Sad news.......car is leaking serious oil

[sean m]

All,
I took out my my 77 911S for a nice Friday drive. After about 30 minutes, stopped at a light and car cut out. Took a couple minutes to start back up, but finally did. Started driving noticed it was running hot.

My car has always leaked oil (it's a 77S) and just thought I need to top off when I get home. Put in some oil drove around the neighborhood and pulled in the garage. Leaking oil quickly from the passenger side of the engine above the heat exchanger.

Totally bummed. 246,000 miles on this engine and had always run like a champ.

Engine rebuild is not something I have the knowledge to do.

I guess I need to find someone in Atlanta that can rebuild or trust this group for recommendations.

Thanks for any help

[Rodsrsr]

Search "triangle of death" It may not be as bad as you think.

[proporsche]

look for possible oil pres.switch blowing up search triangle of death here with search button..
on the pic in blue circle..
Ivan

it is this one
https://www.fvd.net/adbimage/125946/shop_detail/91160623000_1.jpg

[blucille]

what about the S hose from the oil tank to the engine?

[917_Langheck]

Originally Posted by sean m

All,

Engine rebuild is not something I have the knowledge to do.

I guess I need to find someone in Atlanta that can rebuild or trust this group for recommendations.

Thanks for any help

You can refresh this motor yourself. Get Wayne's book https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/BK135124.htm?pn=BK-135124, and seek out a good engine rebuild series on youtube - there are a few out there. Tony (boyt911sc) is a good resource to consult; he even offered a class on the subject - as are a number of master mechanics that frequent this board. If there is machine work to be done that can be dealt with by posting up what service you need specifically; somebody will know a shop to do the job.

Before you get to tearing into your motor, be sure that it issue cant be resolved with less intensive measures, such as that posted by Rod and Ivan.

[sean m]

Blucille,
It's not from the S hose.......I checked.

This is from the passenger top right part of the engine.

Triangle of death I guess could be it but that looks like the other side.

I've reached out to local shops. Just dread what I think I'll hear.

[MBAtarga]

Sean - I did the triangle of death repair/mntc on my SC years ago. Not too difficult to do with a partial engine drop. Can you get an inspection mirror back near the firewall to take a peek?
I used to live in Duluth - now over in the Lawrenceville area.

Also - do you know of The Eurospot on Law-Suw Road? Run by Paul now - used to be Jim.

[stownsen914]

Try to pinpoint which part of the engine it's coming from. Sometimes the best way is give it a good cleaning, then start it and observe.

[sean m]

MBTarga,
Thanks. I've had some work done at Eurowoks in Duluth. Sent them a note.

I know it's tough with so little information. Just was shocked when i saw the oil I'd just added coming out.

I'll let all know when we get some "eyes" on it.

Thanks all

[Black 993]

You don't need to be a mechanic to diagnose an oil leak, especially one leaking as badly as yours. Clean off the engine, start it up, and use your eyeballs to see where the leak is coming from. Take a picture of that area. Post it here.

A sudden large oil leak rarely indicates the need for an engine rebuild.

[donbecker1234]

Originally Posted by stownsen914

Try to pinpoint which part of the engine it's coming from. Sometimes the best way is give it a good cleaning, then start it and observe.

Second this. Cleaning everything is going to help you see where the leak is coming from.

Another thing that can help is leak detection dye. It's UV sensitive, so it will glow green under a blacklight.

I've used both the oil and fuel ones and they were a big help on my car.

[SCadaddle]

I wouldn't freak just quite yet. Maybe it's nothing more than the engine mounted oil cooler seals.

[mikedsilva]

I worked on a motor a short while ago.. it would sit there dripping oil into a large puddle, while idling.. turned out to be the o ring on the engine oil thermostat. It was the original and had never been changed. We removed the engine just to make it easier to work on. Replaced o ring, breather gasket, breather hose and oil press switch. It's been dry ever since.

[fxeditor]

Originally Posted by sean m

Blucille,
It's not from the S hose.......I checked.

This is from the passenger top right part of the engine.

Triangle of death I guess could be it but that looks like the other side.

I've reached out to local shops. Just dread what I think I'll hear.

Hey Sean if you need a hand dropping the engine, I'd be more than willing to help you out! I'm out in the Canton area. Maybe we can get a couple other GA Pelicans to come over and have an engine drop party!

[yelcab1]

Well at 246,000 miles, your engine is due for some work. While it might just be a few seals and gaskets in that upper right hand side corner, it might be time to take the opportunity to do more than a seal or two.

[Solamar]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

Well at 246,000 miles, your engine is due for some work. While it might just be a few seals and gaskets in that upper right hand side corner, it might be time to take the opportunity to do more than a seal or two.

Can't argue with that, but I will add that oil leaks are not a sign that a rebuild is due. Oil consumption is.

Fix the leak and carry on👍

[mike sampsel]

Originally Posted by sean m

Blucille,
It's not from the S hose.......I checked.

This is from the passenger top right part of the engine.

Triangle of death I guess could be it but that looks like the other side.

I've reached out to local shops. Just dread what I think I'll hear.

Easy for the triangle to leak to the passenger side. Passenger top right could be the pressure switch (easy fix), breather hose (harder with engine in place), or the oil ring on the thermostat. When my pressure switch was bad on my 78, the green oil warning light was on. Get an endoscope for 30-40 bucks you can look at the triangle area (as indicated by Ivan with pictures in post #3) to see if you spy some oil there, give you a clue.

Great diagnostic tool for me. Found many a missing part or wrench and rescued some tools too from the depths of “hell”.

[rwest]

Remove the valve covers and see if a rocker shaft walked out.

[proporsche]

[QUOTE=sean m;11720135]Blucille,
It's not from the S hose.......I checked.

This is from the passenger top right part of the engine.

Take a picture and let us see it ..bottom of the engine

Ivan

[sean m]

Great ideas....thanks all.

I'm going to clean up the engine and see if I can determine where it's coming from. Certainly have plenty of places to start looking.

I'll post some pics after I figure out the source.