i have an oil leak..., and i don't know from where! Options

[red914]

well, i have some ideas, but they are not good. it looks like it is coming out of the dipstick tube, or around the breather box (?) under the oil filler neck. it is not leaking a huge amount, just getting the top of the engine wet, with some oil pooling on the engine tin.

i have replaced the gasket between the engine and the breather box thing. that seemed to do it, but only for short drives. today went about 20 miles, and fresh oil was on top of the engine.

it seems to be coming out laterally, and not really spraying all over; just flows around after it is down.

any ideas? thanks ahead of time.

[bd1308]

dude, you know that clip thing that holds the breather down??? right, that one....anyway, wrap a insane amount of duct tape around the bar where it makes contact with the breather box cover thingy (2 places--left and right).....so like try that, duct tape is like free.....?

[Aaron Cox]

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Apr 3 2005, 10:08 PM)

dude, you know that clip thing that holds the breather down??? right, that one....anyway, wrap a insane amount of duct tape around the bar where it makes contact with the breather box cover thingy (2 places--left and right).....so like try that, duct tape is like free.....?

that is sooo hack (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

[red914]

so, it is possible that the spring clip is weak, and does not provide the tension needed? that would be consistant with the observation that the amount of oil leaking has decreased, but not stopped, with the installation of a new gasket.

any other possible leak points?

[TheCabinetmaker]

Several. The dipstick tube could be cracked flush with the tin. The Distributor O ring could be be old, broke, or even missing. The oil pressure sender. Any and all of these will cause oil leaks that blow all over the top of the engine.

[red914]

i thoght about the oil pressure sender and the dizzy o-ring, but the leak appears to be on the opposite, i.e. driver's side. the spray pattern points in the direction of the breather box, but the dipstick tube crack theory needs to be checked out. are those tubes press fittedinto the case, or threaded, or what? there is a blob of gray stuff on the tube, hardened; an old fix of some sort?

thanks for all the ideas.

[TheCabinetmaker]

That blob of grey stuff is most likely JBweld. A previous fix. That hole in the tin should have been bigger with a grommet imo. Unvented heads can cause enough back pressure to overwhelm that gasket.

Britt, if I see duct tape on your car, I'm gonna hunt you down and make a mummy outta you with that same roll of tape! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[mudfoot76]

The dipstick tube is press-fitted, if yours was cracked, a DAPO might have decided to JB weld instead of fixing it properly...

The dipstick tube was one of the few things my car's DAPO got right (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

[rhodyguy]

masking tape wurks gud to. show a picture of the mess shane. there is a gasket in between the funnel top and the sq base too.

k

[Eric_Shea]

QUOTE

that is sooo hack

You mean... dude, like, that is like, sooo like, hack. Right (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

[red914]

a couple decades ago we would have said, "dude, that is, like, so way totally gnarly hacked to the max. dude."


Kevin, i didn't realize there was gasket under the funnel. i will investigate tonight. i will also look closer at the dipstick tube. also Kevin, i have not the technology to post pics of the area, as that technology frightens and confuses me. i also have not yet been able to justify the cost. "really, honey, i need a digital camera so i can show the guys on the club website pictures of my car." nope, i don't see that one flying.

[Aaron Cox]

QUOTE (Eric_Shea @ Apr 4 2005, 08:17 AM)

QUOTE that is sooo hack You mean... dude, like, that is like, sooo like, hack. Right (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

no. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/flipa.gif)

[Series9]

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Apr 3 2005, 10:08 PM)

dude, you know that clip thing that holds the breather down??? right, that one....anyway, wrap a insane amount of duct tape around the bar where it makes contact with the breather box cover thingy (2 places--left and right).....so like try that, duct tape is like free.....?

Like...

[rhodyguy]

i hear ya. i have no cell phone, top that! the camera i use is the one jeanne got with her gates tlp grant. drive down and I'LL take the picture for you. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/chairfall.gif) i have tape though. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/chairfall.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/chairfall.gif)

k

[bd1308]

QUOTE (vsg914 @ Apr 4 2005, 09:00 AM)

Britt, if I see duct tape on your car, I'm gonna hunt you down and make a mummy outta you with that same roll of tape! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

you won't unless you see under the hood....i've got a hemi (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)
that leaks oil like a sieve TM


ah duct tape...the Kentucky fix for everything!

[bd1308]

Joe: ???? i don't get it....unless you mean the training-wheels chopsticks at the chinese food place, to make slow american people feel better....like me.. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

i still use the traning chopsticks


Eric and red: (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[3d914]

Shane,

If I can deviat for a moment and get back to your question;

The dip stick is a viable source of the leak - especially if there has been any fix there in the past. Some others to look at are:

• oring under the filler tube
  
• plastic ring/valve in filler base
  
• gasket under base
  
• filler cap
  

I have gone around with all of these, and recently pulled the engine to trace a leak that ended up being plastic ring that holds the plastic blow-by valve in the filler base. Thankfully I had a spare, and needed to do some other engine maint as well.

My suggestion is that while you're in there addressing the dip stick tube, get yourself a tube of grey gasket sealer. As you replace each gasket, oring, etc use the sealer. That is the only way I have found to keep this @*@**$^*$) design in check. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

And don't even get me started on the ^%$@^$ bail-wire crap used to hold the filler base in place. It may be necessary to remove it, rebend the tips that fit into the case (thereby shortening it a little - making it tighter) and re-install.

Good luck,

[red914]

thanks for the insight, Gerard. i suspect that after 33 years the bail might need rebending a bit. the gasket sealer stuff sounds like i should get some. i hope this isn't my dipstick tube; one of the places oil pools is on the TOP of the dipstick flange. go figure.

i will investigate and repost. thanks again.

Kevin, i may take you up on your offer of duct tape someday. but more importantly, i wonder where you got your synchrometer with the wide neck (for outside carb throat); everyone i have spoken to only has the rubber cone for inside the carb throat.

[IronHillRestorations]

Clean everything up really good, spotless, no oil. Run the daylights out of the thing, so you know it's spit oil wherever it's leaking. Park the car in the garage and wait until dark. Pull out your handy-dandy groovy mini blacklight, 'cause engine oil, transmission fluid, and other petroleum based products will flouresce under the most hip blacklight! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

[red914]

Perry, not only do you sell awesome brake rebuild kits, but you know the most kewlest of little tricks! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mueba.gif) i had no idea you could be so kewl from tennessee; but i have never been there, so how could i know? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

thanks for the tip!