Partial Engine Drop - must the oil be drained?

[Kroggers]

I have some oil leaks that I am planning to get to in the next couple of weeks, and was hoping o get to all the usual problem spots with a partial engine drop. Before I start, I was just wondering if I also have to drain the oil before I can do the drop, or is it possible to do this with a full oil load??

[oldE]

Paul,

It's not a lot of trouble to drain the oil, I would do it, as you will be disconnecting from the oil sump. I know if I were doing the job, at some time, with the engine on the floor or the bench, with oil in it, I would damage a drain-back tube or find I had to turn the thing over for some reason. Besides, the engine will be a bit lighter to move.

Les

[wcc]

You could probably do it, but why? If it's the cost of oil making you think you want to keep it in there just wait till you need an oil change. Then drain it, drop it and refill it.

If I was doing this project I would drain the oil.

[Kroggers]

OK, thnx Les. I will change the oil at the same time then

[emcdan]

Not a necessity to drain the oil but you'll have to watch your "S" line and the hard line oil hook-up though.

[Kroggers]

I just want to get it down far enough to get to the normal parts to replace when you start trying to track down the dreaded "oil on the floor" sickness

[Scott R]

I just went through this, partial drop to pull the CIS to fix the breather cover and the oil light, it turned out to be a big mistake on my part. In the end I did a full drop (two in fact) to seal up everything once and for all.

After I fixed the breather cover the rear main went out right away, followed by a rocker bushing and then the front main, and the transmission shifter shaft seal. I have it all buttoned up now, but a full drop was the key.

[Kroggers]

I really do not want to do a full drop at the start of the summer - that way I will have to hold out even longer before I can drive the car after the hard winter months. The problem is that when I went to check on my baby during the weekend and had a look under the back (for the first time since I shut her down for the winter in October), there was a substantial amount of oil there - not a 1 or 2 drop type amount. this was a lot of oil. I do not think it will be a good idea to drive the car with such a large leak all summer!!

It is a bit dark in the garage where she is sleeping, so I could mot have a really good look, but the oil looks to be leaking from the top at the back. The snow is nearly gone now, so during the next couple of weeks I will bring her home on a trailer, and have a better look at where it is all leaking from.

[Scott R]

I hear ya, I had a "pool" under mine, I stopped driving it at that point.

[Kroggers]

Where did you leak from Scott, would be good to have some suggestions on where i should start looking.

[Scott R]

I had two leaks, one massive and one smaller leak, (thanks to Afjuvat on this one) the cam squirter crush ring had a small leak, and the rear most rocker bushing was gushing oil.

That was just this round, in the end two engine drops later and I think I have replaced just about ever seal possible at this point.

[Kroggers]

I can see a summer without a 911 at this rate And I just got new bots for her as well I know that a full engine drop is probably the way to go, but I don't have the facilities to do it. These are not the best conditions to undertake a full engine drop!!!

[Scott R]

Moving a jack around on that gravel would be a definite problem. Where exactly are you leaking oil from? Most of the guys here were able to diagnose mine from simple pictures.

[Kroggers]

Thank you for all the help Scott. When I have the car back home (two weeks time) and in open air (better light), I will take some good pictures and post here for advice

[emcdan]

Do the partial drop first, no need to drain oil yet. With a flashlight and mirror, check how much oil on top behind the CIS (you may remove CIS boot). Look around the oil sender, oil thermostat and breather for excessive oil. The first two is probably all you can change in an afternoon and partial drop. If there is not much oil there, the next likely culprits are the oil cooler seals and or the rear main. If this is the case, a full drop is necessary.

If your working in that gravel, I would get two 4x8 pieces of three quarter inch plywood underneath the rear of the car to level and remove the motor.

Nice SC and Katoom back there......I ride one myself.

Good Luck, hopefully just the oil sender (easiest to do)

Eric