I neglected her too long :(

KFC911 · 03:07 AM

Life got in the way ... methinks I made her cry too... a few oil tears

.

I did get the layer of dust off of her and saw a few drips from the lower left side valve cover gasket ... and a few drops under the right rear too... further forward tho'. When jacking up the left side to place on the dollies, a bit more came out on the right side... dripping from the heat exchanger ... from ???.

I've got a "to do" list... tires, battery, fluids, etc. but this wasn't supposed to be

.

Formally dry as a bone.... my old Sportster would be proud of her now

.....will add pics later ... site is slooooooo

or broken for uploads at the moment... ???

Later...

Any WAGs?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 08-10-2025, 03:35 AM

If it's been sitting for years you will want to check for broken head studs. The dilaver lower studs tend to break when sitting.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-10-2025, 03:39 AM

Cars don’t like to sit. I would clean her up really good and then check it in a few days to pinpoint the leaks. Could be simple like valve cover gaskets or drain tubes. Want me to come and exercise her for you?

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Take it out, let it come up to temp, then see what it does. How long has it been sitting?

KFC911 · 08-10-2025, 09:04 AM

She won't be started right now... moving to another garage or basement or at least sharing this one

I can see this garage floor now (it was cluttered) ... but my daze of working in this hot/cold hell on a crawler are history...

Need 15" tires, battery, fluids, etc. and now this

I knew better .... head stud issues too mebbe?

Gotta see if I can rig something to move her around on the dollies (easily) in this garage, or I'm gonna call Mike

.

Mike is the local tow-truck driver ... and flatbed her away.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-10-2025, 12:20 PM

If your garage floor is smooth and crack free the dollies are easy. If not, they suck.

stevej37 · 08-10-2025, 12:27 PM

If you remove the valve covers (easy job) you will know if it's head studs...hopefully it's not.

I had the same puddles when I bought my SC.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

I'm not getting why folks are worried about head studs. Yeah it's a common problem, but the cause of a leak when the engine hasn't been operated and merely jacked up causing oil to move to one side or the other? Odds are better it's dry seals.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-10-2025, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabmandone

I'm not getting why folks are worried about head studs. Yeah it's a common problem, but the cause of a leak when the engine hasn't been operated and merely jacked up causing oil to move to one side or the other? Odds are better it's dry seals.

That’s why I suggested cleaning everything up really good and trying to pinpoint the origin. I always cross my fingers and hope for the easy fix first, though somehow it never turns out that way…

Shaun @ Tru6 · 08-10-2025, 03:18 PM

Dilaver studs tend to break from sitting for long periods of time, few years+.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

^^^
Yeah, but you'd need to have several broken studs on a cylinder to create an oil leak just from lifting the car to put it on dollies wouldn't you?

Baz · Baz's Garage

A 3.2 Carrera, right KC?

Very nice!

Definitely time to get her back on the road...a great time of year coming up for some P-car driving!

Bill Douglas · 08-10-2025, 04:19 PM

I think the car is just speaking to you KC, and saying I want to get out and about more.

KFC911 · 08-11-2025, 02:40 AM

The "sitting for years" causing head stud issues is new to me... I doubt it's that... hoping. The drips I could see on the floor before jacking were gooey ... just minor (very minor over time) drips from the valve cover seals. As Nick said, the bit that came out upon jacking makes me think oil tubes, etc. mebbe... I'll find it and fix it with Pelican help.

But not right now

. I need a lift and will do this later in another space. My "lift needs" recently changed too... now it needs to lift a Macan. In due time....

I can push the front around no problemo on the dollies but it's not THAT easy to push around ... with 16 caster wheels needing to rotate... so I need to hit the gym or rig something up....

And my back hurts

Shaun @ Tru6 · 08-11-2025, 02:44 AM

Jesus Christ, the oil leak has nothing to do with possible broken studs. It's just that studs do fracture from long term sitting. That's it. My 84 had 6 out of 12 lower studs broken just from sitting for so long.

KFC911 · 02:59 AM

I misunderstood your post too Shaun... thanks!

edited: My first take upon seeing a few minor drops from valve covers... clean, drive her, and fix later. Wasn't really even gonna peak inside the valve covers... right now. Any broken studs would be from "just sitting", and what would be the symptoms now (or risks of further harm?)... more oil leaks?

Thanks Shaun!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 08-11-2025, 02:55 AM

I hope yours are all ok.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

If you need some expandable return tubes, PM me. I'll give you a good set with new seals. I put them on my car but then a year later had the engine apart doing head studs so I put in the factory tubes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KFC911

I misunderstood your post too Shaun... thanks!

edited: My first take upon seeing a few minor drops from valve covers... clean, drive her, and fix later. Wasn't really even gonna peak inside the valve covers... right now. Any broken studs would be from "just sitting", and what would be the symptoms now (or risks of further harm?)... more oil leaks?

Thanks Shaun!

It'll have a weird exhaust note. Sometimes it'll have a tick similar to a lifter or valve out of adjustment (this one is tough to pick up on) Look for any carbon buildup where the cylinder meets the block.

BTW, if it hasn't been started for a considerable amount of time, I'd have the back end outside of the garage when you start it. You're gonna be fogging for mosquitos when you start it up.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-11-2025, 04:27 AM

I say take her for a drive, even just a warm up in the driveway and around the block a few times. Might put a smile on your face too!

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Jesus Christ, the oil leak has nothing to do with possible broken studs. It's just that studs do fracture from long term sitting. That's it. My 84 had 6 out of 12 lower studs broken just from sitting for so long.

Those studs are corroded AF, that's why they broke. That and heat cycling. Studs don't break from cars not being used.