oil drip at rear of engine

[rowingone]

I have all the oil leaks stopped on my 1972 MFI 911 but there is one at the rear of the engine and I don't know what approach to take to fix it. I did find one that was the result of me reusing the valve cover washers and nuts on the upper valve covers. So don't do that! The drip is very slight and shows up at the very rear of the engine case in the center. Any ideas?

[Balisong]

Rear main seal perhaps.

[proporsche]

Originally Posted by rowingone

I have all the oil leaks stopped on my 1972 MFI 911 but there is one at the rear of the engine and I don't know what approach to take to fix it. I did find one that was the result of me reusing the valve cover washers and nuts on the upper valve covers. So don't do that! The drip is very slight and shows up at the very rear of the engine case in the center. Any ideas?

picture of the bottom of the engine and relating on the floor will help to help you
Ivan

[rowingone]

[wgirardot]

check the cam tower oil line on that side


Bill

[proporsche]

as Bill said also chain housing cover gasket--hard to see on the picture
Ivan

[rowingone]

Thanks . . you guys know your stuff . . oil line fitting by the valve cover needed to be tightened a bit.

[rowingone]

If it still leaks after tightening . . is there a gasket or crush washer on that fitting that may be the culprit?

[wgirardot]

You should also check that the rubber line isn’t rotted out and leaking, of course after a few days to see if tightening the fittings fixed it


Bill

[rowingone]

Got it, part# 9001230500 copper crush washers 35Nm

[rowingone]

So I replaced the crush washers and torqued the drivers side cam line oil fitting but still seems to be leaking. The fitting that the oil line banjo fitting screws into . . how is that attached to the block/head and is it possible its leaking from the engine side of the banjo fitting? The oil line itself looks to be in good shape.

[dannobee]

Are you sure it's the fitting and not somewhere else?

Get an engine oil dye kit from amazon, with the black light and glasses. Add the dye to the oil tank and drive it around on your next outing. Then crawl under there with the black light and glasses and look around. The leak(s) will show bright yellow streaks.

After that you can fix the leak, then clean up any residual oil.

That's how we did it at the stealership for at least 25 years, except the manufacturer had their own little expensive dye packs and industrial grade black lights.

[mikesarge]

There's an o-ring between the chain cover and the tensioner, and that can leak if installed improperly, or sometimes they shrink over time

[rowingone]

the oil dye kit is a good suggestion . . I have more than once "found" the leak only to see it appear again somewhere else.

[proporsche]

let me see the oil leak so far i did not see it;-) only the pic ,not to sharp with the screwdriver;-)

Ivan

[rowingone]

Ivan . . it appears it is coming from the fitting on the oil line itself . . ordered a new one. Ordered both sides to be safe. Thanks for all the help!

[proporsche]

good idea...i assume you still have the original chain tensioners not hydraulic,right? those camshaft oil lines, order original the aftermarket are sometimes crap either to long or wrong angle to install...
Ivan