likeold Posted November 7, 2021 Share Posted November 7, 2021 How much does yours leak? I have a pretty good puddle after running her hot, maybe 4" X 10" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Are you asking about the engine (e.g., rear main seal) or the torque ball seal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 I'm referring to the engine rear seal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critterpainter Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 If you are running an original engine then you have a labyrinth seal, which is a fancy term for no seal. There is a drainback tube to the engine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 When you say drain back tube, is the oil suppose to go back into the engine or on the floor? Can you see this tube on the outside of the engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgreen Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 A puddle that big isn't a problem to keep up with if you routinely check your oil. But, the leaking oil soaks your clutch which is more of a concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michealbernal Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 You should get this repaired as soon as possible. Not only are you risking serious damage to your engine and clutch, you will soon have the entire underside of your car coated with oil. You are also spreading oil on the road. When it rains this becomes very slippery to drive on. We don't need that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Basically, nothing should leak. All were designed to keep the oil inside. Leaks (especially significant ones), are a sign something is wrong. The '38-40 series engine has no rear seal. Too much piston blow by can cause rear main leaks, so can loose main bearings. Also check for plugged crankcase breathers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 6 hours ago, likeold said: When you say drain back tube, is the oil suppose to go back into the engine or on the floor? Can you see this tube on the outside of the engine? You can't see it externally. I have a car with a similar setup, the oil that leaks from the rear main is supposed to go into a groove that drains through the tube back into the oil sump. All this is inside the pan. You aren't parking on a steep hill are you? There would be nothing to hold the oil back if so. If it leaks anyway something else is wrong. Check the stuff @DonMicheletti mentioned, starting with the breather(s) because that would be an inexpensive fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 (edited) So where is the oil breather, it certainly is not where you put the oil in on my engine. Edited November 8, 2021 by likeold (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 On any breather system there has to be a "way in" and a "way out" for the crankcase ventilation air. The way out is a breather tube that is attached to the side of the engine. It points down. It creates a suction when the car is moving. I don't remember where the way in is on that car. Someone in this thread will probably know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 There's a breather tube on the side of the engine. There is also a set of small louvers on the end of the valve cover at the firewall. The cap on the valve cover shown in your picture is correct; it's just an oil fill cap (not vented). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 There is a little breather filter on the drivers side of block near the rear, louvered vents at rear of valve cover. The breather tube is in your picture, look on the lifter cover, or straight below the spark plug cover bolt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 I removed the breather does not appear to be super clogged but I assume you can't take this apart maybe just wash out in gasoline and blow it with air, sound right? The other picture I assume is the breather exit, if it is it appears to be sealed unless the hole is so tiny I can't see it, am I looking at the right thing? What to do next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 That thing that looks like a bent tube is the valve handle for the engine block coolant drain petcock. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 22 minutes ago, EmTee said: That thing that looks like a bent tube is the valve handle for the engine block coolant drain petcock. That makes more sense and it actually works! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 How could I be so blind, I don't assume there is much to be done here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 If you remove the valve cover oil fill cap, with the engine running, do you get a lot of blowby coming out? Bad rings can cause this and it can overwhelm engine ventilation and blow oil out the rear of the engine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Nothing at all, compression is 95-100 psi across all cylinders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 You may have to clean it good then see exactly where the oil is coming from. There is no rear journal seal but there are two side seals on the rear main cap. Duz the oil pan look to have been removed in the past? Bad/leaking oil pan gasket, maybe someone in the past might have tightened the pan bolts to stop a leak resulting in distorting the holes of the pan, and splitting the gasket, making leak worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 The more I drive it the less it leaks, now I like that fix! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 2 hours ago, likeold said: The more I drive it the less it leaks, now I like that fix! Hopefully that's good news. There's still oil in the crankcase, right...? 2 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