out today (after adding a bit of valve cleaner to the tank) to find some heat shielding to better protect plug on cyl 3. As I go along all seems smooth, albeit with the chug, chug, chug sound of the exhaust leak blowing at the #3 plug. Couple miles along chug, chug, chug stops and I think "heat musta sealed the leak a bit". But I get out and look.... the sound stopped because the plug wire was off again. The thin metal shielding just came apart... so I fiddled it more or less back into shape and put it back on the plug and continued along.
Another mile or so into town and I got pulled over. I explained that I was going directly for an inspection after doing a lot of expensive work on it and he let me go. Went and failed inspection 'cause the computer wasn't reset.... but at least I got current paperwork.
Ok, so now I'm thinking maybe I can drive around a little more to reset the computer... mile later plug comes off. Put it back on head to NAPA. They've no shielding. And now I'm smelling gas.
I see nothing unusual in the engine compartment. Constant sniffing says there's gas there. Not along the fuel rail, not under the car, not at the tailpipe, not around the tank. Hmmm.
I decide to go to the other parts place in town... nervously, as I'm still smelling gas. It's about a mile and a half. Pull in and park and there's some white smoke from under the hood. Under the vehicle, the rear seal is dripping oil onto the cat. I take a chance and open the hood. Smelling gas and see some oil seeping from the fill tube gasket up the outside of the tube. (A clue? Oil pressure too high?) Go into Advance Auto and borrow a fire extinguisher, just in case. As car cools I inspect the small pools underneath. The oil seems thin, I suspect gas mixed in has thinned it, negating the effects of Barr's Main Seal Stop Leak. There seems to be a small pool of water too, but that might be from someone else.
Decide it's time to tow it to the shop for diagnosis. While waiting around I find some new moisture under the fuel rail on bank 1. Could the Schrader valve be leaking? Maybe.
We need to know where the gas goes when the fuel pressure drops stat! And, am I looking at a cyl #3 valve job?
The wife picked me up and brought me home. I have an hour or so before the tow guy arrives to decide whether to tow to the shop or home. As always, your input is appreciated.
Kind regards,
Bob
ps: symptom recap:
fuel pressure goes to 58 and drops too fast on shutdown
smell gas
leak at cyl 3 exhaust
#3 plug wire keeps popping off
oil seems thin, may have gas mixed in (oil and oil filter are new)