1938 Special--oil leak out the dipstick hole?

[Pete Phillips]

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

[Pete Phillips]

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)

[ROD W]

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)

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

The shop manual for 1950 says 35#, hot, at 35 mph. Looks like you are right there.

 

  Ben

[DonMicheletti]

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.