Big oil leak
Big oil leak
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Discussion

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
Got back from a fairly short run yesterday to a line of oil behind the car as I put it away in the garage. Took a look a couple if hours later to see a fairly large puddle of oil on the floor.

Fortunately I don't think any damage done as oil pressure was still fine and I had just topped her up. Seems to be coming from somewhere close to the oil filter, possibly the filter itself.

I run a 700hp LS7 with dry sump.

Will take a good look tonight, in the meantime any ideas from anyone? I am thinking either something could have flown up and pierced the oil filter, the filter has come loose, or it is linked to me filling up the oil and I overfilled, could this cause a problem with a dry sump with separate oil tank?

The oil is as clean as new, only done 600 miles.

Thanks, Mark

spatz

1,783 posts

214 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
hundreds of possbile causes, but the pressured oil lines need to be fairly tightened,
I had quite some leaks when I ran the car in but all good now.

Paul.B

3,949 posts

292 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
Did you top up the oil when it was cold? The Dry-Sump system should be up to operation temp and the engine idling when you check the level. You may have over filled. How much did you put in before your drive?

macgtech

997 posts

187 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
A few things spring to mind other than a punctured filter:

1. It's not unheard of for the filter to work loose - we lock ours in place with a jubilee clip for extra security
2. There is a blanking cap above the oil filter - check its tight, and that there is a gasket underneath it
3. Just above the oil filter is where the oil pressure take off normally is - check that is tight too

The other option which is a little more of a nightmare is if the gasket where the sump/block/back cover all meet.

First thing to do is to see exactly where it is coming from. If it is a low milage car then its more than likely something has just worked slightly loose.

Keep us posted.

DHGTR

1,196 posts

271 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
Hi Mark,

mine is an LS2 but when i first put the engine in i had a similar problem although it didnt leave a line up the road.

Starting point i would say is to thoroughly clean the mess and then take the car on a couple of short trips and then see if you can see the drip/leak lines on your return.

Mine turned out to just be the coupling where the hose end on the pipe itself was not done up tight enough and the oil was finding its way back under pressure.

So it may look a mess but it may be fairly straight forward.

Dave

barriejames

904 posts

207 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
Hi Mark

Be really interested in what the cause is, but apart from that, how has the first 600 miles been?

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
macgtech said:
A few things spring to mind other than a punctured filter:

1. It's not unheard of for the filter to work loose - we lock ours in place with a jubilee clip for extra security
2. There is a blanking cap above the oil filter - check its tight, and that there is a gasket underneath it
3. Just above the oil filter is where the oil pressure take off normally is - check that is tight too

The other option which is a little more of a nightmare is if the gasket where the sump/block/back cover all meet.

First thing to do is to see exactly where it is coming from. If it is a low milage car then its more than likely something has just worked slightly loose.

Keep us posted.
Right, home now and have taken a look. No leaking with engine off.

Engine on, good oil pressure and enough oil in the tank at least to warm her up.

After a couple of minutes leaking is coming off the bottom of the oil filter. Very hot in there so will have to leave it for half an hour or so before I can put my hand close to exhaust.

It appears to be probably coming from the oil pressure sender, either where the fitting screws into or on the assembly that the pressure switch in turn is connected to by what looks like 2 bolts. I think it is then running down onto the oil filter which is immediately below. It is coming out at a fair old rate once the engine is running.

Either its come loose or I have over-filled (as advised could check oil level hot or cold so checked it fairly cold). If I did over-fill does it make any sense that it has blown here? Or another stange coincidence!

Will report back when actually fixed...

Many thanks

Mark

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
DHGTR said:
Hi Mark,

mine is an LS2 but when i first put the engine in i had a similar problem although it didnt leave a line up the road.

Starting point i would say is to thoroughly clean the mess and then take the car on a couple of short trips and then see if you can see the drip/leak lines on your return.

Mine turned out to just be the coupling where the hose end on the pipe itself was not done up tight enough and the oil was finding its way back under pressure.

So it may look a mess but it may be fairly straight forward.

Dave
Thanks Dave

I will check all couplings for leaks. The only one I have had a leak on so far (but very minor) is an in line oil filter which I will try to get another turn on.

Yes it is a mess but at motorway speeds the airflow causes that!

Mark

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
barriejames said:
Hi Mark

Be really interested in what the cause is, but apart from that, how has the first 600 miles been?
All good. Need to take her on another longer trip as mostly been 20 miles here and there.

This appears to be another minor niggle rather than anything too serious.

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Monday 8th July 2013
quotequote all
mt308 said:
macgtech said:
A few things spring to mind other than a punctured filter:

1. It's not unheard of for the filter to work loose - we lock ours in place with a jubilee clip for extra security
2. There is a blanking cap above the oil filter - check its tight, and that there is a gasket underneath it
3. Just above the oil filter is where the oil pressure take off normally is - check that is tight too

The other option which is a little more of a nightmare is if the gasket where the sump/block/back cover all meet.

First thing to do is to see exactly where it is coming from. If it is a low milage car then its more than likely something has just worked slightly loose.

Keep us posted.
Right, home now and have taken a look. No leaking with engine off.

Engine on, good oil pressure and enough oil in the tank at least to warm her up.

After a couple of minutes leaking is coming off the bottom of the oil filter. Very hot in there so will have to leave it for half an hour or so before I can put my hand close to exhaust.

It appears to be probably coming from the oil pressure sender, either where the fitting screws into or on the assembly that the pressure switch in turn is connected to by what looks like 2 bolts. I think it is then running down onto the oil filter which is immediately below. It is coming out at a fair old rate once the engine is running.

Either its come loose or I have over-filled (as advised could check oil level hot or cold so checked it fairly cold). If I did over-fill does it make any sense that it has blown here? Or another stange coincidence!

Will report back when actually fixed...

Many thanks

Mark
Source identified. The long square brass fitting that the oil pressure sender is attached to could be moved with 1 finger! I have tightened it a bit and warmed car up completely. Thought it was cured but once fully warmed it started to drip again albeit at a reduced rate. I will try to turn it a little more when engine cooled again. The trouble is as I turn it the sender unit gets closer to the block. I might be able to get about 1/10 of a turn more on it then won't be able to go any further.

Should there be any sealant lock applied to this to stop the same happening again. Very difficult to clean the thread of oil I would think.

Anyone else had this issue.

If I did over-fill it I've lost about the right amount! When fully warm its about an inch below the gauze in the oil tank which I think is about right.

Cheers

Mark

macgtech

997 posts

187 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
quotequote all
Hi Mark, can you take a photo and post it up?

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
quotequote all
macgtech said:
Hi Mark, can you take a photo and post it up?
I am useless at getting pictures uploaded! Spent hours trying to compress the file size then gave up. Ay tips?!!

Steve_D

13,801 posts

286 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
quotequote all
mt308 said:
I am useless at getting pictures uploaded! Spent hours trying to compress the file size then gave up. Ay tips?!!
Hit reply.
At the top edge of the rply box click 'Upload an image (beta)'
From the next box browse your PC for the picture file and hit Upload.
The system will compress your file.

Steve

Just tried this and failed.
Time for bed .......or another beer....choices



Edited by Steve_D on Tuesday 9th July 22:40

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
mt308 said:
I am useless at getting pictures uploaded! Spent hours trying to compress the file size then gave up. Ay tips?!!
Hit reply.
At the top edge of the rply box click 'Upload an image (beta)'
From the next box browse your PC for the picture file and hit Upload.
The system will compress your file.

Steve

Just tried this and failed.
Time for bed .......or another beer....choices
I will have a go tonight. Problem when I have tried before is the file size being too big when I download from my Canon EOS. Tried compression software but doesn't seem to make enough difference.


Edited by Steve_D on Tuesday 9th July 22:40

Paul.B

3,949 posts

292 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
quotequote all
Your Cannon may be set to take photo's in 'RAW' which will mean excellent resolution etc, etc, but bloody HUGE files. Open the photo on the PC and try to 'Save as....' in a PDF format. This will reduce the file size down to a more manageable size. (Still keep the original in RAW format as you may require this one day)

Then go through the steps listed above.

mt308

Original Poster:

438 posts

171 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
quotequote all
macgtech said:
Hi Mark, can you take a photo and post it up?
Attempt 2! I seem to have been able to compress the file size but don't know how I did it.

Its a bit blurred but you can see a copper washer at the end of the square copper tube. This whole square copper tube was loose.