I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE 3.4 Liter-Manual. As most Pontiac owners know all too well oil leaks are far too common of an issue. Well my Grand Am was no exception. Well the leak was barely noticeable, and wasn't ever any issue until May of this year. One day I was driving and suddenly the check oil light came on, then a few minutes later the oil can warning light started blinking.

-Information on what I was doing when the problem occurred: I was driving down a well paved and flat/straight city arterial at approximately 30mph when the issue occurred. I did NOT hit anything, Nothing came into contact with the underside of my car, I did not brake hard, nor did I get into an accident...Basically there was absolutely NOTHING that occurred while I was driving that would have caused this issue. I had been driving around town for roughly 30 mins and my car was driving good. There was no loud knocking or unusual noises coming from the engine (even after the oil lights came on).

-I pulled over at the nearest store (drove with the lights on for maybe 2-4 blocks). I parked on a flat surface and checked the oil(which was pretty much empty). I regularly check my oil and as I stated before the oil leak I did have was very minor(and slow). I rarely had to add oil, but when I did it never needed more than 1QT.

I added 1QT at a time and ended up needing to add 5QTs. After that I started driving again, and this time I smelt burning oil (which I thought was just because I did spill a little oil filling it up). I also noticed smoke coming from my car as I was driving. The smell and smoke continued for the entire 10 miles I drove and by the time I got to my destination all of my oil was gone!!!!!

I got more oil and this time when I put it in I watched to see if I could see it leaking anywhere, and it was literally pouring out from around the middle towards the back of the engine. I was to say it was more on towards the passenger side but fairly close to the middle and back of the engine. I've only driven the car twice since this happened and I have to literally put oil in 1 Qt at a time and it smokes very badly as I drive. I've been told that it is a fire hazard and the risk of it catching fire in this state is extremely high. The oil is leaking onto hot pipes which is causing the large amounts of smoke. I have idea what the problem is, or how it even happened.

Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so what was the problem, and solution? I am thinking it is possibly an oil plug? Any ideas?

i have had the intake valve gasket fixed at the Pontiac dealership in Jackson, ms. and it cost it was very costly.i took my car back to the dealership within 2 days to explain that my car was not fixed properly and the guy supposedly took a look at it and told me nothing was wrong that the temperature gauge will always go above the middle line and that my car is ok. well i moved back home to biloxi and i took my car to have the ignition switch replaced and they told me that i had a small intake valve oil leak. this is approx.3 months after it was fixed the first time. i called to Jackson to see if i still had warranty on this problem and was told that it was for only 90 days. very convenient!!! anyway now my car will not hold any oil in it just as fast as i put oil in it it POURS back on to the ground. i can not drive my car at all in order to get it to the mechanic. someone told me that my oil plug (?) is probably loose and was never put back in tight enough.