Oil leak

[Crazy of Cookham]

Any ideas?. Still having problem with oil leak on American Speed engine. Oil on chassis rail below plate where petrol pump would be fitted. I have re-sealed plate, resealed bolt front of engine near plate. I though it may be oil sump. I have tightened in area of leak and still have problem. You cannot see oil dripping on each drive quite a lot appears. Below the crome plate there id a verticle hole up into the engin. Does anyone know what it does should it have some form of plug. I am running out of places to look.

[k wright]

The plate is the mount for a mechanical pump. The hole is the path that a rod takes to push down on the pump; it follows a lobe on the cam. I don't think that the hole for the fuel pump rod needs to be plugged. It has been awhile since I had a look at this part of the motor but there should be an additional hole in the block that allows any oil that accumulates in the fuel pump mount to drain in the sump.

The next step is to locate as precisely as possible the location of the leak. If you have a good seal on the fuel pump block off the next thing to look at is the cam gear cover and thereafter the oil pan. Try to drive gradually increasing distances until you can locate the leak or just lift the car up and rev the motor to locate it.

Lastly make sure that your crankcase is properly vented (check funtion of PCV valve and hoses that vent crankcase to atmosphere). If not you can get enough pressure in the motor to make any gasket leak.

Please keep us updated, best of luck with the problem.

Ken


>> Edited by k wright on Saturday 23 August 20:14

[Steve_D]

If the problem is locating the source of the leak try tapeing strips of kichen towel in the likely areas.
Steve

[pashby]

Crazy of Cookham said:

Below the crome plate there id a verticle hole up into the engin. Does anyone know what it does should it have some form of plug. I am running out of places to look.

I can't remember this hole but why not gaffer tape the hole and see if that makes a difference? If you stick a small piece of kitchen towel over the hole and gaffer tape it (make it like an elastoplast) then you will see oil on the paper when you remove it after a run if its exposed to engine oil.

[ultimaandy]

Check around the rear of the head andr the rear of the inlet manifold........ after I changed the oil stem seals (and so had the head off) I had a small amount of oil in the same place as you and this is were it was comming from.

[Crazy of Cookham]

Thanks for all the advice. After careful cleaning tightening etc and about a dozen runs I am eliminating the obvious, i.e not plate or securing bolt not sump. It is looking like oil is coming out of front of engine through bearing seal. Difficult to spot as it was being thrown sideways onto chassis rail. After driving a few mile gradually warming and stopping every 1/2 mile to check with a mirror it started to show. Burnt arms and general frustation. Well whats next, I will call American Speed tomorrow to see if my worst fears are confirmed and if the engine has to come out.
Bad end to bank holiday and first 350 miles.

[gtrclive]

Are you sure it's that plate as there is a tapped hole at the front just about an Inch round the block, which if not plugged passes into the same cavity. It's the oposite holes to where the Alternator is mounted. They are the Old Truck engine mountings.

[ultimaandy]

Sorry I meant the front of the engine.... I discovered mine whilst it was still on the dyno so it was a little easier to locate.

[Steve_D]

Before you go pulling the engine etc. check to see if your engine breather system is clear. A back pressure in the engine will blow oil past a seal that would normally work fine. Just pull the pipes off the rocker cover breathers and try your test run again.
Steve

[Crazy of Cookham]

Thanks Steve

Will certainly have a try. Anything rather than remove engine.

[Crazy of Cookham]

At last happy motoring. I spent the day at the factory yesterday. The oil leak was traced to the pulley oil seal at the front of the engine. Once replaced all well. Thanks for all the advice hope to see you all at one of the meets.