Pete Phillips Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 OK, this is the second '38 Special black sport coupe that I'm working on. We just did a total rebuild of the engine, and I have some oil leaking out of the dipstick hole when I drive it. Oil pressure is OK but about half of what the other one was. 30-35 p.s.i. at 40 mph, 15 at idle. We have a turned crankshaft and new under-sized bearings. I'm not so concerned about the oil pressure as I am about oil pushing out the dipstick hole when the dipstick is in place. It's not overly loose, either. Anyone ever had that problem? Pete Phillips, BCA #7338 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted January 6, 2017 Author Share Posted January 6, 2017 (edited) Going to answer my own question, after doing some investigating. It was a poor flare attachment on the oil gauge capillary tube, which attaches to a fitting on the side of the engine, just below the oil dipstick. The flange or flare was loose and was allowing oil to spray up onto the top of the dipstick. I"ll bet this will improve my oil pressure gauge reading now! Edited January 6, 2017 by Pete Phillips add photo (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROD W Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 (edited) Pete, I,m no authority on these engines, but I thought they would still have a crankcase breather in 38. Maybe this is blocked. Wrote this before you added your second quote. Edited January 6, 2017 by ROD W (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 The shop manual for 1950 says 35#, hot, at 35 mph. Looks like you are right there. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted January 6, 2017 Share Posted January 6, 2017 Those "compression" type fittings are a real pain to get to seal once they are old. Often same problem on the line that feeds the rocker shaft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now