Oil leak, distributor vacuum?

[GIBSON]

I've had this oil leak for a couple of years on my 2.4S. I clean in up and a few weeks later it's wet under the distrubotor vacuum
mechanism. I probably should take the device apart and see if there is oil in it, the oil lines in the area (cam lines) are dry,
so where's this coming from......

[Early_S_Man]

Bruce,

It is probably a bad O-ring around the distributor shank. Lots of oil slung up there off the chains and intermediate shaft gears!

[GIBSON]

Warren, could be, I did install a new one during last years engine rebuild but it could still be bad. I did notice this distributor is really difficult to remove. Some come out with little effort, this one has to be really pryed out... wrong seal on the distributor shaft?? I think it's black but I can't remember now...

[Early_S_Man]

Bruce,

I doubt the seal is the problem ... those 169-series distributors just tend to be tight, so that is why I usually recommend pulling them when the engine is hot! It makes a big difference ...

You can use a heat-shrink gun or hair dryer to preheat the block for 5 - 10 minutes when you put it back in. Be sure to use plenty of silicone grease on the outside of the seal when installing.

Sometimes, I think the 'tightness' in the block is responsible for nicks and tears on the seal that causes leaks later. Red is the most common color seal I recall seeing.

[GIBSON]

I think I will check that seal, could be the problem but it seems to be dry everywhere else except under that vacuum mechanism.
I'll start with the seal and go from there. Really makes no sense that there would be oil in the vacuum device so it must be coming from elsewhere....