3.0 Case question

[glenstichling]

Hello,
Just under the thermostat inside the case, I have what appears to me to be some kind of patch to the oil passage. There is a (magnetic) steel tube pressed into the case just under the thermostat that breaks through the casting.
Is this normal, or do I need to deal with this before proceding?
Thanks,
Glen
job.

[Henry Schmidt]

What you are seeing very common. The tube you see was cast into the case during the manufacting process. It is the main high pressure oil passage from the oil pump to the thermostat where all oil to the engine is distributed.. You can see that same tube exposed on the outside of the case.
Generally they don't leak but it is a good idea to seal but inside and out with a high quality epoxy. We use a Loctite product call 9340 Hysol epoxy patch.

BTW: in the early days of the 3.2 cases, leaking cases were being warranteed because of leaking around the tube. Later the factory reccommended gluing the tube and stopped replacing the cases that leaked.

[glenstichling]

Thanks very much!
Will this epoxy hold pressure if applied to the low pressure side of the leak (in the picture) without flaking off?
Is there some accepted procedure for getting it inside the passage (high pressure side) without obstructing it?

[Henry Schmidt]

I was not very clear about the nature of the leak.
The leak has no pressure at all. The casting around the tube leaks but the oil tube does not leak. All the pressure is contained within the steel tube.
The oil seeps out. By glueing the inside of the casting there is no way for the oil to seep.

[alphie]

Any other recommendations to seal this area? Is JB Weld suitable?

[Henry Schmidt]

JB weld will work just fine. Get the area as clean as possible.

[MBAtarga]

Like the others said - and if you want more information, look at these posts:
here
and here

[JeremyD]

Henry speaks the gospel...