How does oil get on top of the motor?

[Mike Kast]

I removed my fan /alt assembly yesterday because it seemed to have shifted and I have been wanting to repaint the fan housing anyway.
Once I got it all apart I noticed about an 1/8 inch layer of oil mixed with dust on top of the case.
It seems I have been acquiring more mysterious oil leaks lately that at some point I will have to do something about. Leland mentioned checking the torque of the rocker arm shafts at my next valve adjustment that I have been procrastinating on.
Anyway, The oil on the top? Overfill discharge? I have wondered where the oil goes if you overfill.


I don't think the picture helps because the air diverter is still in the way.

[MotoSook]

The CIS airbox has a small drain under the air sensor plate. The hose under there could have come loose at some point and the PO overfilled it. Also, the crank cast breather housing and hose (clamp) could be leaking. The T-stat or idiot switch could leak oil to that area too. I would check all those. Some of this is better done w/ the engine out.

[safe]

Maybe you have the same leakage that I had/have.

[djmcmath]

Little German gnomes were installed at the factory to carry tiny buckets of oil to various places in your engine bay. Forgive me, it's the best theory I can come up with to explain oil in some places...

[Early_S_Man]

Breather cover is my most likely choice ... thermostat O-ring and oil-pressure switch follow on the list!

[pjv911]

How about the breather tube/hose that runs to the oil tank . Or the drain port in your airbox which is also plumbed to the oil tank .

Kurt Williams

[curiousone940]

I'll go with Warren's answer on this one....I recently pulled a rather nasty engine/transmission (i.e. lots of oil on the bottom and the top rear) on a '74 P-car and traced most of the oil leaks to bad breather/thermostat gaskets and a sending unit, all of which are located at the rear of the engine...much easier to repair with the engine removed.