Strange leak

[Volkovich]

I have a 1979 911SC and it has a leak I have been trying to track down. I finally found the source told and I am a bit puzzled. It is coming from the fitting on the engine where the oil line exits the engine to go to the oil cooler. It is right next to an oil return tube. (figure 2-30 in Wayne Dempsey's new book) shows this fitting.

What is strange is the fact that it looks like someone had tried to fix this leak in the past by putting JB Weld (or other epoxy) all around the fitting.

I was wondering if there is an o-ring or washer on this fitting and how easy it would be to replace. It looks like it is a threaded fitting and could be removed or tightened. My worry is that if I screw around with it that it might be stripped or something and that is why they went the epoxy route.

Anyone have leaks from this area before?

[john walker's workshop]

the fitting that screws into the case has an aluminum ring under it. they get loose because the oil line that attaches to it wiggles around. it's hard to tighten it without taking off the oil line. of course the oil line nut wants to turn the loose case fitting in the process. hard to get a wrench on either because the oil return tube is too close, and the exchanger limits access. worst case, the return tube and/or the exchanger can be removed and a telescoping replacement tube installed.